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.
There must be a forecast
That you won't let yourself see
So you keep watching as you're driftin'
Sail away from what you need
Why don't I just give you
Everything you'll take from me
'Cause nobody owns anything
If everyone is free
That's why
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we could carry on
God fearing people at the bottom of the sea
Walkin' without lanterns let a stone skip over thee
Hi ho we're weightless in the sea
Hi ho be gone and lets just dance
Waltz above the ocean
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
I've heard all of the stories
And in them I've put my trust
You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up
And I know what you're heart is telling you
'Cause my hearts telling me the same thing too
That this ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
That you won't let yourself see
So you keep watching as you're driftin'
Sail away from what you need
Why don't I just give you
Everything you'll take from me
'Cause nobody owns anything
If everyone is free
That's why
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we could carry on
God fearing people at the bottom of the sea
Walkin' without lanterns let a stone skip over thee
Hi ho we're weightless in the sea
Hi ho be gone and lets just dance
Waltz above the ocean
This ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
I've heard all of the stories
And in them I've put my trust
You gotta touch the bottom before you can come back up
And I know what you're heart is telling you
'Cause my hearts telling me the same thing too
That this ship is goin' down
Desperately I need a sound
A song to sing so we could carry on
Just let it be sung so we might carry on
Let it be sung so we
Let it be sung so we could carry on
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the song is about surfing and wiping out...ill give you a verse to verse break down.
Verse 1 (Jack Johnson)- when you are surfing you pay attention to the forecast a lot to kind of give you an idea of how strong the rip current is and how high the waves are. but usually you go out anyways even if its flat and as you drift with the current you watch the horizon for wave peaks. And while your waiting your drifting from your personal life. and the second stanza of verse one talks about how people give each other tips and helps each other out and its pretty much like a whole community out in the line up where "nobody owns anything and everyone is free."
Chorus- This is the wipe out. The ship is you and the board. and the sound is guidance so "desperately i need a sound" is a prayer for help. the song is again a metaphor for help so that they can carry on surfing.
Verse 2 (Matt Costa)- Basically in this verse Mother Ocean plays the role of God. If you fear the ocean while your surfing you are going to wipe out and end up "at the bottom of the sea" no matter what you do. you shouldn't really be out in the line up if you arent confident enough to handle the waves that what the whole "Hi Ho" part is about telling the people who lack that confidence to leave before they get seriously hurt. and the whole dancing the waltz above the ocean is a metaphor for surfing so "...let's just dance/ waltz above the ocean" is saying forget them lets just continue surfing.
Verse 3 (Zach Gill)- The stories are surfing legends that people pass around and tell about wipe outs they have experienced and most surfers believe them. and when you do wipe out you have to touch the bottom so you can push off of it to get back to the surface. cause when your in the water after a wipe out you have no idea which way is up. so yo should try to reach the bottom so you can position yourself. and what your heart is telling is instinct which is to survive.
I do agree with koukla and i think the song is about surfing and in this case surfing (especially the wipe out) is a metaphor for getting through rough times.