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.
I salute at the threshold of the North Sea, and my mind
And I nod to the boredom that drove me here to face the tide
And swim, I swim, oh swim
Dip a toe in the ocean, oh how it hardens, and it numbs
The rest of me is a version of man built to collapse in crumbs
And if I hadn't come now to the coast to disappear
I may have died in a landslide of rocks, and hopes, and fears
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Up to my knees now do a wave, do a dive
You see I see my life and for though it's my first and perhaps last time
Let's call me a baptist, call this a drowning of the past
She is there on the shoreline throwing stones at my back
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
And the water is taller than me,
And the land is a marker alone
All I have is a body adrift in water, salt, and sky
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
And I nod to the boredom that drove me here to face the tide
And swim, I swim, oh swim
Dip a toe in the ocean, oh how it hardens, and it numbs
The rest of me is a version of man built to collapse in crumbs
And if I hadn't come now to the coast to disappear
I may have died in a landslide of rocks, and hopes, and fears
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Up to my knees now do a wave, do a dive
You see I see my life and for though it's my first and perhaps last time
Let's call me a baptist, call this a drowning of the past
She is there on the shoreline throwing stones at my back
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
And the water is taller than me,
And the land is a marker alone
All I have is a body adrift in water, salt, and sky
So I swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Swim, until you can't see land
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Are you a man, are you a bag of sand
Lyrics submitted by CraigLindsay, edited by gargoyle85, Motoko, alf1053044
Swim Until You Can't See Land Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think (as others do) that this song is about making efforts to forget the past, most likely a past relationship.
"We salute at the threshold of the North Sea in my mind And a nod to the boredom that drove me here to face the tide and swim."
I think this is the formal acknowledgement of the ending of the relationship and him realizing it's time to move on (or "swim").
"Dip the toe in the ocean. Oh how it hardens and it numbs. The rest of me is a version of man, built to collapse into crumbs. And if I hadn't come down to the coast to disappear I may have died in a land-slide of the rocks, the hopes and fears."
I think dipping a toe in the ocean is a metaphor for "testing the waters" again after the relationship, which can be difficult. I think a large part of him wanted to stay in the relationship and if he hadn't made up his mind to move on that he may have lived out his days in a relationship that didn't work.
Swimming until you can't see land I believe is simply representing taking the steps necessary to forget a significant other. The man v. bag of sand (as pointed out above) I think means do you have the guile to push forward and separate yourself from your ex or are you going to let them drag you down/back to them?
"Up to my knees now, do I wait? Do I dive? The sea has seen my like before though it's my first and perhaps last time. Let's call me a baptist, call this the drowning of the past. She's there on the shoreline throwing stones at my back."
He has made a few steps forward - should he keep going or turn back to the girl? He's been single before but perhaps never like this (after a difficult breakup). The baptism line to me is transparent - getting rid of the past and starting anew. The shoreline reference is probably that the girl is either close enough to turn back to (within a stones throw) or that she is taking active steps to prevent him from leaving (throwing stones at him).
"Now the water's taller than me and the land is a marker line All I am is a body adrift in water, salt and sky."
I think this is a success story. He is officially over the relationship (he is out of the shallows and the shore is distant/almost out of sight) and he is separated from his ex or anyone else ("all I am is a body adrift in water, salt and sky").
Amazing song ... guy makes a brave effort to move on from a painful relationship, "swim" into an ocean of uncertainty, since if he stays on the shore too long and brood over his past, he may die of a "landslide" of regret and self-pity.<br /> <br /> Saw these guys live, and they rocked the house!!!
awesome interpretation...I think you are spot on!
The song seems easy enough to interpret. I reckon he's going with the theme of the album. It's much more uplifting. It's about letting go of the past, everything in the world. All his hopes and fears which might have been to much to live with:
"And if I hadn't come down to the coast to disappear I may have died in a land-slide of the rocks, the hopes and fears."
It's optimistic, he's going to fight and move on with everything he knows. Move into the unknown(the future) and not let it overwhelm.
It seems he's also moving on from a relationship as he refers to "she".
I could go into each line but I think it all makes sense if you look at it from the positive spin.
The beauty about Frightened Rabbit is you can take their lyrics in what ever way you like. Some quality song writing. There amazing live as well.
modernvinyl.tumblr.com/post/1200830297/the-winter-of-mixed-drinks-frightened-rabbit
youtube.com/watch
At one point he pretty much describes the meaning of the song. He was inspired but a scene in a movie called "The Wackness".
I personally think this song is all about ambition, and doing what you actually need and dream of doing every night.
"if I hadn't come down to the coast to disappear I may have died in a land-slide of rocks and hopes and fears." the hopes of being where you're not now and fears of what will happen if you try can be suffocating, and I think the rocks symbolize the metaphorically violent way loved ones, your wallet and other things grind you into you're current stand point.
The "she" he mentions are the memories and the worries that make him look back sometimes. And the ending is extremely hopeful in my interpretation. All he sees is endless water, salt and sky, and he can go anywhere, but land is still in view, it did not cease to exist.
This song killed me the first time I heard it because. Well it’s dark as fuck. And I just generally like that. But it’s the Best way to commit suicide. Watch the dude at onion av club he knew and was super concerned. Watch frightened rabbit play confetti on the onion av club. I knew as he did too this dude is in trouble. Those close to Scott did too. But the question is, you suspect. What do you do? Everyone did they’re best I’m sure but trouble happens. It was five years later. A seemingly beautiful person gone. I never knew. Midnight organ fight woke me up from a slumber. I’ve fallen again recently. Scott can’t wake me up again. And I mean that. I’m lost. Scott is gone. I guess I’ll figure something out. I’ll see, but never as clearly.
This song is a beauty. I love how different the feel is compared to the acoustic version Scott did for Off the Beaten Track, much dreamier. I do have a few corrections on the lyrics though.
And the nautical board-man that drove me here to face the tide I hear as; And a nod to the boredom that drove me here to face the tide
And the rest of me is a burgeoned man, built to collapse into crumbs I hear as; The rest of me is a version of man, built to collapse into crumbs
Small differences I know, but marked up for the sake of (potential) accuracy.
Think you're right about the lyrics. I was going on the acoustic version, so I couldn't hear that well. I've changed them, now :)
I absolutely love this song, and I love Frightened Rabbit.
could anyone tell me where i can listen to this song?
Thesixtyone.com <br /> :D<br /> should be the first song! if not, just go to explore click search and find it
Thesixtyone.com <br /> :D<br /> should be the first song! if not, just go to explore click search and find it
This song is beautiful. Frightened Rabbit just get better and better every time I hear them. I love the Midnight Organ Fight and based on the strenght of this song, I've got high hopes for The Winter of Mixed Drinks!! I think the songs about someone who just wants to get away from it all coz all of the 'hopes and fears' are beginning to overwhelm him. Scott is a fantastic vocalist and lyricist!
i agree- they definitely improve with every new release, and scott is perfect.
This song is absolutely amazing, especially the last bridge and the lead into the last chorus. I think it's just about someone who is breaking away from the boredom of the everyday in order to survive.