Weary traveler, calloused and sore
Time and gravity followed you here
Rest, my sister, and tell me
All about the ocean

I've never seen the ocean
Not like this one

Weary traveler, calloused and sore
Time and gravity followed you here
Rest, my brother, and tell me
All about the ocean

Spoils and troubles and burdens you've bore
Pay them no mind, they matter no more
Leave them behind and show me
All about the ocean

Look in your eyes
I've never seen the ocean
Not like this one

Deep in your eyes
I've never seen the ocean
Not like this one

Show me your eyes
I've never seen the ocean
Not like this one

Look in your eyes
I've never seen the ocean
Not like this one


Lyrics submitted by theIDIOTshowHUMANITY

Oceans Lyrics as written by Mat Mitchell Joshua Eustis

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Oceans song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I think it's about death, and how all your troubles, burdens and such can be let go. Or how there comes a time in life where you can finally leave all that behind. This is my first time posting, be gentle with your rebuttals haha.

    HouseHippoon March 23, 2014   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    Thinking about the many water references and references to rivers throughout this album (Verde in particular), could the weary traveler be the river finally reaching the end of it's journey - the ocean?

    busthoopson November 09, 2011   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I love this song, since it can easily be interpreted in so many ways, yet still carry so much meaning.

    I like to think that this song is about two people who have discovered a new found love between them. One of these lovers is opening up to the other, who has had a very troubled past when it comes to any sort of relationship. The one person tells them that the "Spoils and troubles and burdens you've bore/Pay them no mind, they matter no more/Leave them behind and show me/All about the ocean." The "ocean" in this sense is the immense amount of love this person has to offer to the new relationship, even though he/she has had nothing but bad experiences. The rest of the lyrics fit in accordingly.

    That's just my take on it. When I think about the song like this, it immediately provides me with as much comfort as any song has ever given.

    Bonemanon November 23, 2011   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I think the album tells a based around a story of an individual's life, starting before birth, and ending after death. Green Valley and Oceans are key to this interpretation. Essentially Green Valley is the moment before birth - discussing that the traveler is about to enter the river and test their worth - the river symbolizing life. I posted my interpretation of Green Valley on the page for that song, so there is more info there.

    At the end of the river (the traveler's death, and exit from the river of life), the river pours out into an Ocean. The symbolism is that death is a widening of perspective, not a narrowing. The turbulent, small river merges with the calm waters of a ocean.

    The traveler is greeted on the other side:

    "Weary traveler, calloused and sore Time and gravity followed you here Rest, my sister and tell me All about the ocean I’ve never seen the ocean Not like this one"

    The journey was hard, the traveler is calloused and sore. After death, he exists outside of time and gravity, but the remnants and memories of them have followed the traveler for now, even into the afterlife. But it's time to finally rest.

    Tell me all about the ocean - I think the ocean represents the traveler's soul, so they are saying "tell me the story of your life, at the deepest level of your soul". "I've never seen the ocean, not like this one" - it means every soul and every story is unique...the greeter has never seen this particular soul, and finds it infinitely beautiful.

    "Spoils and troubles and burdens you've bore Pay them no mind, they matter no more Leave them behind and show me All about the ocean"

    Your accomplishments, pains, victories, and losses in life - they don't matter any more. That experience is over. Material things aren't important here. You are home, and safe. Rest now, and show me the depths of your soul.

    "Look in your eyes I’ve never seen the ocean Not like this one

    Deep in your eyes I’ve never seen the ocean Not like this one"

    The eyes are the window to the soul. They are saying "Let me look deep into your eyes and see your soul, just to see the beauty it holds"

    Anyway, that's what it means to me. This is my favorite song on the album. I hope someone gets as much joy out of this song as I do.

    Mystic1on July 03, 2014   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think this is possibly about a member of the Navy returning? Telling about the ocean, calloused, the troubles matter no more...

    So peaceful... makes me want to cry.

    rachanelon October 21, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    Whenever I listen to Puscifer, I keep a very open mind. And by that I mean I think every which way possible the song can go. And for this one, I agree with rachanel's comment, it could be about a returned loved one from the Navy because Maynard also served our country. My other interpretation is he's talking about a loved one. Just gazing deep into that person's eyes and just wanting to hear and care about everything they have to say.

    Deep0thinking0into0music1134on October 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    profound simplicity! "Pay them no mind, they matter no more Leave them behind and show me All about the ocean" this is shedding grief, becoming spirit? At face value it's just a touching song that brings a sea of emotion. like all of Maynard's songs, there is a central theme and there's always a few lines that don't line up.fragments that fit the imagery or mood of the main theme to create something that can be felt on many levels even if you're unsure of the meaning. I saw Puscifer in Lakewood Ohio last week(11/17/11). During Maynard's monologue he spoke of coming together around a central fire and being human together. It could also be about the seeing the depths of ones soul through an others eyes. "Time and gravity followed you here" could refer to the feeling of being ahead and your body slows down before your mind(biologically speaking). I've also heard of a desert being referred to as an ocean.... Too many possibilities to go through. Great track!!! One thing is for sure, Maynard has ascended from petty thoughts!

    verdeAZbayon November 22, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song gets to me every time. so beautiful and peaceful. My mind wanders while listening to this. I agree with Boneman's interpretation as well.

    kluvah711on May 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    This song, especially its tone reminds me of suicide/death. -Show me your eyes -Look at your eyes -time and gravity, subjective to our interpretations defining reality as humans followed us in the afterlife (our interpretations)

    • rest my brother/sister
    • "Spoils and troubles and burdens you've bore. Pay them no mind, they matter no more" cause you're dying/dead

    This song makes me feel like i'm drowning, you'll never see an ocean like this one unless you breathe it in..........sssssffffffffffffff..........ahhhhhhhhhhh.........

    eric949835on September 29, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with mystic1 that this song is about:

    being greeted in the afterlife.

    "Time and gravity have followed you here."

    Your burdens were heavy and age had held you but....it doesn't matter now!

    Look at this ocean, this amazing, beautiful shimmering celestial ocean. And let go of your past life.

    Reptile_brainon March 06, 2016   Link

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