Please slow it down
There's a secret magic past world that you only notice when you're looking back at it
All I wanna do is turn around
I'm going down to sleep on the bottom of the ocean

Because I couldn't let go when the water hit the setting sun
Passing white daisies taking turns
Close the door walk into the street
Catching raindrops on your tongue

And for a minute it all stops but it won't last man
It's just a passing moment gone
Please slow it down
There's a secret place that I know where I could dig a grave out and climb underground for good

All I want to do is turn around
I'm going down to sleep on the bottom of the ocean
Because I couldn't let go when the water hit the setting sun
Passing white daisies taking turns

All those evenings on the back deck of our first apartment
They meant everything but the wind just carried em off
And you can't go back now just a passing moment gone


Lyrics submitted by SameOldStory, edited by ileanaleticia9, JAlPrufrock

White Daisy Passing Lyrics as written by Rocky Votolato

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

White Daisy Passing song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

26 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think this song was def inspired by The Great Gatsby: the characters are all living in the past and not appreciating life while we live it. the "white daisy" could refer to Daisy Buchanan, etc.

    (writing a paper on this right now, and so I have Fitzgerald on the brain)

    aliauthoron November 21, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    this song is all about regret in my opinion.

    andmywhetstoneon November 19, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I'm going down to sleep on the bottom of the ocean because I couldn't let go when the water hit the setting sun

    this lyric could make me cry.

    xdeathbydesigneron November 18, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I disagree with trentonite and argue that this song is most definitely about nostalgia of a past relationship with someone, if not fully then at least partly. The biggest clue is the line “all those evenings on the back deck of OUR first apartment”. Getting an apartment with someone is kind of a big step in most relationships - it’s very special feeling to finally call a place “ours” apartment instead of “mine”, which is why he mentions it. So, unless Rocky is gay, I don’t think he’d be reminiscing about the time he first became roommates with his best friend or whatever.

    Moving on, this song is very beautiful and sad in its lyrics. It is not about how sweet it is to reflect on life’s memories or about enjoying the moment because reminiscing never brings back the past. The guy is obviously nostalgic about a significant other to say the least, and also perhaps nostalgic for the good times with him/her and/or good/simpler times in the past in general.

    I could be wrong, but the “please slow it down” line of the chorus seems to me that he’s trying to talk things out with his ex or soon-to-be ex, telling her to calm down her hysteria or her trash-talking from the fight that their having or her walking out on him, basically to slow her momentum towards leaving him/things turning sour.

    Or also it could be Rocky just stating his thought of wanting time to slow down just a bit because he’s not over this girl and/or the good ol’ times and wants to be closer to this past than keeps getting farther away as time passes.

    The first one fits better because, although trentonite thinks otherwise, the “secret magic past world” line is probably Rocky trying to tell his girlfriend to perhaps reflect on their relationship and think about the good times before doing anything drastic, or even post-break-up trying to win her back, because in general you forget about ALL the good times with someone when not being existential every once in awhile. That she just keeps focusing on the bad when there is/was so much good in their relationship.

    Rocky really wants her back, or really wants to bring the relationship back to the way things used to be, those better, simpler times - “all I want to do is turn around”. But he can’t let go of this ideal as these good times are coming to an end or already ended - he couldn’t let go of the “setting sun”. And when you look at a sun setting on an ocean, it seems like it’s sinking to the bottom of the ocean as it disappears, and Rocky is down their latched onto it, essentially drowning.

    So yeah the two verses with him/them “passing white daises” is easier to interpret. It’s just two different memories of the good times that once were - very innocent, simple and beautiful like white daisy. And walking past daises is also very care/worryfree in it of yourself. Catching raindrops on your tongue? I mean, who does that shit anymore? I wish people that romantic still but you might be called kitchy for doing.

    Rocky also wants to die thinking about all this crap, “dig a grave out and climb underground for good”. Drama. I wouldn’t go that far.

    But yeah, time stopping the fun had in the rain and the wind metaphorically blowing away the memories on the back deck significant in that they are both very/relatively unstoppable forces. The sun setting too is pretty unstoppable.

    Rocky knows this. But he can still at the least be in denial and long and mourn about it all. This guy’s hurting.

    Sorry if i ruined the magic of this song, but that’s what I think it’s about, and why.

    thisguyuknoon October 02, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i expect a ton of comments on this song... it was on the OC tonight ... which is how i was introduced to it... i think its about moving on and getting over sumone ... and it means a lot to me in so many personal ways

    m/rockthecasbahm/on February 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    love it. i really like m/rockthecasbahm/'s thought on getting over someone, that could relate to it as well. i think it is about enjoying the moment, living life for all that it is and appreciating each detail as it happens. its so sad how much sweeter life is when we reflect back on our memories instead of while we are going through the emotions.

    lally123on February 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can't decide ... is it about getting over someone becuase they passed, or because they broke up?
    I love the line "all I want to do is turn around." Turn around literally and metaphorically. But it was just a "passing moment gone."

    jennieclaireon February 10, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I really like how its so chill. The albulm cover for this song is really neat too

    sweeteenhoodon March 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Problably one of my fave. rocky songs ever. i didnt know it was on the OC, prolly because i dont watch it. yeha its about memories about someone he used to love, in my opinion. great song

    itsme13on March 22, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    AWWW I HEART THIS SONG VERY MUCH.

    tis beautiful

    :-)

    ps. hey sexy

    Liizaon May 17, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
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.
Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Page
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.