This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
For one hundred days,
we set sail without as much as one distraction.
But it seems that I have sank, because of my past actions,
and mistakes that I have made,
and attempts to evade
all the consequences now being washed away.
Washed away…
They said a storm was coming and, "You'll be washed away!"
Maybe now I'll be made clean,
while I bathe in your seas as I seek out all the dreams that I once had,
of a life already lived,
of a gift already given,
that was taken from me
taken from me
far too soon.
Halt! Where is your security now,
when you begged for a lifeline,
and were thrown an anchor instead?
And, has the smallest grain of sand traveled up the hourglass?
Or, has the sun ever set in the east for you, or any other man?
Face forward, swim towards the surface.
And look ahead to the life on the new horizon.
There was never any way of going back to the old world
with any sort of victory,
or good tidings of new discovery.
Maybe now I'll be made clean,
while I bathe in your seas as I seek out all the dreams that I once had,
of a life already lived,
of a gift already given,
that was taken from me
taken from me
far too soon.
Fortune never favored me,
and the oceans were never big enough
to hold all of our iniquities
and secrets in its clear, blue embrace.
I will ascend from the bottom to be born again.
we set sail without as much as one distraction.
But it seems that I have sank, because of my past actions,
and mistakes that I have made,
and attempts to evade
all the consequences now being washed away.
Washed away…
They said a storm was coming and, "You'll be washed away!"
Maybe now I'll be made clean,
while I bathe in your seas as I seek out all the dreams that I once had,
of a life already lived,
of a gift already given,
that was taken from me
taken from me
far too soon.
Halt! Where is your security now,
when you begged for a lifeline,
and were thrown an anchor instead?
And, has the smallest grain of sand traveled up the hourglass?
Or, has the sun ever set in the east for you, or any other man?
Face forward, swim towards the surface.
And look ahead to the life on the new horizon.
There was never any way of going back to the old world
with any sort of victory,
or good tidings of new discovery.
Maybe now I'll be made clean,
while I bathe in your seas as I seek out all the dreams that I once had,
of a life already lived,
of a gift already given,
that was taken from me
taken from me
far too soon.
Fortune never favored me,
and the oceans were never big enough
to hold all of our iniquities
and secrets in its clear, blue embrace.
I will ascend from the bottom to be born again.
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First of the song seems like he's talking about how his life was going fine, but his past, and decisions he's made, have/are catching up with him. No matter what he's done to cover it all up. The chorus right after makes it seem as though someone told him this would inevitably happen too. As it usually does.. And he's saying maybe now he'll "be made clean" since he's trying to do right, and make up or redeem to correct himself/his life again. Then, it sounds like he's saying that he tried to do better back then and didn't want things that way, but there was no way he could have done better. So he accepts it, decides to forget it, and to just look forward to the new future. Because he knows there's no way of going back and changing the past. "Fortune never favored" him, and things can't be held back or hidden forever. He will let go, and "be born again". Basically.. (IMO) The past can never be forgotten, and will always come back to you. But that doesn't mean you have to dwell on it or let it bring you down. You shouldn't. Just look up and forward to the future. Tomorrow is a new day. or There's always tomorrow to do better.
I'm surprised this band is as un-heard of as they are. They're really goooooooooood. :) But i think it's about getting over someone and starting new. But that's probably terribly wrong. I just looked at the song just now. lol
I'm surprised this band is as un-heard of as they are. They're really goooooooooood. :) But i think it's about getting over someone and starting new. But that's probably terribly wrong. I just looked at the song just now. lol
when i listen to this song i think about the Odyssey
seems like its about the great flood from the perspective of someone who wasnt on the arc to me, they are a christian band arent they?
although many of their lyrics can be interpretted that way, im pretty sure theyve never come out and said either way if they are or arent... so that leads me to beleive they are not a christian band. i love christian music but i really dont want to consider them as a christian band bc ive been disappointed by bands before whohad christian lyrics and later came out and said they arent a christian band even though their songs clearly show they are a christian band (which i consider fake- examples, attack attack and the crimson armada). though jamies elsewheres songs can be interpreted as christian lyrics, i dont beleive they are like these foresaid bands. but, i love jamies elsewhere. i hope that answered your question
It seems to me that this song is About baptism, the way he talks about being washed in the water, amd how when he ascends from the bottom to be born again, and baptism is the process of washing away sins, and essentially the person you used to be and you come out of the water a new man, what do you think?
I think the start of the song talks about how life is going fine, no distractions or big troubles and then things change and his actions catch up to him and so a "storm" comes.
Although you would normally think of a storm as bad, this storm has the potential to clean him and fulfill his dreams. Then the storm (which I think represents God) puts the man in his place showing him how He controls everything. He tells the man to keep going towards the surface, a new world (way of life), and that there is nothing beneficial for them in the old life.
But then I'm not sure what the last part is talking about. Possibly how he feels that his past actions are too big to be swept away? That's my best guess.
Its seems to pretty much be about having a good life and given everything, but being haunted by bad decisions made and an all around bad past. Then being "made clean" and making your life better. Basically it seems to be about second chances.