P.O.D. - Sleeping Awake (From the Matrix: Reloaded Soundtrack)

Artist: P.O.D.
Song: Sleeping Awake
Album: The Matrix Reloaded: The Album (2003)
Label: Warner Brothers Records/ Atlantic Records
Songwriter(s): Noah Bernardo, Traa Daniels, Sonny Sandoval
Producer(s): Howard Benson and P.O.D.
Released: May 26, 2003
Recorded: 2003

Genres/ Style: Alternative Metal, Nu Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Rock, Heavy Metal, Post Metal, Groove Metal, Christian Metal, Rap Rock, Rap Metal,  Alternative Metal, Rapcore,  hardcore, Metalcore, Experimental rock

P.O.D., an acronym for Payable on Death, is an American Christian metal band formed in 1992 and based in San Diego, California. The band's line-up consists of drummer and rhythm guitarist Wuv Bernardo, vocalist Sonny Sandoval, bassist Traa Daniels, and lead guitarist Marcos Curiel. They have sold over 12 million records worldwide. Over the course of their career, the band has received three Grammy Award nominations, contributed to numerous motion picture soundtracks and toured internationally. With their third studio album, The Fundamental Elements of Southtown, they achieved their initial mainstream success; the album was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000. Their following studio album, Satellite, continued the band's success with the singles, "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation", pushing it to go triple platinum. "Sleeping Awake" (also known as "Sleeping Away") is the lead single by P.O.D. from The Matrix Reloaded: The Album. The film soundtrack was released on May 6, 2003 by Warner Bros. Records/Maverick Records with the single itself available May 26. The US edition only includes the title track while the UK/Australia edition, released June 3, includes the video and two more songs. "Sleeping Awake" was later released as a bonus track on P.O.D.'s studio album, Payable on Death. The song's video and lyrics are directly inspired by The Matrix Reloaded. The chorus features the line "dreaming of Zion", which refers to the last human city of planet Earth as depicted in the film.

On February 19, 2003, guitarist Curiel left the band due to his side project, The Accident Experiment, and "spiritual differences." However, Curiel claimed that he was actually kicked out of the band Curiel was replaced by Jason Truby, former member of Christian metal band Living Sacrifice, and assisted with the recording of "Sleeping Awake", from The Matrix Reloaded soundtrack. In an interview with Yahoo! Music, Sandoval stated that Truby is the reason why the group is still together. On November 4, 2003, P.O.D. released their fifth studio album, Payable on Death, which saw the group shift from their well-known rapcore sound to a darker, more melodic metal sound. 

Lyrics:

Reveal to me, the mystery
Can you tell me what it means?
Explain, these motions and metaphors
Unlock these secrets in me
Describe the vision the meaning is missing
Oh, anybody listening?
Define, the riddles of my mind
Nothing is really what it seems
Dreaming of Zion awake
Sleeping awake
Dreaming of Zion awake
Can't stop sleeping awake

Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel what I feel?
Can't stop sleeping awake
Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
Can't stop sleeping

Can you, see it, the writing?
Can you tell me what it means?
Translate, the symbol's enigma
Expressions keep questioning me
The message is switched
And the meaning is missing
Oh, anybody listening?
Prophecy and servants take the signs
Nothing is really what it seems

Dreaming of Zion awake
Sleeping awake
Dreaming of Zion awake
Can't stop sleeping awake
Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
Can't stop sleeping awake

Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel what I feel?
Can't stop sleeping awake
Do you see, what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
And can you dream like I dream?

Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel?
Do you dream like I dream?
Can anybody see me?!
Can anybody hear me?!
Can anybody feel me?!
Is there anybody out there?!

Dreaming of Zion awake
Sleeping awake
Dreaming of Zion awake
Can't stop sleeping awake
Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel what I feel?
Can't stop sleeping awake?

Do you see what I see?
Can you hear what I hear?
Do you feel like I feel
Can't stop sleeping awake
Can anybody see me?!
Can anybody hear me?!
Can anybody feel me?!
Is anybody out there?!