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.
I sat by the ocean
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by WhistleRgv, victormds, davisslage, Grape31, Ktgkyle, TheBronze, Cassabian, MilkManMike
I Sat By the Ocean Lyrics as written by Josh Homme Dean Anthony Fertita
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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This is probably not what it is supposed to be about, but to me it sounds like the guy is lying about his feelings to be able to keep the girl around.
"I sat by the ocean And drank a potion baby to erase you Face down in the Boulevard yet I couldn't face you"
He's feeling down, drinking and trying to forget about the girl or maybe trying to man up to tell her how he feels. Maybe she dumped him because she figured out his feelings or maybe he dumped her because he understood he had to before he got in too deep.
"There ain't no use in cryin' It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do? Your friends they all sympathize, maybe I don't need them to"
He knew all along that it was never going to work, so he doesn't want sympathy after it's over. Nothing could change the inevitable ending of their relationship.
"Imagine I'd be your one and only Instead I'm the lonely one"
He dreams of being her "one and only", but eventually ends up alone, without her.
"Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new' 'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?"
To me this sounds like the girl is asking him to think twice before getting involved with her. Maybe she's just looking for something casual and is making sure he's not going to get feelings for her, that they are on the same page. She's doubting his motives for their casual relationship as it probably doesn't suit his personality to just play around.
"Lies are a funny thing They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you"
He tells the girl that he's interested in the same she is, just to get to be near her at all, and his lie is that he won't get/doesn't have any feelings for her.
"You, me, and a lie Silence is closer We're passing ships in the night End to the light, left with nowhere to hide"
During their relationship (casual or friends with benefits), he knows it can't last for long, thus the passing ships that will probably cross paths again. He feels the end of it coming, the lie about his feelings coming to the surface ("left with nowhere to hide"). The silence represents the end of their relationship.
"We're crashing ships in the night"
The fact that he loves her becomes obvious or she finally knows for sure, and their mismatching interests collides and ends with heartbreak.
This is only how I hear it, I'm pretty sure most people will interpret it in another way. That's what's so great about good lyrics :)