Songful Style | “Behind the Wall of Sleep” by The Smithereens

It is Anne’s turn to choose the song for June’s Songful Style challenge and it is a very special song choice in my opinion. First of all, Anne’s birthday is on Friday so I love that her turn coincided with her special day. Second, she chose a song by The Smithereens!

In case you all don’t know, Anne is very closely connected to this band. Her partner Severo was the bass guitarist for The Smithereens from 2005-2017 and occasionally still performs with them. In fact, he just performed with The Smithereens last month in New York City. Sadly, I was unable to coordinate a meet up with Anne and Severo on this particular east coast trip, but we try when we can and we laugh our arses off when we do!

About Songful Style

Songful Style is a new ageless style challenge series hosted by Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Michelle of My Bijou Life, Marsha of Marsha in the Middle, and Anne of Spy Girl. 

Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit. 

It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.

Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing! 

We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post.

Video Inspiration

The first video is the official Smithereens video from 1986. The next two are live performances between 2005 and 2017 with Severo on bass guitar.

The Lyrics

“Behind the Wall of Sleep”

She had hair like Jeannie Shrimpton back in 1965
She had legs that never ended
I was halfway paralyzed
She was tall and cool and pretty and she dressed as black as coal
If she asked me to I'd murder, I would gladly lose my soul

Now I lie in bed and think of her
Sometimes I even weep
Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep

Well she held a bass guitar and she was playing in a band
And she stood just like Bill Wyman
Now I am her biggest fan
Now I know I'm one of many who would like to be your friend
And I've got to find a way to let you know I'm not like them

Now I lie in bed and think of her
Sometimes I even weep
Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep

Now I lie in bed and think of her
Sometimes I even weep
Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep

Got your number from a friend of mine who lives in your home town
Called you up to have a drink
Your roommate said you weren't around
Now I know I'm one of many who would like to be your friend
And I've just got to find a way to let you know I'm not like them

Now I lie in bed and think of her
Sometimes I even weep
Then I dream of her behind the wall of sleep

Behind the wall of sleep
Behind the wall of sleep
Behind the wall of sleep

About the Song

The Smithereens is an American rock band formed in Carteret, New Jersey, in 1980, and is best known for a string of alternative rock hits in the late 1980s through the mid 1990s. Their sound is influenced by the catchy power pop sound of the 1960s made popular by bands like The Who, The Beatles, and The Beach Boys. The band’s name was derived from the catchphrase by beloved Looney Tune character, Yosemite Sam, “Ya better say your prayers, ya flea-bitten varmint … I’m-a-gonna blow ya to smithereens!”

“Behind the Wall of Sleep” was released in 1986 as the second single on The Smithereens’ debut album Especially for You. It reached number 23 on the US Mainstream Rock Charts and number 8 on the UK Indie Charts.

Lead singer Pat DiNizio wrote the lyrics to this song on the back of a napkin during a flight from Boston to New York City. After sharing a bill with Boston-based band The Bristols, DiNizio developed a crush on Bristols’ bassist Kim Ernst which led him to pen the lyrics to “Behind the Wall of Sleep” in a hungover state the next morning. At the time of writing the lyrics, DiNizio didn’t give much thought to the pop imagery in the lyric generated by his references to model Jean Shrimpton and Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman. However, he recognized years later that this imagery created a certain interest for fans. The melody came to DiNizio on the same flight as the lyrics. He sang the melody in his head like a mantra during the whole flight so he would not forget it.

Album Covers

And check out this promotional photo from the back cover of Especially for You.

If you want to join us in styling your own look inspired by this song, we will have a link party on Monday, June 27, 2022, where you can share your post. We would love to see your Songful Style, too!

Keeping it on the edge,

Shelbee

Joining these Fabulous Link Parties.