After listening to this song a couple million times and studying the lyrics i think i understand the song. the very start of the song he states that its been a long night and that he pretty much wants to escape from this cage that wont open. i think here he is fed up with society and wants to get away (swim to the moon) the moon being the reflection of the moon in the water. it seems the meaning of this statement changes throughout the song. the fist time he says this he wants to get away from everything. he is now in the middle of some large body of water now and claims to be at peace for the time being. soon afterwards he is starving and needs nourishment. he see's the moons reflection in the water and decides to swim to it (swim to the moon) this time it is not in an attempt to get away from everything but to survive. he soon realizes that there is no human life anywhere and is pretty much fucked.
He soon becomes content with this idea and feels happy for once in his life (perhaps because he wont have to put up with the stresses of life anymore) being content with his fate he decides to drown himself and finally be at rest (swim to the moon) here the moon is underwater which is where he goes to drown himself.
thats my look on it anyway.
if you dont feel like reading all of that then here is a short version
1.stressed and wants to get away
got away and is happy in the ocean somewhere
hungry and decides to swim somewhere to get food.
cant find any life and realizes he is going to die.
he is finally happy for once in his life (realizes if he is dead no more stress of life)
I agree with most of your theory, but Tommy himself said it was kind of an open ended thing, in a sense but not completely intentional, part 2 to Sun of Nothing.
I agree with most of your theory, but Tommy himself said it was kind of an open ended thing, in a sense but not completely intentional, part 2 to Sun of Nothing.
In that way, I don't think he actually jumps off the boat, but has a hunger "trip" of sorts, in which he comes to the realization that his life is better off without stresses caused by others. And possibly will soon find an island paradise to survive.
In that way, I don't think he actually jumps off the boat, but has a hunger "trip" of sorts, in which he comes to the realization that his life is better off without stresses caused by others. And possibly will soon find an island paradise to survive.
Also, it's kind of connected to the song Autodidact, both in that he's learning for himself how to cope with his life for once (in a sense, the only way he could learn to live is by separating himself from others), and also the fact that he's out on the ocean, however, now (in Swim to the Moon) the recurring image of Mordecai (probably representing his need for another person in his life in some form), and his dependence on Mordecai have "flown away". Tommy Rogers is a lyrical genius the way he connects past songs to present ideas, I refuse to believe that all of that is just coincidence.
After listening to this song a couple million times and studying the lyrics i think i understand the song. the very start of the song he states that its been a long night and that he pretty much wants to escape from this cage that wont open. i think here he is fed up with society and wants to get away (swim to the moon) the moon being the reflection of the moon in the water. it seems the meaning of this statement changes throughout the song. the fist time he says this he wants to get away from everything. he is now in the middle of some large body of water now and claims to be at peace for the time being. soon afterwards he is starving and needs nourishment. he see's the moons reflection in the water and decides to swim to it (swim to the moon) this time it is not in an attempt to get away from everything but to survive. he soon realizes that there is no human life anywhere and is pretty much fucked. He soon becomes content with this idea and feels happy for once in his life (perhaps because he wont have to put up with the stresses of life anymore) being content with his fate he decides to drown himself and finally be at rest (swim to the moon) here the moon is underwater which is where he goes to drown himself.
thats my look on it anyway.
if you dont feel like reading all of that then here is a short version 1.stressed and wants to get away
Definitely agree that "swim to the moon," is meaning he's in the ocean and swimming towards the moon's reflection on the surface.
Definitely agree that "swim to the moon," is meaning he's in the ocean and swimming towards the moon's reflection on the surface.
I agree with most of your theory, but Tommy himself said it was kind of an open ended thing, in a sense but not completely intentional, part 2 to Sun of Nothing.
I agree with most of your theory, but Tommy himself said it was kind of an open ended thing, in a sense but not completely intentional, part 2 to Sun of Nothing.
In that way, I don't think he actually jumps off the boat, but has a hunger "trip" of sorts, in which he comes to the realization that his life is better off without stresses caused by others. And possibly will soon find an island paradise to survive.
In that way, I don't think he actually jumps off the boat, but has a hunger "trip" of sorts, in which he comes to the realization that his life is better off without stresses caused by others. And possibly will soon find an island paradise to survive.
Also, it's kind of connected to the song Autodidact, both in that he's learning for himself how to cope with his life for once (in a sense, the only way he could learn to live is by separating himself from others), and also the fact that he's out on the ocean, however, now (in Swim to the Moon) the recurring image of Mordecai (probably representing his need for another person in his life in some form), and his dependence on Mordecai have "flown away". Tommy Rogers is a lyrical genius the way he connects past songs to present ideas, I refuse to believe that all of that is just coincidence.