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.
After all this time after all these seasons
After your one decision to go to the water for reason
Now it's only the ocean and you
And all these lines will all be erased soon
They go out with the tide
Then come back with the waves
It's only the ocean and you
You don't want you don't wait
You don't love but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
When this work is done and this coat is dry
When this world is too much, it will be
Only the ocean and me
When these sails go up, mountains fade away
Stars come out, I'm finally free
It's only the ocean and me
You don't want, you don't wait
You don't love, but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
And you pull me in
You don't want, you don't wait
You don't love, but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
And you pull me in
You just roll over me and you pull me in!
After your one decision to go to the water for reason
Now it's only the ocean and you
And all these lines will all be erased soon
They go out with the tide
Then come back with the waves
It's only the ocean and you
You don't want you don't wait
You don't love but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
When this work is done and this coat is dry
When this world is too much, it will be
Only the ocean and me
When these sails go up, mountains fade away
Stars come out, I'm finally free
It's only the ocean and me
You don't want, you don't wait
You don't love, but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
And you pull me in
You don't want, you don't wait
You don't love, but you don't hate
You just roll over me and you pull me in
And you pull me in
You just roll over me and you pull me in!
Lyrics submitted by meinside70
Only The Ocean Lyrics as written by Jack Hody Johnson Zachary Dylan Gill
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I really, really love this song.
I've always thought of it as a love song from Jack Johnson to the ocean.
The ocean calls to him and pulls him in.....snd he needs to go to it. When he's there, all of his stress goes away and he can be free, let go and relax.
The ocean doesn't love, hate, want or wait...I take that as the ocean doesn't judge or need from anything from him. When the world has given him too much to handle, JJ can go the ocean and just 'be'.
This song reminds me of the quote from Jacques Cousteau, "The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever"
First :) really great song!... i still prefer Sleep Through the Static though. what a surfer :)
I really wish there was more comments on this song. It was one that grabbed me. To me it seem to be about a suicide of someone that realy didn't feel or live "to go to the water for a reason" and "when this world is too much it will be only the ocean and me" followed up by "I'm finally free."
I maybe totally off base but wanted to but more out there than the I love this song.
How many times do we find ourselves invovled with some (friendships, relationships, etc) where we don't feel like we matter yet we are pulled in to their lives. I've noticed I'm being pulled to the water (I'm an Aquarius) and Mr. Johnson's songs of the ocean feel like home.
I believe it's about someone leaving you. After being with someone for such a long time, they decided to end it. All of these lines (Memories) will be erased and go away, but won't be lost (Go Out with Tide), but won't be the same anymore.
Later when you realize she's gone, it'll be the "Ocean and Me".
A lot of loop holes, but JJ wouldn't sing a song about suicide??
maybe its on more of a simple and relaxed level. maybe its just about how all of the things going on in the world, personal problems, etc, can be forgotten when its "only the ocean and you"
just a though :) great song
For some reason when I first heard this I just automatically assumed it was about his father (a former surfer) who passed away. It would explain the going out to the water and the lines like "you don't love but you don't hate" and his own reflection of going out to the ocean eventually - "When this world is too much / It will be / Only the ocean and me"
I really like it nonetheless.
i agree with wand3rlust. he did dedicate this album to his father.
I see this song as less morbid than many. For me, he feels like the ocean is a place you can go when you're fed up with the world. It's equal, doesn't discriminate and just washes around you
or what ash10 said :)
I think this song is about when life gets kinda hard for him, he can take a board and go to the ocean to just surf and relax. Where his worries fade and he just focuses on surfing. And he feels free when he is on a wave.