"Bad Dreams" by Teddy Swims is a heart-wrenching ballad about the agonizing feeling of being separated from someone you deeply love. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of loneliness, anxiety, and the desperate yearning for the presence of the beloved.

Here's a breakdown of the thoughts and background behind the lyrics:

Verse 1:

• The imagery of the "sun going down" and "losing light" suggests a sense of impending darkness and hopelessness.
• "No one else around but me" emphasizes the speaker's isolation.
• The "moving shadows and grinding teeth" are internal manifestations of the speaker's anxieties and the inability to rest.

Pre-Chorus:

• The repetition of "Without you" highlights the speaker's complete reliance on their partner for emotional security and comfort.
• The lines "There ain't no place for me to hide" and "There's no way I can sleep tonight" underscore the vulnerability and the overwhelming sense of unease.

Chorus:

• "Slipping into bad dreams" is the central metaphor for the speaker's current state of mind. The absence of their partner is the source of these nightmares.
• The repetition of "No sound when I cry" underlines the speaker's profound loneliness and the feeling of being unheard.
• The plea "I love you and I need you to set me free" speaks to the longing for their partner's return, to break free from the cycle of bad dreams and emotional turmoil.

Verse 2:

• The speaker's desperation is amplified in this verse. They desperately plead for their partner to "come around" and "settle down" their anxieties.
• "Hellish habits" suggest that the speaker's state of mind is becoming increasingly destructive without their partner.
• "What you waiting for? Something physical?" suggests that the speaker's partner might be hesitant to return, perhaps due to external pressures or misconceptions.

Pre-Chorus & Chorus (Repeated):

• The repetition emphasizes the cyclical nature of the speaker's emotional turmoil. They are trapped in a loop of longing, anxiety, and despair.

Post-Chorus:

• The final repetition of "Bad dreams" and "Baby, please" leaves the listener hanging, emphasizing the unresolved nature of the speaker's emotions and the urgency of their need for their partner.

Overall, the song captures the raw and vulnerable emotions of being deeply in love and the pain of separation. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation, loneliness, and the desperate hope that the beloved will return to provide comfort and peace of mind.

It's important to note that the specific background of the song, including the relationship dynamics and the reasons for the separation, are left open to interpretation. This allows listeners to connect with the song on a personal level and find their own meaning in the lyrics.