"Daysleeper" is a song by American alternative rock band R.E.M. It was released as the first single from their eleventh studio album '' Up'' on October 12, 1998. Sung from the point of view of a night shift worker corresponding with colleagues, "Daysleeper" focuses on the disorientation of time and

circadian rhythm A circadian rhythm (), or circadian cycle, is a natural, internal process that regulates the sleep–wake cycle and repeats roughly every 24 hours. It can refer to any process that originates within an organism (i.e., Endogeny (biology), endogeno ...

in such a lifestyle, leading to despair and loss of identity. Lead singer Michael Stipe developed the song's concept after noticing a sign reading "daysleeper" on a New York City apartment door.

Background

During R.E.M.'s performance for

VH1 VH1 (originally an initialism of Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network based in New York City and owned by Paramount Global. It was created by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, at the time a division of Warner Commun ...

''Storytellers'', Stipe explained the background to the song: The song "The Lifting" from R.E.M.'s 2001 album '' Reveal'' is a

prequel A prequel is a literary, dramatic or cinematic work whose story precedes that of a previous work, by focusing on events that occur before the original narrative. A prequel is a work that forms part of a backstory to the preceding work. The term " ...

to "Daysleeper" and features the same character.As stated by Michael Stipe on '' Later... with Jools Holland'' in 2001.

Music video

The video, shot at Broadway Studios in the Astoria district of New York City in September 1998,'' Q'', October 1998 was filmed in stop-frame photography to get what Stipe called a "really druggy, really great look." It features Stipe as the office worker who goes to work at night. All three band members then wear pajamas and bed socks, while failing to get to sleep during the day. The video was directed by the Icelandic Snorri brothers. "I think it's about the sort of alien nature of a night shift," explained Mike Mills. "The weird lighting, the fluorescent lights that you find and the isolation of working the graveyard shift—how it screws up your sleep patterns and that sort of thing, and I think that's the main image we're trying to get across."

Track listings

All songs were written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. CD # "Daysleeper" ( Single edit) – 3:31 # "Emphysema" – 4:21 # "Why Not Smile" ('' Oxford American'' version) – 2:59 7-inch and cassette # "Daysleeper" (Single edit) – 3:31 # "Emphysema" – 4:21 UK 3-inch CD # "Daysleeper" (Single edit) – 3:31 # "Sad Professor" (Live in the studio, Toast, San Francisco, California) – 3:58

Charts

Release history

References

{{Authority control R.E.M. songs 1998 singles Number-one singles in Iceland Songs written by Michael Stipe Songs written by Mike Mills Songs written by Peter Buck Song recordings produced by Michael Stipe Song recordings produced by Mike Mills Song recordings produced by Pat McCarthy (record producer) Song recordings produced by Peter Buck Warner Records singles