--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you were sleeping on the sofa I put…" description: "\"When you were sleeping on the sofa I put my ear to your ear and listened to the echo of your dreams. That is the ocean I want to dive in, merge with th..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/jeffrey-mcdaniel-17829_arms_when-you-were-sleeping-on-the-sofa-i-put_1552218.png" --- # When you were sleeping on the sofa I put my ear to your… ![“When you were sleeping on the sofa I put my ear to your ear and listened to the echo of your dreams. That is the ocean I want to dive in, merge with the bright fish, plankton and pirate ships. I walk up to people on the street that kind of look like you and ask them the questions I would ask you…” quote by Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/jeffrey-mcdaniel-17829_arms_when-you-were-sleeping-on-the-sofa-i-put_1552218.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/jeffrey-mcdaniel-17829_arms_when-you-were-sleeping-on-the-sofa-i-put_1552218.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f5/jeffrey-mcdaniel-17829_arms_when-you-were-sleeping-on-the-sofa-i-put_1552218.png) > “When you were sleeping on the sofa I put my ear to your ear and listened to the echo of your dreams. That is the ocean I want to dive in, merge with the bright fish, plankton and pirate ships. I walk up to people on the street that kind of look like you and ask them the questions I would ask you. Can we sit on a rooftop and watch stars dissolve into smoke rising from a chimney? Can I swing like Tarzan in the jungle of your breathing? I don’t wish I was in your arms, I just wish I was peddling a bicycle toward your arms.” [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker longs to connect deeply with a loved one’s inner world, using vivid, surreal imagery to express yearning and intimacy. **In simple terms:** Longing to merge with a loved one’s inner world. Key Takeaway Seek deep emotional connection. Themes longing imagination intimacy Mood nostalgic dreamy hopeful Type poetic romantic metaphorical When to use this quote - nighttime walks - creative writing - relationship counseling - artistic collaboration Key Concepts surrealism psychology metaphor Questions to Reflect On - How can you translate these fantasies into tangible moments? - What does “the ocean of dreams” mean to you? A Different Perspective The poetic language may obscure practical steps for real connection. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Bicycle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bicycle/) [Breathing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breathing/) [Chimneys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimneys/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Dreams Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams-ocean-4053269/) [Ears](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ears/) [Echo Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/echo-dreams-3719857/) [Echoes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/echoes/) [Fishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fishes/) [Jungle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jungle/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Like you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-you/) [Listened Echo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listened-echo-4944488/) [Looks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looks/) [Ocean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean/) [Ocean Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ocean-want-1145811/) [Peddling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peddling/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pirate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate/) [Pirate ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pirate-ships/) [Plankton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plankton/) [Rising](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rising/) [Rooftops](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooftops/) [Ships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ships/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sofas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sofas/) [Stars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stars/) [Streets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/streets/) [Swings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swings/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Dive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-dive-1765977/) [Watches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/watches/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) ## Related quotes > [“Sunlight on orchids Lightning on water Twilight calls your name I have searched for you for centuries I am the woman who fell in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ladyaslan/sunlight-on-orchids-lightning-on-water-twilight-calls-your-name-i/) [Ladyaslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ladyaslan/) > [I listened for the echo, and I heard only praise —](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/i-listened-for-the-echo-and-i-heard-only-praise/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Not every lake dreams to be an ocean. Blessed are the ones who are happy with whom they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/not-every-lake-dreams-to-be-an-ocean-blessed-are-the-ones-who-are/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“I want to dive into him headfirst, submerge myself in the way he makes me feel, and not come up for air until I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cora-carmack/i-want-to-dive-into-him-headfirst-submerge-myself-in-the-way-he-makes/) [Cora Carmack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cora-carmack/) > [If your love is like a river that flows into the ocean, I want to be that ocean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jas-rob/if-your-love-is-like-a-river-that-flows-into-the-ocean-i-want-to-be/) [Jas&rob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jas-rob/) > [I want to take a dive, I want to take a chance. I want to make the most of every day I have. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-harris/i-want-to-take-a-dive-i-want-to-take-a-chance-i-want-to-make-the-most/) [Mark Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-harris/) > [There is a gulf as wide as an ocean between should and want, and I am drowning in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/there-is-a-gulf-as-wide-as-an-ocean-between-should-and-want-and-i-am/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“I want to fly over the mountain's peek as winds Want to bring up the sand of ocean's bottom Want to sprint faster then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-sangwan/i-want-to-fly-over-the-mountain-s-peek-as-winds-want-to-bring-up-the/) [Abhishek sangwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-sangwan/) > [“I want to dive in the deepest trench, get locked in the darkest room, get lost in the biggest maze, travel longest to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khushboo-suneja/i-want-to-dive-in-the-deepest-trench-get-locked-in-the-darkest-room/) [khushboo suneja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khushboo-suneja/) > [“I want to dive into his being, experience him with all 5 senses, drown in the waves of wonder enveloping my existence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/i-want-to-dive-into-his-being-experience-him-with-all-5-senses-drown/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [Whenever I look at the ocean, I always want to talk to people, but when I'm talking to people, I always want to look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/whenever-i-look-at-the-ocean-i-always-want-to-talk-to-people-but-when/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [Other nights ... I visualize to the point that I know exactly what I want to do: dive, glide, stroke, flip, reach the wall,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/other-nights-i-visualize-to-the-point-that-i-know-exactly-what-i-want/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Do you want Columbus to go across the ocean, or do you want to put a message in a bottle and hope that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-j-anderson/do-you-want-columbus-to-go-across-the-ocean-or-do-you-want-to-put-a/) [Kevin J. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-j-anderson/) > [The lake at Neverland is right in the very front, and you just want to dive in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-dees/the-lake-at-neverland-is-right-in-the-very-front-and-you-just-want-to/) [Rick Dees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-dees/) > [Scientists are always the ones who head into the ocean, but I want to take writers and politicians, people who can convey the beauty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hawkes/scientists-are-always-the-ones-who-head-into-the-ocean-but-i-want-to/) [Graham Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hawkes/) ## More by Jeffrey McDaniel > [I swallowed a hand grenade that never stops exploding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/i-swallowed-a-hand-grenade-that-never-stops-exploding/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [Now I'm just like everybody else, and it's so funny, the way monogamy is funny, the way someone falling down in the street is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/now-i-m-just-like-everybody-else-and-it-s-so-funny-the-way-monogamy/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [I've been ignored by prettier women than you, but none who carried the heavy pitchers of silence so far, without spilling a drop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/i-ve-been-ignored-by-prettier-women-than-you-but-none-who-carried-the/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“Reminiscing in the drizzle of Portland, I notice the ring that’s landed on your finger, a massive insect of glitter, a chandelier shining at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/reminiscing-in-the-drizzle-of-portland-i-notice-the-ring-that-s/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“Hey you, dragging the halo- how about a holiday in the islands of grief? Tongue is the word I wish to have with you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/hey-you-dragging-the-halo-how-about-a-holiday-in-the-islands-of-grief/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“Sometimes I hate this language with its false words like sunset. The sun does not set. It doesn't rise either. It just stays there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/sometimes-i-hate-this-language-with-its-false-words-like-sunset-the/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“Disasterology The Badger is the thirteenth astrological sign. My sign. The one the other signs evicted: unanimously. So what? ! Think I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/disasterology-the-badger-is-the-thirteenth-astrological-sign-my-sign/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [Even when I'm dead, I'll swim through the Earth, like a mermaid of the soil, just to be next to your bones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/even-when-i-m-dead-i-ll-swim-through-the-earth-like-a-mermaid-of-the/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“When I haven't been kissed in a long time, I walk behind well-dressed women on cold, December mornings and shovel the steamy exhalations pluming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/when-i-haven-t-been-kissed-in-a-long-time-i-walk-behind-well-dressed/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [No rescue boat can save the touches I left bobbing in the wild ocean of your flesh, but if they cut open your heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/no-rescue-boat-can-save-the-touches-i-left-bobbing-in-the-wild-ocean/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [Once I thought I found love, but then I realized I was just out of cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/once-i-thought-i-found-love-but-then-i-realized-i-was-just-out-of/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“I'm sitting opposite you in the bar, waiting for you to uncross your boundaries. I want to rip off your logic and make passionate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/i-m-sitting-opposite-you-in-the-bar-waiting-for-you-to-uncross-your/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [But one kiss levitates above all the others. The intersection of function and desire. The I do kiss. The I’ll love you through a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/but-one-kiss-levitates-above-all-the-others-the-intersection-of/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [“The Quiet World In an effort to get people to look into each other’s eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/the-quiet-world-in-an-effort-to-get-people-to-look-into-each-other-s/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) > [I want to rip off your logic and make passionate sense to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-mcdaniel/i-want-to-rip-off-your-logic-and-make-passionate-sense-to-you/) [Jeffrey McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) [Explore all 36 Jeffrey McDaniel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-mcdaniel/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you were sleeping on the sofa I put my ear to your ear and listened to the echo of your dreams. That is the ocean I want to dive in, merge with the bright fish, plankton and pirate ships. I walk up to people on the street that kind of look like you and ask them the questions I would ask you. Can we sit on a rooftop and watch stars dissolve into smoke rising from a chimney? Can I swing like Tarzan in the jungle of your breathing? 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