"As I Lay Me Down" is a song composed and performed by American singer-songwriter Sophie B. Hawkins. It was released in February 1995 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. Release 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", 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 the summer of 1995, it became a huge AC hit as well as a top ten song. A remix also helped the song gain airplay on other kinds of stations. "As I Lay Me Down" (with two different video versions) peaked on the charts in the autumn of 1995. "As I Lay Me Down" was also included on the album All Time Greatest Movie Songs, released by Columbia Records in 1999. Critical reception 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