Tone Analysis

Tonal Analysis in Theme-Genre
Set It Off - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead lyrics

It's the same, each and every night
Glare at my screen with two big bloodshot eyes
I'm stuck self torturing

My meds are failing me
Internal clock in smithereens
Can't fix this, I'm hopeless

My eyes are stapled opened wide
As I lay down on my side
I am bouncing off these walls

Notice my hands begin to twitch
Unprovoked assaulting of my conscious wit
Me and the TV are enemies
Sickening static surrounds my mind
I'm losing time and realizing that
After days of thought

I'm stuck self torturing
My meds are failing me
Internal clock in smithereens
Can't fix this, I'm hopeless

My eyes are stapled opened wide
As I lay down on my side
I am bouncing off these walls

As I focus on the clock, try to feel but I can not
I should strap myself in bed
I guess I'll sleep when I am dead

Talk to myself,
Lie in the darkness so content
As the Sun begins to rise
I can barely shut my eyes
This crazed delirious mess
Laughing at everything I see
My sanity is spent
Just tell me where my time went
I'm losing it

Attention:
All insomniacs please raise your right hand
And kindly repeat after me
I guess I'll sleep when I am dead

Cause I'm stuck self torturing
My meds are failing me
Internal clock in smithereens
Can't fix this, I'm hopeless

My eyes are stapled oWened wide
As I lay down on my side
I am bouncing off these walls

As I focus on the clock, try to feel but I can not
I should strap myself in bed
I guess I'll sleep when I am dead
I guess I'll sleep when I am

Lyrics provided by LyricsMode.com

          Shifting from a quick-paced and fierce instrumental to a much softer one for parts in I'll Sleep When I Am Dead, Set It Off utilizes internal first person perspective, crazed imagery, and effective hyperbole to display a bitter and indignant tone towards his insomnia.
          The first person point of view seen is told from the mind of the speaker. The perspective of being in his mind helps to connect the listener to his emotions and give a better idea of how his sleep-deprivation has affected him. He sings "I'm stuck self-torturing/My meds are failing me/Internal clock in smithereens/can't fix this, I'm hopeless," his tone here is very bitter and shows his animosity. He is desperate and the first person point of view gives the listener a deeper understanding by hearing his thoughts. This viewpoint conveys the time more precisely than any other would because it is really an internal battle he is fighting with his insomnia.
          The imagery in this song strengthens the main tone and idea, for the mental picture one created through listening is one of despair and anger. The speaker says "Notice my hands begin to twitch/...Sickening static surrounds my mind," the imagery here is best described as crazed and hectic. One imagines exact man in whom has a very troubled demeanor. The imagery serves to bring you to understand the song more deeply. The words "sickening static surrounds" are alliteration, they help to drive a point and make the imagery more effective. "I should strap myself in bed," is more imagery because one can picture him so set on getting rest that he is bound down almost comparable to a straightkacet. That can tie in with the bitterness and insanity in the tone.
         The hyperbole in this song strengthens the idea and tone of bitterness. The singer, Carson, says "My eyes are stapeled open wide," in an exaggeration to show just how wired he is and unable to sleep.