It's been a long, strange trip for this outfit, which formed from the ashes of various collegiate bar bands in and around Berkeley, CA in 1994. The band has since released 7 albums on 5 different national labels, had 12 different members, logged over 50,000 miles, played hundreds of shows, contributed music to numerous film and television projects, and generally endured all manner of threats and pitfalls that haunt any band who dares to shoulder the Mantle of Rock. However, some things have never changed: Kelly on the skins, Scanlin on the wires/mics, and an unswerving dedication to and obsession with writing Songs. For Actionslacks the melody is key. It doesn't always have to be pretty, but if you don't have one, you don't have a song.
The penultimate album, Kids with Guitars, was an EP the band produced over the course of seven days in May of 2008, following a year of songwriting, demoing, and practicing (though never in the same room). It was initially released on-line (http://slacksaction.com/) on a pay-what-you-want basis, but is now available through iTunes and similar digital retailers or, more recently, as a CD release available through CDBaby.
The self-titled Actionslacks was recorded in mid-November 2009 and while it was slated for a Spring 2010 release, delays resulted in a release in early-October 2012.
Bury Me in the Blue Sea
Actionslacks Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Evening falls in mid-December
Everyone is running home to sleep
I put on the coat you bought me
Take the stairs down to the lobby
And walk into the chilly evening air
I'll never feel this good
If I ever feel this good again
Stick a sword right through me
Bury me in the blue sea
And that'll be the end
The lyrics of "Bury Me in the Blue Sea" by Actionslacks paints a picture of somebody who is content with their current state of being, yet resigned to the fact that it will not last forever. The opening verse describes the transition from summer to winter, a change that is often marked by people retreating to the warmth of their homes. The singer, however, disregards this and steps out into the cold night air, having put on a coat that was gifted to them. They revel in the feeling of the chill on their skin, knowing that this moment of freedom and self-awareness will likely be fleeting. The chorus then contains the poignant line, "I'll never feel this good, if I ever feel this good again," which serves as a mournful reminder that good things don't last forever.
The second half of the chorus introduces the idea of death, specifically the desire to be "buried in the blue sea." This can be interpreted both literally and metaphorically. On one hand, the singer may be expressing a desire to end their life, but on the other hand, the imagery of being buried in the sea suggests a desire to be at one with nature and to achieve a sense of peace. Ultimately, the final line of the chorus, "And that'll be the end," suggests an acceptance of mortality and the reality that all good things must come to an end.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer falls into a winter
The transition from a warm and carefree season to a cold and dark one
Evening falls in mid-December
The descent of night during the winter month of December
Everyone is running home to sleep
People are seeking shelter and rest from the harsh weather
I put on the coat you bought me
Wearing a garment gifted to them by another
Take the stairs down to the lobby
Descending a set of steps to reach a common area
And walk into the chilly evening air
Going outside into the cold night atmosphere
And I've never felt this good
Experiencing a level of happiness never before attained
I'll never feel this good
This level of joy will never be replicated
If I ever feel this good again
Doubtful that this level of happiness will be reached in the future
Stick a sword right through me
A symbolic representation of death or pain
Bury me in the blue sea
Laying to rest in the serene and tranquil waters
And that'll be the end
Death or an end to something significant
Contributed by Stella A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.