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.
My father tried to save me
He said believe in the spirit of God
Leave me alone
My mother tried to heal me
She said just feel me, just feel me
Now leave me alone
My brother tried to scold me
He tried to hold me, to mold me
Now leave me alone
My sister tried to listen
But she couldn't understand
It's not how I stand, but where I stand
And you talk
And you talk
And you talk
And then you walk
And you get what you wanted all along
And then you walk
And then you walk oil in the water
How come you can't be with me?
Oil in the fire
I remember how it used to be
Swan in the water
You're moving so elegantly
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
I know World War 3 tried to convince me
It was shouting on the radio and TV screen
Leave me alone
My angels tried to mess me
Constantly testing me and testing me
Now leave me alone
The devil tried to bless me
Confessing the debt
Leave me alone
My sister tried to listen
But she couldn't understand
It's not how I stand, but where I stand
And you talk
And you talk
And you talk
And then you walk
And you get what you wanted all along
And then you walk
And then you walk oil in the water
How come you can't be with me?
Oil in the fire
I remember how it used to be
Swan in the water
You're moving so elegantly
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
Oh Lord, oh Lord
So God move me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
Aww ohhhh the world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
This world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
This world is trying to break me, ooh is trying to break me
Ooh is trying to break me
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Lord, oh Lord
I don't want to wait, for you
He said believe in the spirit of God
Leave me alone
My mother tried to heal me
She said just feel me, just feel me
Now leave me alone
My brother tried to scold me
He tried to hold me, to mold me
Now leave me alone
My sister tried to listen
But she couldn't understand
It's not how I stand, but where I stand
And you talk
And you talk
And you talk
And then you walk
And you get what you wanted all along
And then you walk
And then you walk oil in the water
How come you can't be with me?
Oil in the fire
I remember how it used to be
Swan in the water
You're moving so elegantly
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
I know World War 3 tried to convince me
It was shouting on the radio and TV screen
Leave me alone
My angels tried to mess me
Constantly testing me and testing me
Now leave me alone
The devil tried to bless me
Confessing the debt
Leave me alone
My sister tried to listen
But she couldn't understand
It's not how I stand, but where I stand
And you talk
And you talk
And you talk
And then you walk
And you get what you wanted all along
And then you walk
And then you walk oil in the water
How come you can't be with me?
Oil in the fire
I remember how it used to be
Swan in the water
You're moving so elegantly
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
Oh Lord, oh Lord
So God move me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
The world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
Aww ohhhh the world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
This world is trying to break me, is trying to break me
This world is trying to break me, ooh is trying to break me
Ooh is trying to break me
Oh Lord, oh Lord
Lord, oh Lord
I don't want to wait, for you
Lyrics submitted by lesimonemusic
Swan in the Water Lyrics as written by Justin Nozuka
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think that it's not about a relationship, but about life choices that have been made or that need to be made. Everyone has an opinion about what needs to be done and they try to convince him to do what they tell him.
In the first verse, his Dad tries to "save" him by telling him that he needs to believe in the spirit of God, but he flat out rejects it. Mom tries to heal him by doing what all mothers do: loving on their children. He sorta accepts it (the "now" suggests it), but in the end he wants to be left alone. The brother tries to knock some sense into him while at the same time trying to comfort him and mold him into the person he wants him to be, but like mom he eventually wants to be left alone. Sis is a bit more understanding and isn't trying to force him into anything, but she doesn't understand that it's not the manner in what he's doing, it's where he's choosing to do it.
When he sings "And you talk and then you walk", he's saying that they try to force the issue then they give up. Then he eventually does what they want, and they still walk away.
In the chorus, the first imagery is oil in water. Oil to me represents the words/conversations and the water represents him showing that they don't mix. The second imagery, oil and fire (fire being his actions), shows that the words are feeding his actions, as fire is feed by oil. The swan represents the past and how things were easier and more peaceful. All the while, he questions why no one will support him, and their words burn him because he can remember a time when they used to support him.
The second verse opens with the media/world telling him what he should do, but he immediately rejects it. Then his angels watching over him, constantly test him to see if he does what they what him to do; he goes along with it, but tells them to leave him alone. The devil tries to reward him for his behavior while simultaneously blackmailing him, but he eventually tells him to leave him alone. The sister repeats from the first verse.
It ends with the world trying to force him into something that he really doesn't want, trying to "break him" of his individuality.