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.
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.