By The Sea

Suede





She can walk out anytime anytime she wants to walk out that's fine
She can walk out anytime anytime she feels that life has passed her
by
And when I start my new life I won't touch the ground
I'm gonna try hard this time not to touch the ground.
He can walk out anytime anytime he wants to walk out that's fine
He can walk out anytime across the sand into the sea into the
brine
And when I start my new life I won't touch the ground,
I'm gonna try hard this time not to touch the ground.
So we sold the car and quit the job
and shook some hands and wiped the make-up right off,
And we said our good-byes to the bank
left Seven Sisters for a room in a seaside shack,
And when I start my new life I won't touch the ground,
I'm gonna try hard this time not to touch the grounds
...it's by the sea we'll breed
...into the sea we'll bleed...




Lyrics submitted by 3ssence

By the Sea Lyrics as written by Brett Anderson

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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By The Sea song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +4
    General CommentSuicide???
    How can anyone see "suicide" in this song...? :-0
    It's a very beautiful song whose simple meaning is about letting go of all the chains in everyday life, job-bank-7sisters, breaking free and live a simpler, possibly happier life.
    A choice many of us toy with, now and again, but very few have the actual courage to do... So I think that the 2 characters in the song sort of redeem us all, in a way...
    Talklikeawomanon September 04, 2011   Link
  • +3
    General Commentit is an optomistic song, despite its sombre feel. the lyrics are about not sinking to a depression after a relationship ended. its also about sacrifice..."So we sold the car and quit the job
    And shook some hands and wiped the make-up right off,
    And we said our good-byes to the bank
    Left Seven Sisters for a room in a seaside shack"

    this is about making sacrifices for a better future, and sometimes in life, you have to lose things that you dont really need in order to appreciate the simpler things in life. its one of my all time favourite songs and the song that truly got me interested in suede as a band when i saw them perform it on jools holland show by chance.
    ukguyon April 26, 2007   Link
  • +2
    MemoryI can relate to this beautiful song. I gave up my job from the urban rat race to live by the sea. I'm now a surfer and live a much more chilled lifestyle earning less but enjoying life to the full.
    ZiggyFitzon September 10, 2014   Link
  • +1
    General Commentthis song is so beautiful
    bibaon April 23, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI don't see it as a threat.
    I see it as wonderful optimism.
    nhs_boyon May 03, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General CommentI think it is about realizing you don't want to lead the sort of life you have been leading anymore, the "ground" being all of the profane things considered the most worthy in modern times. When you feel like being spoiled by them you look for a clean place or clear state of mind, that being the sea.
    Also, the suicide motive. Feels like someone is struggling about which way to take out of the ugly world they are in.
    IngaPon September 02, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"and when i start my new life i won't touch the ground" this sounds like a threat, a cryptic way of saying that the they never want to be heard from again.
    paul_bankson October 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentJust discovered this song. It makes me want to cry, it's so lovely. I agree it's sort of wistfully optimistic. It makes me depressed, though, because it's another wonderful Suede song that I'll probably never see live.
    Strangleron April 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI'm a lot more pessimistic than you guys.

    "He can walk out anytime,
    Anytime he wants to walk out, that's fine,
    He can walk out anytime,
    Across the sand, into the sea, into the brine"

    To me, this means he leaves his known life to a life in which he doesn't have any responsibilities, he can enjoy himself, and when he wants to die, he'll have the sea right next to him. He could have children and make a new life right by the sea, trying to keep dreaming, or he could kill himself if he "touches the ground".
    girlgettingbittereron December 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentHe/she can commit suicide if they want, by walking into the sea
    In their afterlife(new life) they won't touch the ground again
    (coz they will be under the sea)
    Praetorianson April 24, 2011   Link

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