“How Do You Sleep At Night” by Cody Johnson – lyrics and meaning

Cody Johnson's hit-packed album, Leather, It doesn't get any better than that, does it? Incorrect.

The 'Til You Can't star recently announced that his 2023 album will be getting the deluxe treatment, with another dozen tracks arriving on November 1st. Since news of the expanded release, the artist has revealed a little of what's to come from the packed collection.

First came the long-awaited Carrie Underwood duet “I'm Gonna Love You.” Now Johnson has given his fans another soon-to-be favorite with “How Do You Sleep At Night.” The new track may be a far cry from the Underwood collaboration, but the snappy breakup anthem is still a hit.

“How Do You Sleep At Night” begins with Stahl’s mournful wails set against a pensive rhythm clatter. It is a celebratory opening that reflects the many pointed questions raised in the first verse. However, the song soon erupts into the aching, disappointment-filled country-rock number that the lyrics suggest, and the melody is underpinned by a wall of anthemic drum beats and searing electro riffs.

“Are you tossing and turning, are you turning around, are your sheets a mess?”
Do you faint while still wearing your dress?
Do you light up some smoke, do you take a pill?
Just to shake off the edge of regret you feel.

In “How Do You Sleep At Night,” Johnson wonders about a former lover who mainly thinks about her sleeping habits after he breaks his heart. He assumes that they are far from sleeping like a baby, but that they are tossing and turning or using night time aids to rest after what they did to the country singer.

He sings with pointed words, “Since you might as well be a ghost / Honey, I just want to know…”

“How do you sleep at night knowing you hurt me?
Did you know you burned me like a cigarette?
And when you close your eyes, what do you see?
Is it me, do you wish I was still in your bed?
When you're alone in the dark, am I still in your dreams?
Since you broke my heart, girl, how do you sleep at night?

He honestly wants to know how the ex can live with the knowledge that he hurt and burned him. “Are you watching The Office like we used to?” He asks even more questions in the snappy song“Or have you given up, like you and me?”

Listeners don't know the reason for the breakup or the impetus for such bad blood, but whatever it was, it seems none of them will be getting over it any time soon.

Throughout the song, Johnson is clearly wounded and forced to reflect on what happened. However, he assumes that he is probably not as torn as the perpetrator who sings: “Do you check your phone every time it rings because you think it's me? / Well, baby, that's not it.

Are you tossing and turning, are your sheets a mess?
Do you faint while still wearing your dress?
Do you light up some smoke, do you take a pill?
Just to shake off the edge of regret you feel

Because you might as well just be a ghost
Honey, I just want to know

How do you sleep at night knowing you hurt me?
Did you know you burned me like a cigarette?
And when you close your eyes, what do you see?
Is it me, do you wish I was still in your bed?
When you're alone in the dark, am I still in your dreams?
Since you broke my heart, girl, how do you sleep at night?

Do you watch “The Office” like you used to?
Or have you given up, like you and me?
Do you turn off the lights, all alone?
Well, girls, if it's with someone else

How do you sleep at night knowing you hurt me?
Did you know you burned me like a cigarette?
And when you close your eyes, what do you see?
Is it me, do you wish I was still in your bed?
When you're alone in the dark, am I still in your dreams?
Since you broke my heart, girl, how do you sleep at night?

Do you check your phone every time it rings because you think it's me?
Well, baby, that's not it, no

How do you sleep at night knowing you hurt me?
Did you know you burned me like a cigarette?
And when you close your eyes, what do you see?
Is it me, do you wish I was still in your bed?
When you're alone in the dark, am I still in your dreams?
Since you broke my heart, girl, how do you sleep at night?

How do you sleep at night?

—

For more information about Cody Johnson, see below: