Broken Social Scene – Swimmers

General CommentThe song is about two people who can't quite sync, sexually -- but the sexual relationship is surely a metaphor for the broader personal relationship. "I saw you down there I know you were tired I saw you You looked like a swimmer" is a reference to oral sex (as is "I was going down.") BSS has a penchant for blunt, even crude, sexuality sometimes, and it comes out here. Some of the lyrics are wrong above. Per the Broken Social Scene webpage lyric book, it's: "you look good, but you smell bad." In a nutshell: Performing oral sex on one another might be good ("you're the best"), but it isn't satisfying. She wants the emotional side of it too -- face to face, in sync, simultaneous bliss. More broadly, she wants a more fulfilling relationship.

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  @LucasCorso

General CommentThe guy's moving too so slow for her. She's doing all the work in the relationship. He's chillin' in the background only there for the good aspects about the relationship(physicality and her presence so he wouldn't have to be alone). The day never comes when he finally mans up and does his part in the relationship. There is some sexual connotation in this song, which makes it soo good. There can be two interpretations.

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  @tklinesdecline

General CommentI feel awfully crass to be the one to suggest this, but given their history of explicitly mentioning sexual acts, I think this song might be a double entendre dealing with the singer receiving head. I know, I know, crass!, but the frequent phrasing "going down", "down there", and the phrase "why can't you satisfy me?" all are too pointedly suggestive, in my opinion, especially when combined with the decidedly sexy tone Amy Millan sings it all in. I don't usually have a dirty mind, but I can't see a more clear intent of meaning, here.

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  @austere
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  Think about a guy with a swimming cap (like the ones racers wear), kind of phallic. Maybe it's a stretch but it does make sense! This might be my favorite BSS song (not because of the possibility of innuendo).

  Flag pezdelon June 01, 2010  

General Commentwell i guess i get to be first !

this is my favorite BSS song ever. the beat and emilys voice are intoxicating. but what does it really mean?

she seems to be talking about someone she was in love with but was always waiting for them to act, but i guess im lost in the analogy of them being a swimmer.

so does swimmer = struggle?

the guy seems to always be procrastinating in everything in life (kind of like a loser?) and she just cant wait anymore?


anyways. hope you guys enjoy this song too, because it kicks ass!

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  @otapnam

General Commenti think the swimmer analogy is that the person she is talking about is just kind of leisurely "floating" through life and not taking any action. maybe.

and i agree that she is waiting for this guy to act.

such a kick-ass song. it sounds amazing. i wish it were longer.

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  @dontxdeconstruct

General Commentthis song was written for me or i was written for the song, i'm not sure. it's just that it seems she's talking in the point of view of someone i know and i'm the swimmer :]. broken social scene = love.

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  @backy

General Commenti think you could be right, austere. after reading it over again, your interpretation makes a lot of sense.

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  @dontxdeconstruct

General Comment"the beat and emilys voice are intoxicating."

"in my opinion, especially when combined with the decidedly sexy tone Amy Millan sings it all in."

woah woah! thats confusing. just to clarify, it's Emily Haines singing.

& i agree with otapnam's interpretation......:D

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  @sanscosm

General Commentyeah emily voice is like cream....I always sleep in for school and play this song its like my anthem.

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  @J___P

General Commentthe sexual connotation is definitely there, but it's not the whole of it. the lyrics are pretty literal, not much to guess at. beautiful song.

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  @kazk