The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
"Verse 1:
Moving down the streams of my lifetime
Pools of fascination in my sleep
Cooling off the fire of my longing
Warming up my cold within his heat
Bouncing down the walls of inhibition
Evaporating all of my fears
Baptizing me into complete submission
Desolving my condition with his tears
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
It's just like the waters, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Verse 2:
Coursing thru my senses he's prevailing
Floating thru the space of my design
Drowning me I find my inside sailing
Drinking in the mainstream of his mind
Filling up the cup of my emotions
Spilling over into all I do
If only I could get lost in his ocean
Surviving on the thought of loving you
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years, in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Verse 3:
Bathing in the fountain of his essence
He causes my expression to remain
Humbled on the mountain by his presence
Washing my intentions with his name
Sealing off the floodgates of his passion
Saving all his liquid for his own
Moisturizing me to satisfaction
In my imagination, all alone
He's pouring out his soul to me for hours and hours
Drawing out my nature with his hands
Yearning, I'm so thristy for his power
Burning to be worthy of his land
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Cleaning me, he's purging me, and moving me around
He's bathed and he's cleaned me, and moving me around
Around, and around and around.... and around
Washing me, cleaning me, moving me around
He's purging me, he's been cleaning me and moving me around
And around ........ and around"
Moving down the streams of my lifetime
Pools of fascination in my sleep
Cooling off the fire of my longing
Warming up my cold within his heat
Bouncing down the walls of inhibition
Evaporating all of my fears
Baptizing me into complete submission
Desolving my condition with his tears
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
It's just like the waters, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Verse 2:
Coursing thru my senses he's prevailing
Floating thru the space of my design
Drowning me I find my inside sailing
Drinking in the mainstream of his mind
Filling up the cup of my emotions
Spilling over into all I do
If only I could get lost in his ocean
Surviving on the thought of loving you
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years, in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Verse 3:
Bathing in the fountain of his essence
He causes my expression to remain
Humbled on the mountain by his presence
Washing my intentions with his name
Sealing off the floodgates of his passion
Saving all his liquid for his own
Moisturizing me to satisfaction
In my imagination, all alone
He's pouring out his soul to me for hours and hours
Drawing out my nature with his hands
Yearning, I'm so thristy for his power
Burning to be worthy of his land
Chorus: It's just like the water
I ain't felt this way in years
It's just like the water, the water
I ain't felt this way in years
Cleaning me, he's purging me, and moving me around
He's bathed and he's cleaned me, and moving me around
Around, and around and around.... and around
Washing me, cleaning me, moving me around
He's purging me, he's been cleaning me and moving me around
And around ........ and around"
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I feel like she was singing about God. In the intro to the song, she speaks of the song being about what she went through after she rebelled. The lyrics themselves have a sort of reference to divine intervention.
the only version i've heard of this song was on mtv unplugged, but it seemed like a good enough song, with a hypnotic sound of guitar strumming of Lauryn's. Lauryn Hill is one hell of a lyricist, with deep soulfull meanings to her songs, she also puts the best of emotions in the songs as she sings them, shes not just going through the motions.
I agree with Ches, theres just so many things that point to God or the higher being...what have you. for example "water" title and throughout the song...symbol of purity and baptism or rebirth, then theres another biblical comparison with the "humbled on the mountain by his presence" ...just like Moses was when he got the 10 commandments...i mean the list continues with the metaphors to the bible. The bottom line is...the girl can flat out sing a song (hehe)
its very clearly about God, and her relationship with Him. Enough said
clearly about god. you can tell but the fact that 'he' is written with a capital 'H'.