You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me

Some came to conquer, some came to understand
Some came to live their lives as best they can
Me, I looked up at the stars to find my way
But I was young and I got them mixed up
And so forgot my name
As I tried to remember you were standing next to me
While other came seeking power
You, you had come to set them free

You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me
You are what you are, you are
You are what you are, you are
You be what you are, you are, you be what you are

Women of salt and earth they tell the same story
They saw you walking wounded wearing rags of glory
And when you rejoiced they saw you smiling at your rejoicing
And when you wept they saw you smiling at your weeping
When you smiled they saw you smiling at your smiling
And you said that's the way I've survived these years of dust and blood

You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me

You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me

You are what you are, you are
You are what you are, you are
You be what you are, you are, you be what you are

Suffer little children, suffer sister, brother too, suffer mother, father
That's all the world can promise you in our hearts we feel it
A mighty dream is coming true hold on and we'll dream it
Keep it up we're going to push it through
Don't give it up, don't give it up
Don't give it up, don't give it up
Don't give it up, don't give it up
Don't give it up

You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me

You are the rolling ocean, you are the mighty sea
You are the breath that brings each new day to me
You are what you are, you are
You are what you are, you are
You be what you are, you are, you be what you are


Lyrics submitted by losanum

Rolling Ocean [Remastered] Lyrics as written by Jonathan Paul Clegg

Lyrics © RHYTHM SAFARI PTY LTD, Downtown Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Rolling Ocean song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think this is a song of praise to God:

    "You are what you are, you be what you are" is a second person translation of Yahweh's "I am what I am".

    Seems a awfully lot like Johnny's referencing Christ here: "They saw you walking wounded Wearing rags of glory"

    And now that we're talking about spiritual ideas, this last verse seems like it references the human condition God has placed us in here: "Suffer little children Suffer sister, brother too Suffer mother, father That’s all the world can promise you In our hearts we feel it A mighty dream is coming true Hold on and we’ll dream it Keep it up we’re going to push it through Don’t give it up, don’t give it up"

    I've heard this song since my mom used to play it in the 90's, never thought of the lyrics in this way. Very touching.

    connorcon July 26, 2013   Link

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