Vital Signs Lyrics
This country is my canvas
I leave paint trails as I go
I’m painting a picture
That you can only see from outer space
My bedroom is your sofa
I take my breakfast on the train
I’m tired and I’m dirty, and not a second goes to waste
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
Well I’ll never get to grey hair
And I’ll never be in the black
But I can tell stories that most can hardly dream
Dreaming is a luxury
Like stopping-staring and beauty sleep
I’ll stop when I’m finished
And sleep is for the week
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
Heaven’s in the half-light, and that’s where I reside
A whiskey and a wry smile
I check my vital signs
And when I’m gone
The worlds revolve and life goes on
So mark no grave
Forget my name
If the song remains
And everybody’s got a drink and a smile
Well, that’s just fine by me
I leave paint trails as I go
I’m painting a picture
That you can only see from outer space
My bedroom is your sofa
I take my breakfast on the train
I’m tired and I’m dirty, and not a second goes to waste
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
Well I’ll never get to grey hair
And I’ll never be in the black
But I can tell stories that most can hardly dream
Dreaming is a luxury
Like stopping-staring and beauty sleep
I’ll stop when I’m finished
And sleep is for the week
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
Heaven’s in the half-light, and that’s where I reside
A whiskey and a wry smile
I check my vital signs
And when I’m gone
The worlds revolve and life goes on
So mark no grave
Forget my name
If the song remains
And everybody’s got a drink and a smile
Well, that’s just fine by me
Heaven’s in the half-light, and that’s where I reside
A whiskey and a wry smile
I check my vital signs
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
A whiskey and a wry smile
I check my vital signs
I’ll be dead but never dying, and I say that with a smile
It’s just my way of trying to be alive
About
Genius Annotation
“Vital Signs” is the only proper single from Frank Turner’s debut solo album, 2007’s Sleep is for the Week. It was released prior to the album as a free download on MySpace, along with its cheerfully-titled b-side, “Heartless Bastard Motherfucker.”
Today, “Vital Signs” is a song beloved of old-school fans but virtually unknown among newer listeners drawn to Frank’s music by the England Keep My Bones and Tape Deck Heart albums.
The album’s title is a pun on a lyric from the song, wherein the common adage “Sleep is for the weak” becomes “Sleep is for the week,” because Frank’s tired enough to sleep for an entire week… we’ve all been there!
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 2.Vital Signs
- 5.Father’s Day
- 10.Wisdom Teeth
- 12.Must Try Harder
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