Setting sail from a crushed rooftop
Fathoms deep, shallow as a raindrop
Attempt to feel 20/20 now
React like gasoline cornered by a house fire

You can't come clean
You can't come clean
You can't come clean

Beneath the tides of the washout
Beneath the tides of the washout

Cut from the filthy cloth
A sucking would left in our chests
Being burned around the heart
The boil under your flesh

Hidden at home
Chasing a tucked tail now
Acting on the instinct
Of self haphazard yet

You can't come clean
You can't come clean
You can't come clean
You can't come clean

Beneath the tides of the washout
Beneath the tides of the washout
Beneath the tides of the washout

The saving down, the saving down, the saving down
In milligrams with a gun in your hand
Directionless, directionless
Memories of combat on your head

Rain can't soak what is not there
Rain can't soak what is not there
Rain can't soak what is not there
Rain can't soak what is not there

The first thrill demands another
Consequence, the trigger of the operative
Playing Russian roulette with a full chamber
Miserable outcome, one and the same want to know

You can't come clean
You can't come clean
You can't come clean
You can't come clean

You can't come clean
(Beneath the tides of the washout)
You can't come clean
(Beneath the tides of the washout)
You can't come clean
(Beneath the tides of the washout)

In the washout
Beneath the tides of the washout
In the washout
Beneath the tides of the washout

You couldn't ever come clean
Beneath the tides of the washout, washout


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Beneath the Tides Lyrics as written by Kirk Windstein Jimmy Bower

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Beneath the Tides song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is such an awesome song. Phil is definitely singing about the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and those in the government responsible for the mishandling of it.

    half_faston October 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yeah, most of the album is about the aftermath of Katrina, that and Anselmo's hurt over the loss of Dime. The entire album is incredible though

    Lateralus518on October 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree, this does seem to pertain mostly to that. Altough i do also think that this has to do analyzing the interior things, "beneath the tides", "chasing the tucked tail" trying to look under the exterior and finding the things that are hidden. "playing russian roulette with a full chamber", i could be wrong but i think that is referring to living in NO, a city hundreds of feet below sea level right on the coast, danger was inevitable. Anyway theres a lot of symbolism in this song, and thats my take on it.

    Andonioon January 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me this song is about the experiences of those who lived thru the aftermath of Katrina and the lack of government help.

    The lyrics "You can't come clean beneath the tides of the washout" could be translated as the government having the blood of NOLA's dead on it's hands OR the fact that after a catastrophe like Katrina, or any other for that matter where you have lost pretty much everything, it is very hard to put away one's vices. It also could mean that for anyone that lived thru Katrina and the aftermath will not soon forget it.

    The guitar and drum combo in this song reminds me of Led Zeppelin's When the Levee Breaks.

    crossboneson June 01, 2009   Link

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