Grown Ocean
Fleet Foxes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Still as starlight reflected in fountains then
Children grown on the edge of the ocean
Kept like jewelry, kept with devotion
In that dream moving slow through the morning time
You would come to me then, without answers
Lick my wounds and remove my demands for now
Eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming
In that dream, there's no darkness a-loomin'
In that dream, moving slow through the morning time
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
Then, then, then, oh
I know someday the smoke will all burn off
All these voices I'll someday have turned off then
I will see you someday when I've woken
I'll be so happy just to have spoken
I'll have so much to tell you about it then
Ah, ah, ah
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
Then, then, then, oh
Wide-eyed walker
Don't betray me
I will wake one day, don't delay me
Wide-eyed leaver
Always going
The song Grown Ocean by the Fleet Foxes is a poignant and dreamy reflection on life, love, and longing. The singer sings about a dream where he is as old as the mountains, yet still shining like starlight reflected in fountains. The dream takes place by the ocean, where children are grown and kept like precious jewels with devotion. There is no looming darkness in this dream, only slow-moving moments in the morning, where eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming.
The singer imagines his beloved, who comes to him in the dream without any answers, licking his wounds and removing his demands. In this dream, the singer is overwhelmed by the beauty of the moment and can barely contain it. He waits his entire life to attain this feeling, and when he wakes up, he knows he will have so much to tell his beloved about it.
The song's second half takes a darker turn and is focused on the singer's fears and anxieties. He knows that someday the smoke will burn off, and all the voices in his head will go quiet. He anticipates seeing his lover again someday after he has woken up, and he longs to talk to her about his experiences. The singer pleads with the wide-eyed walker to not betray him and wake him up soon, so he can finally attain the beauty he has been seeking. The song ends with the somber realization that the wide-eyed leaver is always going, and the singer is left with the longing for something he may never attain.
Line by Line Meaning
In that dream, I'm as old as the mountains
The singer dreams of being as old and enduring as the mountains
Still as starlight reflected in fountains then
Despite the passing of time, the singer remains brilliant and majestic like starlight in a fountain
Children grown on the edge of the ocean
The next generation of children have matured on the shore of the vast, powerful ocean
Kept like jewelry, kept with devotion
These children are held dear and protected, like precious jewels to be cherished
In that dream moving slow through the morning time
The artist dreams of a peaceful, leisurely morning, free of the rush and stress of daily life
You would come to me then, without answers
In this dream, the singer is visited by someone who provides comfort without necessarily having all the answers
Lick my wounds and remove my demands for now
This visitor soothes the singer's emotional wounds and alleviates their stress and expectations for the moment
Eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming
In this idyllic dream, the natural world is healthy and vibrant, full of life and growth
In that dream, there's no darkness a-loomin'
The artist's dream world is free of negativity or ominous threats, and is filled with hope and light
In that dream, moving slow through the morning time
The artist continues to reflect on the peaceful, easy morning in their dream world
In that dream I could hardly contain it
The singer's excitement and anticipation for their dream world is almost overwhelming
All my life I will wait to attain it
The artist longs to experience this dream world for the rest of their life
Then, then, then, oh
The singer eagerly anticipates the possibility of this dream world becoming a reality
I know someday the smoke will all burn off
The singer acknowledges that eventually, all the chaos and confusion of life will dissipate
All these voices I'll someday have turned off then
The singer looks forward to a time when the noise and distractions of the world will no longer be overwhelming
I will see you someday when I've woken
The artist hopes to eventually meet the person who brought them comfort in their dream world
I'll be so happy just to have spoken
The artist will be content simply to have the opportunity to converse with this person
I'll have so much to tell you about it then
The singer eagerly anticipates sharing stories and experiences with this person in the future
Ah, ah, ah
The singer is filled with a joyful, hopeful energy
Wide-eyed walker
Possibly a reference to a naive traveler, someone who seeks new experiences with open eyes
Don't betray me
The artist pleads with the world not to disappoint or deceive them
I will wake one day, don't delay me
The artist is eager to experience their dream world in reality, and implores the universe not to postpone that moment
Wide-eyed leaver
Once again, a reference to someone who seeks new experiences and is eager to leave their current situation behind
Always going
The artist constantly seeks new experiences and is always on the move towards their dream world
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Robin Noel Pecknold
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
iklock
I love a lot of different music, from many different eras, of many different styles. This is easily up there as one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Lyrically, musically, sonically it is an album of astounding beauty. There is too many moments to choose from. But If I had to choose:
The stripped back beauty of Montezuma with the amazing harmonies (yes I know virtually every FF song has this but more impactful here I think as the song is more stripped back)
The chipper nature of Bedouin Dress never fails to put a smile on my face., it's such a well crafted fun song.
The 2nd section of Sim Bala Sim sounds like it has descended from heaven.
The "If I know only one thing, it's that everything that I see
Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak" section of the title track and the coda.
The beginning and third sections of The Shrine/An Argument before the free jazz ending.
And finally the entirety of this song. The lyrics are especially amazing. I'm a little drunk so excuse all this, I just don't see many people discuss the moment above. Peace and love
Napalm Hotdogs
In that dream I'm as old as the mountains
Still is starlight reflected in fountains
Children grown on the edge of the ocean
Kept like jewelry kept with devotion
In that dream moving slow through the morning
You would come to me then without answers
Lick my wounds and remove my demands for now
Eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming
In that dream there's no darkness alluded
In that dream moving slow through the morning time
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
There, there, there
I know someday the smoke will all burn off
All these voices I'll someday have turned off
I will see you someday when I've woken
I'll be so happy just to have spoken
I'll have so much to tell you about it
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
There, there, there
Wide-eyed walker, don't betray me
I will wake one day, don't delay me
Wide-eyed leaver, always going
Taylor Tanner
I’m getting the line “I’ll have so much to tell you about it” tattooed on me this summer for my brother whose non-communicative and can’t speak. I can’t wait to hear his thoughts on life someday in Heaven. I’ll have so much to tell him about it too. Fleet Foxes, thanks for the amazing song.
EDIT: I had to wait until this week to get it, but I got it this Sunday and I'm in love with it.
Zonoitan
You're not alone--I lost my niece to a premature birth and I want to be the coolest uncle to her in heaven. I can't wait to dance with her to this song even though I'll never know what she would turn out to look like until I get there.
I'll also tell her how much of an effect that Robin has had on my life thinking about her everyday 😌
Simon
Amazing. That one line caught me as well. There's so much energy in it. My Brother is autistic and doesn't communicate well, but i know there is someone in there trying to show just who he is but it doesn't come across as it should.
iklock
I love a lot of different music, from many different eras, of many different styles. This is easily up there as one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. Lyrically, musically, sonically it is an album of astounding beauty. There is too many moments to choose from. But If I had to choose:
The stripped back beauty of Montezuma with the amazing harmonies (yes I know virtually every FF song has this but more impactful here I think as the song is more stripped back)
The chipper nature of Bedouin Dress never fails to put a smile on my face., it's such a well crafted fun song.
The 2nd section of Sim Bala Sim sounds like it has descended from heaven.
The "If I know only one thing, it's that everything that I see
Of the world outside is so inconceivable often I barely can speak" section of the title track and the coda.
The beginning and third sections of The Shrine/An Argument before the free jazz ending.
And finally the entirety of this song. The lyrics are especially amazing. I'm a little drunk so excuse all this, I just don't see many people discuss the moment above. Peace and love
grayhouse
I agree, those are all great highlights for me too! But I must say I do enjoy hearing the clarinet get murdered to death, so that's the only place where we differ, hehe.
iklock
@grayhouse Great! I love the free jazz ending too, I was just using as a pointer for when I consider the "third" section of the song to be and prefer the first and third section overall :)
1m2a3t4t5
Honestly believe Robin Pecknold is one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
Napalm Hotdogs
In that dream I'm as old as the mountains
Still is starlight reflected in fountains
Children grown on the edge of the ocean
Kept like jewelry kept with devotion
In that dream moving slow through the morning
You would come to me then without answers
Lick my wounds and remove my demands for now
Eucalyptus and orange trees are blooming
In that dream there's no darkness alluded
In that dream moving slow through the morning time
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
There, there, there
I know someday the smoke will all burn off
All these voices I'll someday have turned off
I will see you someday when I've woken
I'll be so happy just to have spoken
I'll have so much to tell you about it
In that dream I could hardly contain it
All my life I will wait to attain it
There, there, there
Wide-eyed walker, don't betray me
I will wake one day, don't delay me
Wide-eyed leaver, always going
Chris Ramos
Shaina Murr i
Melissa V
It's actually "In that dream there's no darkness a looming..."
It makes sense with the blooming line from before...