James Taylor's song "Sleep Come Free Me" tells the story of a person who has been imprisoned in a dungeon since the age of eighteen. The lyrics describe ten lonely years spent living in the pages of a magazine, longing for freedom. The narrator pleads with sleep to come and release them from their confinement. The song takes a darker turn as it is revealed that the person is in prison for allegedly killing someone, a crime they may not entirely remember or understand due to confusion. The state of Alabama holds them responsible, and the jury agrees. The narrator admits to being present at the scene with a tire iron, but the details remain hazy. Throughout the song, the person's spirit is broken, feeling more like an animal than a human. They express that the life they are living is not worth keeping, and the only escape seems to be through sleep. The narrator urges sleep to set them free and pleads for release. They long to return to the person they used to be, or whoever they claim to have been, although interpretation of their identity is open. They advise others to remember their number and let go of their name, suggesting that holding onto their imagination and sense of self is crucial. Overall, "Sleep Come Free Me" tells a somber tale of imprisonment, loss of identity, and the desperate longing for liberation.
