Breathing Underwater

Metric

I'm the blade
You're the knife
I'm the weight
You're the kite
They were right when they said
We were breathing underwater
Out of place all the time
In a world that wasn't mine to take

I'll wait
Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?
Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?

I'm the blade
You're the knife
I'm the weight
You're the kite
They were right when they said
We should never meet our heroes
When they bow at their feet, in the end it wasn't me

Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?
Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?

Lights of days
Will beat a path through the mirrored maze
I can see the end
But it hasn't happened yet
I can see the end
But it hasn't happened yet

Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?
Is this my life?
Am I breathing underwater?

Am I breathing underwater?
Am I breathing underwater?


Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera, edited by Hobbitses, inasense, emma581

Breathing Underwater Lyrics as written by James Shaw Emily Haines

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Breathing Underwater song meanings
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  • +4
    My Interpretation

    The way I take it, this song is about maturing against your will in the throes of young love. Maybe they're high school sweethearts, maybe they're of a bohemian set... but they've obviously been told in the past that it's unsustainable and the narrator is beginning to grow up enough to see the merit in their ideas ("They were right when they said we were breathing underwater"). Maybe she's become disillusioned from their contemporaries and peers breaking up or throwing in the towel on the life they're leading, ("They were right when they said we should never meet our heroes") but while she feels self-conscious about their situation ("Is this my life? Am I breathing underwater?"), her lover doesn't agree and seems content to stay immersed ("I'm the weight, you're the kite").

    This is a particularly bittersweet song since she isn't expressing these thoughts to segue into a breakup, she's content to remain in this relationship, but is aware that the odds they're against ("I see the end, but it hasn't happened yet") and in the meantime, has to live with that knowledge. The lack of resolution gives this song some real heft (and Emily's delivery of the "never meet our heroes" line guts me every time). Incredible tune.

    DackAttacon September 10, 2012   Link

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