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As I Lay Me Down

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For the Wiktoria song, see As I Lay Me Down (Wiktoria song).

"As I Lay Me Down"
Single by Sophie B. Hawkins
from the album Whaler
B-side"I Need Nothing Else"
ReleasedFebruary 7, 1995 (1995-02-07)
GenrePop
Length4:11
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Sophie B. Hawkins
Producer(s)Stephen Lipson
Sophie B. Hawkins singles chronology
"Don't Don't Tell Me No"
(1994) 		"As I Lay Me Down"
(1995) 		"Did We Not Choose Each Other"
(1995)
Music video
"As I Lay Me Down" on YouTube
External audio
As I Lay Me Down
audio icon "As I Lay Me Down", from The Official Website for Sophie B. Hawkins, retrieved 20180825.

"As I Lay Me Down" is a song composed and performed by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. It was released in February 1995 by Columbia as the third single from her second album, Whaler (1994), and also appears on The Best of Sophie B. Hawkins (2002). The song is one of her two biggest hits, reaching number six on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for six weeks during 1995. Outside the United States, the song reached number six in Canada, number seven in Australia, number 19 in New Zealand, and number 24 in the United Kingdom. Its music video was directed by Sophie Muller.

Release

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"As I Lay Me Down" was initially intended for Hawkin's debut album Tongues and Tails, but was excluded after objections from the record label.[1] The song is a pop ballad in which the singer reminisces about a faraway loved one as she goes to bed and hopes to see him again. It was written in memory of her father. It was the second US single released from the album Whaler. With disappointing sales of the first single, "Right Beside You",[citation needed] the song was released with little fanfare (a photograph of Sophie dressed as a sailor was the focus of the cover). Sophie then insisted that her label (Columbia) allow her to tour the country with only an acoustic piano. The song then began receiving airplay on adult contemporary stations. During mid-1995, it became an adult contemporary hit as well as a top-10 single in the United States. A remix also helped the song gain airplay on other kinds of stations. It was also included on the album All Time Greatest Movie Songs, released by Columbia Records in 1999.

Critical reception

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Steve Baltin from Cash Box named "As I Lay Me Down" Pick of the Week, describing it as "a lovely song, gentle as its title indicates. The keyboard music that drives the song behind Hawkins’ vocals calls to mind the Police’s “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"." He wrote further that it's "a refreshing change of pace for the singer-songwriter, who has not received the same attention for this album as for her first simply because she doesn't fit neatly into any category. While this single doesn't necessarily change that, its easygoing and lighthearted charm may help Hawkins to reepature [sic] some of the magic as A/C [sic] and Top 40 should have a place for this one."[2] Peter Galvin from Entertainment Weekly gave the song an A− rating, stating that the synth-pop hymn "has resuscitated her career. A tribute to her father, the song has a lovely, lulling melody that more than compensates for Hawkins’ shallow vocals."[3]

Fell and Rufer from the Gavin Report concluded, "Here's the track that will make Hawkins a definitive A/C artist. It may be easy on the ear, and the sentiment is wistful and hopeful. Should do well and play forever at A/C."[4] Chuck Campbell from Knoxville News Sentinel said that listeners "might get a sugar high off" of the "saccharine" "As I Lay Me Down".[5] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton felt that it's "the kind of gentle ballad that is either best appreciated first thing in the morning or at the end of a long tired day. If nothing else in the chart deserves to go Top 20 – this certainly does."[6]

Music video

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The accompanying music video for "As I Lay Me Down" was directed by English director Sophie Muller. It depicts Hawkins singing while sitting on stairs outside an apartment building in her hometown of New York City. It flashes to Hawkins in a forest swinging on a swing, lying on a tree branch, sitting in a boat, and sitting on a bench. It also shows a little girl running through the forest representing Hawkins as a child.

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[28] Gold 35,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 7, 1995 CD Columbia [14]
United Kingdom February 27, 1995
  • CD
  • cassette
 [38]

Usage in media

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It appeared in Now and Then and the TV series Party of Five (with Hawkins performing it as a guest star) in 1995 and the 1998 pilot of Dawson's Creek. The song also was played in Season 2/Episode 18 of Cold Case.

Hawkins also performed the songs "Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover" and "As I Lay Me Down" in the season 4 episode 8 "Herstory of Dance" of the television show Community. In the episode, Britta organizes a "Sophie B. Hawkins" dance in protest to Greendale's "Sadie Hawkins" dance. It also appeared in the original episode 4 of the webseries The Gay and Wondrous Life of Caleb Gallo.

References

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  1. ^ Kawashima, Dale (May 27, 2023). "Acclaimed Singer/Songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins Talks About Her New Album, Free Myself, And Writing Her Classic Hit Songs". Songwriter Universe. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
  2. ^ Baltin, Steve (January 28, 1995). "Pop Singles" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 7. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  3. ^ Galvin, Peter (September 8, 1995). "Music Single Review: 'As I Lay Me Down'". Entertainment Weekly.
  4. ^ Fell, Ron; Rufer, Diane (January 13, 1995). "Gavin A/C: New Releases" (PDF). Gavin Report. p. 26. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
  5. ^ Campbell, Chuck (July 29, 1994). "Hawkins Has Little Bait For 'Whaler'". Knoxville News Sentinel.
  6. ^ Masterton, James (March 5, 1995). "Week Ending March 11th 1995". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
  7. ^ As I Lay Me Down (US CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 38K 77801.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ As I Lay Me Down (US cassette single sleeve). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 38T 77801.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ As I Lay Me Down (UK CD1 liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 661212 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ As I Lay Me Down (UK CD2 liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 661212 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ As I Lay Me Down (UK cassette single sleeve). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 661212 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ As I Lay Me Down (European CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 660939 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ As I Lay Me Down (Australian CD single liner notes). Sophie B. Hawkins. Columbia Records. 1995. 662404 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ a b "Sophie B. Hawkins – As I Lay Me Down". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  15. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2807." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  16. ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2802." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  17. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 11. March 18, 1995. p. 27. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  18. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins – As I Lay Me Down" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  19. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (18.3. '95 – 24.3. '95)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). March 18, 1995. Retrieved October 1, 2019.
  20. ^ "Sophie B. Hawkins – As I Lay Me Down". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  21. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  22. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  23. ^ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  24. ^ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  25. ^ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  26. ^ "Sophie B Hawkins Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  27. ^ "U.S. Cash Box Charts" (PDF). popmusichistory. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  28. ^ a b "ARIA Top 50 Singles for 1995". ARIA. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  29. ^ "RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved October 27, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  30. ^ "RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995". RPM. Retrieved October 27, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  31. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1995". Archived from the original on August 15, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  32. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 51. December 23, 1995. p. YE-80. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 28, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  33. ^ "The Year in Music 1995: Top 40/Mainstream Top Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 3, no. 51. December 15, 1995. p. 8.
  34. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1996". Archived from the original on March 1, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  35. ^ "The Year in Music: Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 108, no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-84. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  36. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Adult Top 40 Singles & Tracks". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 33.
  37. ^ "Airplay Monitor Best of '96: Top 40/Mainstream Titles". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 4, no. 53. December 27, 1996. p. 30.
  38. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. February 25, 1995. p. 43.
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