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.
And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
And you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?"
And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Water dissolving and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Under the water, carry the water
Remove the water at the bottom of the ocean
Water dissolving and water removing
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
You may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?"
You may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?"
And you may ask yourself, "Am I right? Am I wrong?"
And you may say to yourself, "My God, what have I done?"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was and look where my hand was
Time isn't holding up, time isn't after us
Same as it ever was, the same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Here a twister comes, here comes a twister
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (letting the days go by)
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (letting the days go by)
Once in a lifetime, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again
And you may find yourself in another part of the world
And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful wife
And you may ask yourself, "Well, how did I get here?"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
And you may ask yourself, "How do I work this?"
And you may ask yourself, "Where is that large automobile?"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful house"
And you may tell yourself, "This is not my beautiful wife"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Water dissolving and water removing
There is water at the bottom of the ocean
Under the water, carry the water
Remove the water at the bottom of the ocean
Water dissolving and water removing
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
You may ask yourself, "What is that beautiful house?"
You may ask yourself, "Where does that highway go to?"
And you may ask yourself, "Am I right? Am I wrong?"
And you may say to yourself, "My God, what have I done?"
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again, into the silent water
Under the rocks and stones, there is water underground
Letting the days go by, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again after the money's gone
Once in a lifetime, water flowing underground
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was and look where my hand was
Time isn't holding up, time isn't after us
Same as it ever was, the same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was
Same as it ever was
Here a twister comes, here comes a twister
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (letting the days go by)
Same as it ever was, same as it ever was (letting the days go by)
Once in a lifetime, let the water hold me down
Letting the days go by, water flowing underground
Into the blue again
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Once In A Lifetime: An theoretical interpretation
Once In A Lifetime tells of a man (or a woman) who all of a sudden -- comes to terms with the banality and disconnection he feels towards his present life's situation. The first verse describes his initial shock, in the realization that all of this somehow feels very unfamiliar. He starts questioning surroundings, then the chorus comes in. The chorus is a sudden ephiphany realizing what's been passing him by day-by-day, as the last sentence of the first verse literally asks the question: "Well...How did I get here?"
The chorus answers with "Letting the days go by and letting the water hold me down." The water in this context seems completely negative, in my opinion representing every obstacle in life that prevents the main character from truly finding himself. It is an epiphany, and the realization comes from the fact that he's letting materialism and disconnection from reality cause the days to go by. Letting the water pull him down.
Despite him having an epiphany that the water is preventing him from enjoying life -- the simple acknowledgement of the water implies that the negativity may remain as the water is not completely out of his thoughts. So the chorus offers a What Happened / This is why sort of call and response. At this point he snaps out of the brief realization, this time a bit more grounded in reality.
In this next verse the character becomes more questionable of his present life situation, at the end declaring that he doesn't even belong and that it is all wrong! Then it goes back into a second epiphany of the same topicality as his first. The realization that he can change his current setup -- in this chorus I feel that water means "I can hear the water of life within me and beneath my feet -- I am still alive and can change this setup!" Unfortunately, I fear the water may just mean something else that is materialistic.
Because the next bit has the main character freaking out down the line again. In his new situation, the one he thought would work in his most recent epiphany, he thinks that he should be emotionally content -- but he is not. New situation, but it is the "same as it ever was".
In the next verse, particularly as evidenced by the distortion throughout the verse, the world is tempting him to let the water pull him down again. It is just a metaphorical way of describing all of life's negative moods and petty desires blinding each of us. This next time however, the third epiphany that is still the same in subject matter as his last two causes him to go insane. He commits suicide, through drowning. He's lost in himself and cannot figure anything out. The water will literally hold him down until he floats lifelessly to the top, the water flowing underground.
As he is dying, the next verse are his final contemplations on reality. They are self-explanatory.
The epiphany he stumbled upon repeats twice, as if that is all that is left on his mind (in addition to the repeated "same as it ever was" which is the specific thought that drives him to suicide.")
Now I personally do not believe this is a literal suicide, I think it is a metaphorical one describing him coming to terms with the superficiality of the world and having an ego death. I just think the water imagery tells the LITERAL side of death, but intended to illustrate the metaphorical concept of an ego death and reconnection with the world.
Very well written and explained. Thank you for sharing :)
@AndrewVS H'mm - I strongly feel the water is positive - it reminds him of 'beingness' - which is always the 'same as it ever was'. The water is Silent, underground pure and life-giving...