The song "Walking In My Sleep" by John Mark McMillan explores themes of feeling lost, disconnected, and cold before finding love and grace. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist has been going through life on autopilot, not fully present in their experiences. The feeling of walking in one's sleep symbolizes the state of being detached and unaware of one's actions and surroundings. The speaker describes digging trenches in the pavement with their feet, which implies that they have been blindly going through the motions, without really knowing why or what they're doing. The mention of running on gasoline and feeling cold like a machine suggests a sense of emptiness and emotional numbness. The protagonist feels like they've been operating mechanically without any warmth or genuine emotions. However, the introduction of another person, presumably the love interest, brings a significant change to the protagonist's life. The refrain "So won't you stay, stay with me now" emphasizes the desire for the person to remain in their life. The cynical people of the world are contrasted with the love interest's kindness and grace. The protagonist realizes that the love and compassion they receive from this person can drown out the negativity and cynicism that surround them. The weight of the grace and kindness bestowed upon the protagonist by the love interest becomes overwhelming. It is more than they can handle, but they cannot simply walk away from it. The protagonist values the impact and significance of this person in their life too much to let it go. The lyrics also raise existential questions about the protagonist's previous existence. They wonder if they were just a ghost or not even real before meeting this person. This suggests that the love interest has given them a sense of purpose and a feeling of truly being alive. Overall, "Walking In My Sleep" is a song that reflects on the transformative power of love, how it can bring warmth and meaning to someone who was previously lost and disconnected.
