We Swim
Islands Lyrics
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Now it's in the river again,
But it's moving and it feels so cold,
Maybe you will, catch it still.
In the same river we swam was no different,
Than the same river we swam in again.
Breathing spores, longing for,
My lungs to be filled with your fungus no more.
I cried as my cells divide,
The feeling multiplies over time.
And the boy sees me humming this simple song,
And the boy comes close, he brings his sister along,
The ecstatic unburdened youth, they're never wrong,
And the boy starts singing along.
After all, a voice, it's just a light, all the time in front of you,
Facing faces, placing places, changing every time you do,
Set off by soundless voices, singing rounded noises,
Singing au revoir forever.
The same river we swam in was no different,
Than the same river we swam in again,
Because it's moving and it feels so cold,
Maybe you will catch it still.
The lyrics to Islands' song "We Swim" are open to interpretation, but one possible meaning is that the same experiences and emotions we have in life are like a river that is constantly flowing and changing, but still remains the same in essence. The river here is a metaphor for life and the passage of time. The first verse describes how we are like slivers in the river, constantly moving and changing, but always part of the same flow. The second verse speaks of longing and pain, as the singer wishes to be free of a toxic influence in their life. However, the pain and longing only seem to multiply over time.
The third verse introduces a new character, a boy who sees the singer humming the song and joins in. The boy represents youth and innocence, unburdened by the complexities of adulthood. The singer envies the boy's pure joy and unselfconsciousness. The final verse returns to the theme of the river and life's constant changes. The singer suggests that our voices and experiences are like lights shining in the darkness, but they eventually fade away, like saying "au revoir" (goodbye) forever.
Overall, the lyrics to "We Swim" are poetic and thought-provoking. The river metaphor is used effectively to convey the idea of the cyclical nature of life, and the juxtaposition of the singer's pain and the boy's innocent joy adds depth to the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Same river, we swim like some sliver, in skin,
We continue to swim in the same river, feeling as though we are both a part of it and insignificant at the same time.
Now it's in the river again,
We are back in the same river once more.
But it's moving and it feels so cold,
The river is constantly in motion and has a chilling sensation.
Maybe you will, catch it still.
Perhaps we will be able to catch the river while it is still for a moment.
Breathing spores, longing for,
I am breathing in the air filled with germs, hoping to be rid of your influence over me.
My lungs to be filled with your fungus no more.
I no longer want to be infected by the toxic presence of another person.
I cried as my cells divide,
As I try to heal and move on, the hurt only intensifies.
The feeling multiplies over time.
The feelings of pain and heartache only seem to intensify as time passes.
And the boy sees me humming this simple song,
A young boy notices me singing this uncomplicated tune.
And the boy comes close, he brings his sister along,
The boy is drawn to the sound and brings someone else to listen as well.
The ecstatic unburdened youth, they're never wrong,
Young people are carefree and full of joy, unburdened by life's troubles.
And the boy starts singing along.
The boy joins in with my song, making it a duet.
After all, a voice, it's just a light, all the time in front of you,
A voice is like a beacon, guiding you through life.
Facing faces, placing places, changing every time you do,
As your life changes, so do the people and places around you.
Set off by soundless voices, singing rounded noises,
Our emotions can be awakened by mere sounds or melodies.
Singing au revoir forever.
Singing goodbye forever.
The same river we swam in was no different,
The river we were in before has not changed.
Than the same river we swam in again,
It is the same river we find ourselves in again.
Because it's moving and it feels so cold,
The river remains in motion and possesses a cold feeling.
Maybe you will catch it still.
There is a chance that we may be able to find stillness in the river once more.
Contributed by Molly N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
SabbraCadabra
Sooooo good. Heard this on my way home from Minnesota last week. I fell in love.
joshuhanaho
someone knows where find the tabs?
Justin Elliott
Islands are the best
drederprops
1 doesn't swim