Ocean Between
Brave the Sea Lyrics


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Elizabeth my one true love
Americkay′s not what Ireland was
The summers are hot and the winters too cold
It's not the paradise that we were told

Do the Irish hills caress you?
Is the ocean between us too far?
Cause Boston′s long nights make it seem like you're so far.

So here I am now
There's not much time

Do the rivers and lakes engulf you?
Do you consider me just a scar?
How Boston′s long nights make it seem like you′re so far.

You bastard you drunkard you don't understand!
The grass got much greener in old Ireland
You asked me to come then you left on your way
To that big bright new future in Americkay

May the road rise up to meet you
May your heart find the peace that you′ve earned
May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned

So here I am now
There's not much time

May the road rise up to meet you
May your heart find the peace that you′ve earned
May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned

So here i am now
There's not much time

May the road rise up to meet you
May your heart find the peace that you′ve earned
May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned

(Hey! Hey!)
I don't need you anymore
(Hey! Hey!)
I did all this for you, you whore
(Hey! Hey!)
And don't come back again
(Hey! Hey!)
I can see this is the end

Well truth be told I don′t blame you
There′s a lot of things that I put you through
I realize I was a silly young girl
You leaving me let me inherit the world

May the road rise up to meet you
May your heart find the peace that you've earned
May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned

Here I am now
There′s not much time

May the road rise up to meet you




May your heart find the peace that you've earned
May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned

Overall Meaning

"Ocean Between" by Brave the Sea is a song about unrequited love and the pains of separation. Addressed to Elizabeth, the singer laments how the America that was supposed to be a paradise turns out to be anything but. He misses the Irish hills, the seas, and his true love. He asks Elizabeth if she thinks of him and if she considers him just a scar, a painful reminder of something she no longer wants. The pain of separation is palpable with lines like "Boston's long nights make it seem like you're so far."


The song shifts to the singer directing his anger towards Elizabeth, calling her a whore and telling her not to come back again. The pain and anger merge with a tinge of regret that the singer realizes he put Elizabeth through a lot, being a foolish young girl. Finally, the song dispenses a blessing- a blessing for Elizabeth to find peace, to have the wind at her back, and for her bridges that led her away to burn.


The song is a ballad that poignantly captures the heartache of distance, separation, bitterness, and forgiveness. The chorus is a blessing for the person who broke the singer's heart, making it an unusual ballad reflecting the moods of different stages of a relationship.


Line by Line Meaning

Elizabeth my one true love
Addressing their beloved partner and confirming their sincere feelings for them.


Americkay′s not what Ireland was
Comparing their current location of America with their hometown of Ireland and feeling that it's not the same as what they remembered it to be.


The summers are hot and the winters too cold
Commenting on the extreme weather conditions faced in America, which is different from Ireland's mild weather.


It's not the paradise that we were told
Feeling disappointed that America is not living up to the expectations they had for it, based on the stories and promises they heard before moving there.


Do the Irish hills caress you?
Asking their beloved if they still feel the connection to their homeland.


Is the ocean between us too far?
Wondering if the distance between them is too great to overcome and if their love can survive it.


Cause Boston′s long nights make it seem like you're so far.
Feeling lonely and far away from their partner due to the long nights in Boston.


So here I am now, There's not much time
Realizing that life is fleeting and precious, and making the most of the time they have left.


Do the rivers and lakes engulf you?
Asking if their beloved feels at home near the water bodies in Ireland.


Do you consider me just a scar?
Worrying that their partner may see their relationship as something that has left them emotionally wounded.


How Boston′s long nights make it seem like you′re so far.
Recalling the distant feeling caused by long nights in Boston and how it affects their relationship.


You bastard you drunkard you don't understand!
Feeling angry and resentful towards their partner for leaving them behind after encouraging them to come to America in the first place.


The grass got much greener in old Ireland
Reflecting on the beauty of their homeland and how they miss it dearly.


You asked me to come then you left on your way
Feeling betrayed by their partner who asked them to come to America but then left them on their own.


To that big bright new future in Americkay
Recognizing that their partner left for the sake of a bright and better future in America.


May the road rise up to meet you, May your heart find the peace that you′ve earned, May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned
Wishing farewell to their partner with traditional Irish blessings for success and peace, even though they harbor resentment towards them.


(Hey! Hey!) I don't need you anymore, (Hey! Hey!) I did all this for you, you whore, (Hey! Hey!) And don't come back again, (Hey! Hey!) I can see this is the end
Expressing anger and frustration towards their partner, blaming them for everything that happened and declaring their intention to never reconcile.


Well truth be told I don′t blame you
Realizing that their anger towards their partner may be misplaced and that they too were at fault.


There′s a lot of things that I put you through
Acknowledging the stress and strain their relationship put on their partner before they left.


I realize I was a silly young girl, You leaving me let me inherit the world
Admitting that they were naïve and inexperienced when they first got together, and realizing that their partner leaving them gave them new opportunities to grow and become independent.


Here I am now, There′s not much time
Emphasizing the urgency of life and the importance of making the most of every moment.


May the road rise up to meet you, May your heart find the peace that you've earned, May the wind be at your back cause your bridges have burned
Repeating the traditional Irish blessings for a safe journey and a peaceful future, despite their complicated past with their partner.




Writer(s): William John, Matthew Toskin, Ryan Boggs, Matt Bibler, Justin Gambill, Nick Phillips

Contributed by Kaylee R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@likewhoaism

Gotta say this is an under appreciated gem, I love this song.

@BraveTheSea

You're an underappreciated gem and we love YOU!

@skyadventurer7574

How the heck does this have only 800 views. This the most amazing song I have ever listened to... right behind “I hate my job”...

@BraveTheSea

Thank you for loving it!

@lolwuttfishdawg

It’s an absolute shame this song hasn’t gotten more love. Super beautiful, keep on keeping on!!!!

@BraveTheSea

Thank you!

@jonathanorr44

Just wanted to let you know that I can't remember how I discovered this song, but I've been listening to it on Spotify for months. Over and over. And I've shared it with a lot of friends who have all loved it. Keep up the good stuff!

@BraveTheSea

Thank you so much for your support!

@FrankBiss

Very niiice song !! 👏👏🔥🔥 I'm glad to be on a Spotify playlist with you guys 😎✌️

@xJust2Deadly

God this song is so fucking underrated. 1k views is a goddamn travesty. A beautiful pirate love song. I know every word god dammit.

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