Since the band's establishment during college, Barefoot Truth has been developing this signature sound that has virally spread through a grassroots following. With their lead singer on drums, and an array of unlikely roots-based instrumentation, the band translates their originality to their ever-evolving live show. The quintet features Will Evans on lead vocals and drums, John Waynelovich on piano, Jay Driscoll on Weissenborn slide guitar, Andy Wrba on upright bass, and Garrett Duffy on harmonica. It is not unlikely for members of the band to switch instruments mid-show, or even begin playing a didjeridoo, adding to the dynamic of the band's sound.
Mixing a strong environmental message with the lofty theme of humankind's interconnectedness on their 2010 studio album 'Threads', Barefoot Truth reached #21 on the iTunes Rock Charts, momentarily stepping ahead of bands such as Dave Matthews Band and The Fray. The new disc was noted as "The best independently released album of 2010" by ThisIsModern. Barefoot Truth happily credits Pandora Radio for their crucial role in growing the band’s silent army of listeners, as Driscoll recently stated in a USA Today article, "Pandora has basically created an avenue for us to have a career in music".
Since taking the band 'full-time' in 2007, after finishing college, Barefoot Truth has earned spotlight attention on many levels, including an invitation to play at President Obama's pre-debate rally in New York, where they performed between Bruce Hornsby and Crosby and Nash. They were asked to lend several songs from their new album 'Threads' to the internationally acclaimed film 'Nature Propelled', in addition to scoring original music for the film. Barefoot Truth also lent their song 'Threads' to the video game 'Rock Band' (MTV Games). The band has also made appearances at major festivals such as Summerfest, 10,000 Lakes Festival, and FloydFest, in addition to tallying over 100 college and prepschool performances in the Northeast. Fans of Barefoot Truth can be confident that the quiet success of this small band will grow increasingly louder, one listener at a time...
The Ocean
Barefoot Truth Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But as we left the shores my eyes began to tear
Why had it always caused me uneliusive feelings?
Why had it always left me fear?
Truth is my thoughts that had me sinkin' to the bottom
Driftin' like a bottle through the sea without a sound
And when I finally washed up to your sandy shorebed
The message in the bottle had no writing to be found
Well this is my paradise
This is all I really need
And I can't live without this feeling
Of the ocean around me, yeah
Waves crashin' on the shore sunrise the water's sparkling
Warm sand between my toes diggin' in there's so much comfort
I'm not knowin' where it ends or if it keeps on going
An entire world beneath my body as I float, yeah
This is my paradise
This is all I really need
And I can't live without this feeling
Of the ocean around me, yeah
This is my paradise
This is all I really need
And I can't live without this feeling
Of the ocean around me, yeah
Every now and then
I sit and I think about this life
And I say "yeah, how could anyone want more?"
I got the notion put your body in motion
Come on now we'll take a ride on the ocean
There's a lot of candy in this store
Every now and then
I sit and I think about this life
And I say "yeah, how could anyone want more?"
I got the notion put your body in motion
Come on now we'll float away on the ocean
There's a lot of candy in this store
Every now and then
I sit and I think about this life
And I say "yeah, how could anyone want more?"
I got the notion put your body in motion
Come on now I gotta stay on the ocean
There's a lot of candy in this store
The song "The Ocean" by Barefoot Truth explores the singer's relationship with the ocean and how it has evolved over time. The opening lines express surprise that the singer has been able to make amends with the ocean, implying that there was a period of animosity or unease in the past. As the singer and their companions leave the shore, the environment evokes strong emotions, causing tears to rise in their eyes. This leads to introspection about the way the ocean has always left the singer with "unelusive feelings" and fear, leading them to feel lost and adrift in their own thoughts.
The singer's feelings of loneliness and isolation are reinforced by the image of them being "like a bottle through the sea without a sound," as they feel disconnected from the world around them. However, their journey eventually leads them to a sandy shorebed, where they find solace in the ocean's beauty and message. The repeated refrain "This is my paradise / This is all I really need / And I can't live without this feeling / Of the ocean around me" conveys the singer's deep connection to the ocean, expressing that it brings them peace and a sense of home.
Overall, "The Ocean" is a reflective and introspective song that explores the complex emotions associated with connecting to a natural environment. The lyrics highlight the transformative power of the ocean, as well as the singer's deep connection to it.
Line by Line Meaning
I never thought that I would make amends with the ocean
I never thought that I would find peace with the ocean
But as we left the shores my eyes began to tear
But as we left the shore, I couldn't help but cry
Why had it always caused me uneliusive feelings?
Why had I always had complicated and unresolved feelings toward it?
Why had it always left me fear?
Why had it always made me afraid?
Truth is my thoughts that had me sinkin' to the bottom
The truth is that it was my thoughts that made me feel like I was sinking to the bottom
Driftin' like a bottle through the sea without a sound
I felt like I was drifting aimlessly in the sea, without a clear sense of direction
And when I finally washed up to your sandy shorebed
But when I finally arrived at your sandy shore
The message in the bottle had no writing to be found
The message I thought I had to deliver was not clear or present
Waves crashin' on the shore sunrise the water's sparkling
Waves were crashing on the shore, and the water was sparkling in the sunrise
Warm sand between my toes diggin' in there's so much comfort
It was so comforting to feel the warm sand between my toes
I'm not knowin' where it ends or if it keeps on going
I don't know where the ocean ends or how far it goes
An entire world beneath my body as I float, yeah
As I float, I feel like there is a whole new world beneath me
Every now and then
I sit and I think about this life
And I say "yeah, how could anyone want more?"
Every now and then, I reflect on my life and wonder how anyone could want more than what I have
I got the notion put your body in motion
I have an idea, let's move our bodies
Come on now we'll take a ride on the ocean
Let's take a ride on the ocean together
There's a lot of candy in this store
There are a lot of good things in this world to experience
Come on now we'll float away on the ocean
Let's float away on the ocean together
Come on now I gotta stay on the ocean
I want to stay on the ocean
Contributed by Stella O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.