Swallow the Sea
An Horse Lyrics
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And I'm still treading water just over your shoulder
A hole in your wall, in your bedroom after all
And I'm still over your shoulder, taking in water
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
We look to the sky but the swallows block the light
Tread water with me and we can swallow the sea
It's funny how the walls talk
Especially holes in bedroom walls
But they don't want to talk to me
They don't need to come clean
It's okay to pretent these walls aren't my friends
Their holes have told me more than I care for
Their holes have told me more than I care for
Woah, woah
Woah, woah
The light comes in patches now through the fog and the salt and the clouds
I wanted it to come this way so I could quietly slip away
Tread water with me, we can swallow the sea
Maybe it's my convict blood?
Maybe it's our convict blood?
Tread water with me, we could swallow the sea
The lyrics of An Horse’s song Swallow the Sea speak to the feeling of being trapped in a situation, looking to escape but ultimately feeling stuck. The first verse sets the scene of a peerless depth and treading water, indicating an overwhelming feeling of being out of one’s depth. The second verse references a hole in a bedroom wall, suggesting a sense of invasion and vulnerability in one’s personal space. The chorus encourages the listener to find solace in each other, despite the obstacles blocking the light and letting in water. The final verse speaks to the desire to escape, but ultimately accepting the situation and finding a way to make it work.
The line “Maybe it’s my convict blood?” adds another layer of meaning to the lyrics. The songwriter may be referring to the history of colonialism and the displacement of Indigenous Australians, who were often forced into convict labor. The line “Maybe it’s our convict blood?” opens up the possibility that this feeling of being trapped and looking for escape is a shared experience amongst those who have been affected by colonial oppression.
Line by Line Meaning
A peerless depth is where you're at
You are in an incomparable state of emotional and mental depth.
And I'm still treading water just over your shoulder
I am still trying to keep my head above water while being close to you.
A hole in your wall, in your bedroom after all
There is a hole in your bedroom wall after all.
And I'm still over your shoulder, taking in water
I am still nearby and struggling to keep myself afloat.
We look to the sky but the swallows block the light
We try to find clarity and peace, but are distracted by negative influences.
Tread water with me and we can swallow the sea
If we struggle together, we can conquer even the greatest obstacles.
It's funny how the walls talk
It's strange how much insight the walls, even with their holes, can provide.
Especially holes in bedroom walls
In particular, holes in bedroom walls have revealed a lot to me.
But they don't want to talk to me
Despite what they reveal, the walls themselves do not want to communicate with me.
They don't need to come clean
The walls do not have a need to confess everything they've 'heard.'
It's okay to pretend these walls aren't my friends
It's alright to ignore the walls and not depend on them too much.
Their holes have told me more than I care for
The holes in the walls have provided more information than I would have preferred to know.
The light comes in patches now through the fog and the salt and the clouds
There is some clarity, but it's fleeting and only partially breaking through the difficulties we face.
I wanted it to come this way so I could quietly slip away
I hoped the light would shine this way so I could escape unnoticed.
Maybe it's my convict blood?
Perhaps my past is catching up with me.
Maybe it's our convict blood?
Maybe our shared history is causing these struggles.
Tread water with me, we could swallow the sea
If we work together, we can overcome insurmountable odds.
Contributed by Peyton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.