You spend approximately a third of your life asleep. This seems like a lot of time, considering we remain immobile and unproductive during this time, but if we think about the function of sleep, we start to see the benefits.
Sleep functions in regulating your moods, appetite, and storage of memories. That being said, being unable to sleep would cause discomfort, and it would be almost impossible for you to function at your optimal capacity.
We have all been there, tossing and turning in bed, trying to fall asleep. It can be frustrating, even infuriating, at times. Sometimes, it’s the things that are going wrong in your life that keep you awake, like the end of a relationship.
Singers who have endured this have turned to music to describe their experiences. This has given you and me multiple hits that soothe and remind us that we are not alone in the struggle against insomnia.
| Nr | Song | Artist | About |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | How Do You Sleep | Sam Smith | Learn More |
| 2 | Lights | Ellie Goulding | Learn More |
| 3 | Blinding Lights | The Weeknd | Learn More |
| 4 | (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All | The 5th Dimension | Learn More |
| 5 | I Can’t Sleep | Clay Walker | Learn More |
| 6 | I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing | Aerosmith | Learn More |
| 7 | Tossin’ and Turnin’ | Bobby Lewis | Learn More |
| 8 | Sleep | My Chemical Romance | Learn More |
| 9 | Insomnia | Craig David | Learn More |
| 10 | Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) | Billy Joel | Learn More |
| 11 | Fireflies | Owl City | Learn More |
| 12 | Brain Stew | Green Day | Learn More |
| 13 | Go To Sleep | Radiohead | Learn More |
| 14 | Mr. Sandman | The Chordettes | Learn More |
| 15 | You Can Sleep While I Drive | Melissa Etheridge | Learn More |
| 16 | Insomnia | Faithless | Learn More |
| 17 | I Can’t Sleep | Poorstacy & Iann Dior | Learn More |
| 18 | Nights | Frank Ocean | Learn More |
| 19 | Sleepyhead | Passion Pit | Learn More |
| 20 | Day ‘N’ Nite | Kid Cudi | Learn More |
| 21 | Insomnia | Daya | Learn More |
Songs About Insomnia
These are the best songs about insomnia to add to your playlist and listen to whenever you’re having problems sleeping:
1. How Do You Sleep – Sam Smith
This song about insomnia is due to heartbreak after a past lover has betrayed the singer. He wishes that his ex-lover has trouble sleeping and that the betrayal keeps him up at night as a punishment.
Despite the sad and somewhat sadistic message of the song, it manages to have some tropical house aspects, making it an enjoyable bop. This song will have you singing along and wishing that your ex has sleepless nights too.
Recommended: 21 Best Songs About Denial.
2. Lights – Ellie Goulding
This electronic pop song talks about the feeling of being unable to sleep. It talks of a person who cannot sleep because of the darkness and wants the lights to be turned on so she can fall asleep.
This is typical for insomniacs as they look for anything to help them fall asleep. You can relate to her struggle because we all try our best to make our sleeping area as comfortable as possible.
3. Blinding Lights – The Weeknd
This song is about The Weeknd’s on-off-on girlfriend, Bella Hadid. His message is that he cannot sleep at night without her, he’s not at peace without her touch.
There’s little chance you haven’t heard this song, as this electropop tune is a massive hit. It’s a song you can dance to as you wait for the sun to rise because you cannot sleep.
4. (Last Night) I Didn’t Get to Sleep at All – The 5th Dimension
This song about insomnia is about a man who is trying to sleep, but she keeps thinking about her lover. The thoughts keep him awake as she keeps wondering what more she could have done to save her relationship.
You sympathize with the woman as she clearly is still struggling to cope with the relationship, and this causes her to lose sleep.
5. I Can’t Sleep – Clay Walker
Here is yet another of the songs bout insomnia due to a failed relationship. You feel for him in this song because he can’t sleep. The memories of his past relationship haunt him.
He longs to be with his ex-lover but knows he has missed his chance, which keeps him awake. His insomnia seems partly self-inflicted because he doesn’t want to sleep until he fixes his relationship, which seems unlikely.
6. I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith
There are very few people out there who actually don’t want to sleep, but in this song, the singer is willing to do just that. He is infatuated with his lover and doesn’t want to miss a single moment with her.
It seems a bit overboard, but love makes you do crazy things. You could send this song to your significant other to show them they have a special place in your heart.
7. Tossin’ and Turnin’ – Bobby Lewis
This classic by Bobby Lewis clearly captures the struggles of an insomniac. He tries to get comfortable by turning the pillow upside down and going to the kitchen for a bite, but nothing seems to work for him.
He tosses and turns until it’s almost dawn. You can relate to his plight because, for most insomniacs, this is precisely what people in love go through.
8. Sleep – My Chemical Romance
If you thought insomnia was bad, try having night terrors. This is exactly what happens when the band stayed at an old, supposedly haunted mansion.
One of the band members became so depressed he had to leave the house, while another got night terrors that inspired him to write this song. He ended up recording how he felt and put the recording in the song. It almost makes you want to be an insomniac.
Recommended: 21 Most Depressing Songs Of All Time.
9. Insomnia – Craig David
If you’re looking for a song that captures that 2000s sound, then look no further. Craig is madly in love with someone, but he somehow messed up and caused the relationship to end.
Now he spends sleepless nights wishing she were there, a little too late to change anything. You can’t help but enjoy this song, its upbeat tempo and perfect performance keep you hooked throughout.
10. Lullabye (Goodnight, My Angel) – Billy Joel
This song is aptly named. It is from the perspective of someone trying to get another person to sleep. It is soothing and reassuring.
The lyrics are calming and assure you that the person singing is watching over you, that they care about you, and will be there when you wake up.
This is a great song to listen to when you can’t sleep. You can also sing this to someone who is struggling to fall asleep, as it will help soothe their insomnia.
11. Fireflies – Owl City
This is a song about insomnia that is a personal favorite of mine. It has a weird and intriguing sound. It is about an insomniac who uses dancing fireflies as a metaphor for struggling to sleep.
This is all in his head, and he enjoys it. He makes his struggle to fall asleep seem almost magical. You can’t help but get sucked into the world the singer is making and be amazed.
12. Brain Stew – Green Day
From the song’s name, you can tell that this song is going to be weird. Green Day takes the feeling of staying awake in bed and exaggerates it.
He talks about the clock laughing in his face as he tries to sleep to indicate time flying by. You can sense his frustration. This song will resonate with you as you struggle with your insomnia.
13. Go To Sleep – Radiohead
This song is about the anxiety of war and what it causes you. It makes your mind and heart race and thus you cannot sleep. “I’m gonna go to sleep / And let this wash all over me” implies that sometimes you want to give up and let this wash all over, or perhaps refers to death as a common occurrence.
Either way, this is a political song where the band expresses its concerns for mankind.
14. Mr. Sandman – The Chordettes
The Sandman is a fictional character that brings sleep to people. On a sleepless night, the girls ask Sandman to get them a dreamy lover because they don’t have anyone in their lives.
It is a classic from 1950, and it still finds a way to be entertaining to this day with its unique sound and message. You can’t help but love this song. It provides a cheerful alternative to songs about insomnia compared to other songs on this list.
15. You Can Sleep While I Drive – Melissa Etheridge
This song is about a person who wants to go on a road trip with her lover so that they can rekindle their love that seems to be fading. She has everything arranged and just needs her lover there who can sleep while she drives.
The song is not directly about insomnia; rather, it soothes you to be comfortable. It makes you feel like the things you’re worrying about will be taken care of, and all you have to do is close your eyes and rest.
Recommended: Top 15 Spanish Birthday Songs for Your Special Day.
16. Insomnia – Faithless
This song is about insomniacs who fail to fall asleep but feel the most productive during those late hours of the night. This electronic dance song is different and sounds nothing like the mainstream songs we are used to hearing.
Faithless illustrates the various effects of his sleeping problems and how hard it is to suffer from insomnia.
17. I Can’t Sleep – Poorstacy & Iann Dior
This is a pop-punk rap song where the duo talks about their struggle to sleep and reminisce on the lies they’ve been told and the promises that have been broken.
This song is catchy and would be an excellent addition to any playlist, especially during a sleepless night.
18. Nights – Frank Ocean
Nights is a song with three parts that tell the story of an insomniac and the thoughts that go through his head throughout the night. He feels that people expect too much from him.
He talks about many things and the interesting structure of the song makes it worthy of adding to your playlist. I invite you to listen to this great song.
19. Sleepyhead – Passion Pit
This song about insomnia deals with the lack of sleep caused by grief. You get the feeling that he hasn’t moved on from an old relationship.
It is a unique-sounding song that you need to hear at least once. The instrumentals can only be described as psychedelic. You could get lost in this song as you wait for the sun to rise.
20. Day ‘N’ Nite – Kid Cudi
Kid Cudi has written songs about a variety of mental health conditions. He talks about how he felt after his girlfriend left him.
These feelings cause him to stay awake at night. Kid Cudi had a rough childhood in a low-income household and uses his music to write about his pain. He draws you in with his song and assures you that you’re not the only one tossing and turning.
21. Insomnia – Daya
The last of our songs about insomnia comes from the indie artist Daya. She talks about how she cannot sleep without the person she loves.
She doesn’t want to dream about them and wishes her lover was there with her. This is a common sentiment among those who don’t have the ones they love by their side.
Last Words
A lot of things can cause insomnia. Emotional disturbances can keep you awake, wondering what went wrong in the relationship. Past traumas can sneak up on you and ambush you while you try and fall asleep.
All you can do is try and clear your head, make a comfortable sleeping environment, close your eyes and try to rest. These songs about insomnia perfectly encapsulate this feeling and will be a good companion on those sleepless nights.
