Meaning of "Hard To Stay Awake" by Morten Abel

The song "Hard To Stay Awake" touches on themes of exhaustion, friendship, and the longing for simplicity. The lyrics suggest that life requires constant effort and active engagement in order to maintain relationships and navigate through its challenges. The lines "It takes a lifetime just to make it work" and "Maybe universal, atoms go berserk" imply that life is complex and requires continuous attention. Despite this, the narrator expresses a preference for maintaining a certain level of insanity rather than conforming to societal norms, as they sing, "Prefer to stay insane, Than to walk the narrow lane." This could be interpreted as a rejection of societal expectations and an embrace of individuality.

The song also highlights the challenges of forming new friendships. The lyrics state, "It's not easy to make a new friend, It's easy to pretend, But it's hard to make a friend, Unless you are a child." This suggests that as adults, it becomes more difficult to form genuine connections with others, as there may be more barriers and pretenses involved. The desire to be a child and run wild represents a longing for a simpler time when friendships were easier to form and maintain.

There is an underlying desire throughout the song to escape reality and find solace in a more peaceful, open space. The lines "Create for me a little open space, I need it just in case, I have to make a hit" reflect a need for a refuge or sanctuary where the pressures and demands of life can be momentarily set aside. The mention of a "little green lawn where game could play on" symbolizes a craving for freedom, simplicity, and a return to a childlike state.

Overall, "Hard To Stay Awake" by Morten Abel delves into the challenges of staying awake and engaged in a demanding world, while also yearning for the innocence and simplicity of childhood.