Enter Sandman

Yesterday afternoon, I was sitting in a restaurant enjoying some after-lunch reading with a cup of coffee. Des Howell (Brian Wilson) is arguing with his mother over whether or not he needs psychiatric treatment, foreshadowing the "Garuda" scene I quoted in my last post.

"I have no need for [Dr.] Tockette," I respond. "I've made great strides. Why, just yesterday I almost went to bed. I almost got into my nappies, pulled down the covers and waited for Mr. Sandman."

"He says you won’t let him in the house."

The moment I read that, a new song came on in the restaurant's background music. I soon recognized it as "Enter Sandman" by Metallica.

Due to contextual ambiguity as to the antecedent of he and him, we could misread Des's mother as saying Des won't let Mr. Sandman into the house -- won't, that is, say, "Enter, Sandman!"

The Metallica song is about nightmares, which is fitting since, though I very rarely have nightmares these days, I did have one the night before. As recounted in "Flight of the Gargoyle," it was a nightmare to which I had to consent first, just as Des's mother says of Dr. Tockette (or, it could be, of Mr. Sandman), "He says it's necessary for your treatment that you open the door and invite him in." Like a vampire, or Mephistopheles. But also like Jesus.

I suppose when a Beach Boy grows up, he becomes a Sand Man.