I see you... in a velvet robe,
I feel you... from across the wave
I hear you... calling me

Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women.
And calling children
Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women.
Calling. Calling!

My people! Now hear the News:
No more room when the Ark is full
And it seems like every path leads down to nowhere (Well, what can I say?)
From now on no easy way,
And for some of us there ain't no way at all
'tis like a Midsummer Night's Dream

Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women.
And calling children
Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women.
Calling. Calling!

Drifting... Now you've set yourself a-drifting...
Towards the sea...
Drifting... With the stream of consciousness now drifting...
Towards the sea...
Drifting... drifting... like a long and silent river you are...
You are... you are a-drifting.
Drifting! Drifting!
For life's too long and life's too short and you are a-drifting...
You're drifting away - You've set yourself astray...

Overall Meaning

The Black League's song Deep Waters speaks about the feeling of being lost and hopeless, as if drifting away into a deep and unknown sea. The song starts with descriptive imagery of seeing someone in a velvet robe, feeling them from across the wave, and hearing their call, making the listener feel as if they are being beckoned towards the deep waters. The chorus repeats the call of the deep waters, reminding us that they are calling men, women, and children alike.

The second verse takes on a more somber and serious tone as it announces the news that there is no more room when the Ark is full, and every path seems to lead down to nowhere. The clever line "Well, what can I say?" shows the singer's helplessness in the situation. The lyrics suggest that from now on, life will be more difficult, and for some, there may not even be a way forward. The song ends with a repetition of the word "drifting", as if symbolizing the feeling of being lost at sea with no sense of direction or purpose.

Overall, Deep Waters delivers a sense of desperation and hopelessness that many can relate to. It speaks of the feeling of being adrift, lost, and unable to find a way forward. The repetition of the phrase "calling men, calling women, calling children" emphasizes that this feeling is universal and not limited to any one person.

Line by Line Meaning

I see you... in a velvet robe,
I can picture you in my mind, dressed in an elegant velvet robe.

I feel you... from across the wave
I sense your presence even from a distance as if you are a wave that can travel across the sea.

I hear you... calling me
I can hear your voice, beckoning me to come closer to you.

Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women. And calling children Deep waters... Calling men. Calling women. Calling. Calling!
The deep waters symbolize an ominous force that is summoning everyone, including men, women, and children, to come towards it.

My people! Now hear the News: No more room when the Ark is full And it seems like every path leads down to nowhere (Well, what can I say?) From now on no easy way, And for some of us there ain't no way at all 'tis like a Midsummer Night's Dream
The artist addresses his audience with significant news- there is no more space on the 'ark', and every path ahead seems to lead to a dead end. The future is uncertain, and there is no easy way onwards, and some might be trapped in a seemingly never-ending nightmare.

Drifting... Now you've set yourself a-drifting... Towards the sea... Drifting... With the stream of consciousness now drifting... Towards the sea... Drifting... drifting... like a long and silent river you are... You are... you are a-drifting. Drifting! Drifting! For life's too long and life's too short and you are a-drifting... You're drifting away - You've set yourself astray...
The singer describes the state of drifting towards the sea as if the person is floating aimlessly like a river. Life is both too long and too short, and one is drifting away, having lost control of their destiny and purpose.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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