"How Do You Sleep?" by Jesse McCartney is a song about longing and missing someone deeply. The lyrics depict the narrator's emotions and thoughts after a year of not seeing or hearing from their loved one. They confess that they have been missing this person like crazy. The song begins with a repetitive chant, creating a catchy and memorable melody. The chorus emphasizes the narrator's longing and questions how the subject of the song can sleep when they're constantly on their mind. The lyrics mention finding a letter that still smells like the person, triggering memories and nostalgia. These sweet memories are bittersweet, as they remind the narrator of what they've lost. The narrator has tried to move on and find someone else, but no one compares to their lost love. They now see things differently and wish they had more time with this person. The longing intensifies as the narrator wonders how the subject can stay awake, knowing that they are always on the narrator's mind. In the pre-chorus, the narrator expresses their desire to reach out and come get their love interest, reminiscing about their past experiences together and the things they did to win their heart. The chorus is repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizing the central theme of missing someone and wondering how they can sleep knowing they're being missed. The bridge of the song introduces the perspective of the narrator's friends, who often ask about the person they miss. The friends mention seeing the love interest at a game, causing them to question the narrator's decision to let them go. They further praise the love interest's physical appearance and remark on missing the conversations they used to have. Overall, "How Do You Sleep?" conveys a heartfelt sentiment of longing and yearning for a lost love. It delves into the narrator's emotions and their inability to move on from this person.
