Stranded
Alien_Ant_Farm Lyrics
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Like a semi-auto trailer
I dive so deep in the sea
To avoid killer whales
A perfect moment here and gone
It has sailed
I'll use a hammerhead to drive
[Chorus]
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
Imagine if our world was blue and weightless
I never meant to do wrong to you
You're my starfish
You moan a tone so low beyond me
A telepathic subsonic frequency
I need a little air for emergency
You have to understand this urgency
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
White sand beneath my feet
No brain between my ears
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
I know that if I had one
I'd spare us both these years
I'm feeling the sea beneath me, beneath you
White sand beneath my feet
No brain between my ears
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
I know that if I had one
I'd spare us both these years
A sea anemone, you're my enemy
The lyrics to Alien Ant Farm's song "Stranded" describe the sensation of being lost, out of control and helpless, and how that can make one feel vulnerable, despite our instinctive need to defend ourselves from danger. The song opens with a violent image of waves crashing like a semi-auto trailer, and the singer diving deep into the sea out of fear of killer whales. The chorus emphasizes the feeling of being submerged, with the sea "beneath me, beneath you," suggesting a connection between the singer and another person, even as they feel adrift in the vastness of the sea.
The second verse moves into a more abstract meditiation on the theme, using a science-fiction metaphor of a world without gravity, and imagining the world as "blue and weightless." The singer addresses the person they are connected to, telling them "You're my starfish," and acknowledging the importance of their relationship. However, the verse ends on a darker note with a reference to a "telepathic subsonic frequency" which suggests the presence of a deeper, inassailable psychic distance between the two.
The song concludes with a final chorus repetition, and then a final verse that brings the metaphor back to the sea, with a reference to the sea anemone, which is often seen as a passive creature that is unable to move on its own, yet fiercely defends itself by stinging anyone who comes too close. This ambivalent image of vulnerability and self-sufficiency resonates with the themes of the song, as the singer acknowledges their own limitations in the face of the vast world around them, but also claims a need for self-protection and self-defense.
Line by Line Meaning
Your waves come crashing down
The force of your impact is overwhelming, like a massive truck ramming into me.
Like a semi-auto trailer
This simile emphasizes the enormity of your impact, like a truck with an automatic trailer that just keeps coming.
I dive so deep in the sea
I'll go to extreme lengths to escape from danger, even if it means going beneath the surface of the ocean where killer whales can't follow.
To avoid killer whales
I'm willing to take drastic measures and face the unknown to escape from the danger you represent.
A perfect moment here and gone
This fleeting instant of contentment was lost almost as soon as it began.
It has sailed
This momentary peace is gone and might never come back again.
I'll use a hammerhead to drive
I'm willing to use force and violence to achieve my goals, no matter what it takes.
Rusty nail inside
I'll use any means necessary, even using old and outdated methods if they work.
I'm feeling the sea beneath you, beneath me
The water surrounding us is the only thing connecting us, but also separating us.
Imagine if our world was blue and weightless
Imagine if everything around us was defined only by the fluidity of water, no weight or gravity holding us down.
I never meant to do wrong to you
Although I may have caused you harm, it wasn't intentional or my desire to cause pain.
You're my starfish
You fill me with wonder and fascination, like a starfish that transcends what I understand about the world.
You moan a tone so low beyond me
Your voice carries a deep and profound meaning that is beyond my understanding.
A telepathic subsonic frequency
The way you communicate with me seems to transcend normal speech and hints at something inexplicable, like a frequency that goes beyond my normal senses.
I need a little air for emergency
I'm in dire need of space and time to clear my head, similar to how someone might need air in an emergency.
You have to understand this urgency
It's crucial that you understand and respect my need for time and space in this moment.
White sand beneath my feet
This moment of peace is brief and fleeting, like standing on sand that will eventually wash away with the tides.
No brain between my ears
I'm operating purely on instinct, with no time to think or process what's happening around me.
I know that if I had one
I'm aware that if I had more time, space, or a moment to think things through, I might have made different choices.
I'd spare us both these years
If I could, I would spare us both the emotional toll and pain of this moment.
A sea anemone, you're my enemy
This metaphor suggests that you are a threat to me, someone who can harm me despite your seemingly gentle nature.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir One Music, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: TYE ZAMORA, DRYDEN MITCHELL, MICHAEL COSGROVE, TERENCE MAURICE CORSO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind