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.
On a crowded beach in a distant time
At the height of summer; see a boy of five
At the water's edge so nimble and free
Jumping over the ripples, looking way out to sea
Now a man comes up from amongst the throng
Takes the young boy's hand, and his hand is strong
And the child feels safe, yeah, the child feels brave
As he's carried in those arms up and over the waves
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
Let's move forward now and the child's seventeen
With a girl in the back seat, tugging at his jeans
And she knows what she wants; she guides with her hand
As a voice cries inside him: "I'm a man! I'm a man!"
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
Now the man meets a woman, unlike all the rest
He doesn't know it yet, but he's out of his depth
And he thinks he can run; it's a matter of pride
But he keeps coming back like a cork on the tide
Well the years hurry by, and the woman loves the man
Then one night in the dark she grabs hold of his hand
Says: "There, can you feel it kicking inside?"
And the man gets a shiver right up and down his spine
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
So the clock moves around, and the child is a joy
But Death doesn't care just who it destroys
Now the woamn gets sick, thins down to the bone
She says: "Where I'm going next, I'm going alone."
Deeper water, deeper water
On a distant beach, lonely and wild
At a later time, see a man and a child
And the man takes the child up into his arms
Takes her over the breakers
To where the water is calm
Deeper water, deeper water
Deeper water, calling them on
At the height of summer; see a boy of five
At the water's edge so nimble and free
Jumping over the ripples, looking way out to sea
Now a man comes up from amongst the throng
Takes the young boy's hand, and his hand is strong
And the child feels safe, yeah, the child feels brave
As he's carried in those arms up and over the waves
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
Let's move forward now and the child's seventeen
With a girl in the back seat, tugging at his jeans
And she knows what she wants; she guides with her hand
As a voice cries inside him: "I'm a man! I'm a man!"
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
Now the man meets a woman, unlike all the rest
He doesn't know it yet, but he's out of his depth
And he thinks he can run; it's a matter of pride
But he keeps coming back like a cork on the tide
Well the years hurry by, and the woman loves the man
Then one night in the dark she grabs hold of his hand
Says: "There, can you feel it kicking inside?"
And the man gets a shiver right up and down his spine
Deeper water, deeper water, deeper water, calling him on
So the clock moves around, and the child is a joy
But Death doesn't care just who it destroys
Now the woamn gets sick, thins down to the bone
She says: "Where I'm going next, I'm going alone."
Deeper water, deeper water
On a distant beach, lonely and wild
At a later time, see a man and a child
And the man takes the child up into his arms
Takes her over the breakers
To where the water is calm
Deeper water, deeper water
Deeper water, calling them on
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I agree with you jubie I think it's sayin enjoy the good while it lasts coz it could b gone 2moro