Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

The Canals Of Our City
Beirut Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Walls gone over the sea
But not for me
Watch now, all will end

Now all that I'm, under a tide
Now I'm, under a tide

Tall hair under it all
Much more than I once had
Over seas

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Beirut's song "The Canals of Our City" are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation. One possible interpretation could be that the singer is feeling left behind while others are moving on with their lives. The line "walls gone over the sea, but not for me" suggests a sense of isolation and being trapped. The singer observes that "all will end," which could be a reference to the transience of life, and that they are now "under a tide," which might represent being overwhelmed by forces beyond one's control.


Further on, the lyrics suggest that the singer is mourning the loss of something: "much more than I once had." This could be interpreted in a number of ways, but perhaps they are lamenting the loss of youth, innocence, or some other intangible quality that has passed them by. The repetition of "over seas" might suggest a longing for something far away or different from their current circumstances.


Overall, the lyrics of "The Canals of Our City" are enigmatic, but they convey a sense of melancholy and longing for something out of reach. It is a meditation on the passage of time, the impermanence of life, and the search for meaning and connection.


Line by Line Meaning

Walls gone over the sea
The physical barriers have been crossed and moved beyond the seas, but it doesn't signify anything to me personally.


But not for me
The shift in walls happened, but it didn't bring any positive changes to my life.


Watch now, all will end
Be mindful, everything has a finite conclusion.


Now all that I'm, under a tide
Currently, I'm submerged under a strong current of emotions or struggles.


Now I'm, under a tide
Presently, I'm experiencing overpowering emotional or challenging circumstances.


Tall hair under it all
Despite putting on a calm and composed front, there's a lot of intense thoughts and emotions buried inside.


Much more than I once had
There are a lot more emotional, mental or physical burdens than what I used to have.


Over seas
Metaphorically, beyond the sea represents the unknown or unexplored territory.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ZACH CONDON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it