You and I are like oil and water
And we've been trying, trying, trying
Oh, to mix it up

We've been dancing on a volcano
And we've been crying, crying, crying
Over blackened soles

Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather

I've been smiling with anchors on my shoulders
And I've been dying, dying, dying
Oh, to let them go

Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
It will not be the last time
There is no parasol that could shelter this weather

Babe, this wouldn't be the first time
Will not be the last time
We were trying to believe everything would get better

We've been lying to each other
Hey, babe! Let's just call it, call it, call it
Oh, what it is

Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil and water
Oil


Lyrics submitted by MakeYourSelf101

Oil and Water Lyrics as written by Brandon Charles Boyd Benjamin Lee Kenney

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Oil and Water song meanings
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53 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Let's just call it, what it is. Oil and water.

    To me, it's not about a relationship that doesn't work; it's about one that WILL work because of this open acknowledgment of differences and obstacles. Totally gorgeous.

    jewyjewman4on December 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about humanity, just as I see Light Grenades as being. (you can go check my post there)

    We build cities by volcanoes then cry when people die, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT? It is saying disasters happen but we lie to our selves that everything is alright and no one is going to die, but frankly, shit happens and we can't protect our selves from everything. The soul of humanity tries to shelter its self from problems. It's happened before and it will happen again.

    Also.. mixing oil and water, it seems that oil has become more important to us than water sometimes.

    Mizzle13on December 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    Again I doubt anyone checks these but I wanted to comment...

    First off I think it is pretty basic in regards to what it is about. I think it is clearly about a failing relationship, at the point where they compare themselves to Oil and Water, which will never be able to mix no matter what. They keep trying, but realize they are just lying to each other, so they decide to call it what it is... Oil and Water... HOWEVER, the very next song is Diamonds and Coal, which I find very interesting, because that song is about how PRESSURE transforms COAL into a DIAMOND. The song even says inspire of this we're doing just fine, even diamonds start as coal. Give us time to shine. SO I am thinking that Oil and Water, was the couple accepting the fact that they have issues, and they may not mix, BUT because they called it what it is, and accepted it they were able to move past their differences and build around it. So in spite of it, they are doing fine, and turning their COAL of a relationship into a Diamond.

    TullyPoopson May 16, 2017   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hands down best song on the new CD

    Rageron November 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree.

    Spineron November 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I would have to agree as well

    loc4485on November 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, I think so too, that's why I thought I should post lyrics. Some of the words I couldn't understand clearly so feel free to correct.

    MakeYourSelf101on November 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is an awesome, awesome song!! Just a few corrections, though: I think it's "OVER blackened souls" instead of "the blackened souls" and "there is no PARASOL" instead of "no better soul" and "I've been smiling with ANCHORS on my shoulders" instead of "smiling with birds on my shoulders"

    bboyd_is_geniuson November 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah this is the best song on the album, followed closely by Diamonds and Coal.

    BlazeMEon November 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    aceite y agua

    Sandralinon November 29, 2006   Link

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