Breathe Owl Breathe is a band from East Jordan, Michigan which consists of … Read Full Bio ↴Breathe Owl Breathe is a band from East Jordan, Michigan which consists of Micah Middaugh, Trevor Hobbs, and Andréa Moreno-Beals.

Breathe Owl Breathe's first four albums were with a small Michigan based record label Earthwork Music, run by friends and fellow folk musicians Seth Bernard and May Erlewine. On September 28, 2010, Breathe Owl Breathe signed to Hometapes to release their fifth studio album Magic Central.

Official site:
www.breatheowlbreathe.com

marshland
Breathe Owl Breathe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I parked my car out on the highway
And I left it there mmhmm
I walked down to the marshland
Well I got to thinking mmhmm
Well maybe I should kick off my shoes
And sink in
There'll be no one to call out to
To come along

And the only one who knows what I'm talking about is
The polliwog in the pond

Well you're gonna lose your tail
And I'm gonna lose a tooth
I've got the end of a string wrapped around the door
You got arms and legs coming out of you
Like a caterpillar in a cocoon
I am waiting
Like a watering can in a sandbox
I pour out myself to you

I parked my car out on the highway
And I left it there mmhmm
I walked down to the marshland
Well I got to thinking mmhmm
Well maybe I should kick off my shoes
And sink in
There'll be no one to call out to
To come along

And the only one who knows what I'm talking about is
The polliwog in the pond

Overall Meaning

The song "Marshland" by Breathe Owl Breathe captures the essence of solitude and introspection. The lyrics paint a picture of a person who has parked their car and ventured off into the marshland. As they walk, they contemplate the idea of disconnecting from the world, and submerging themselves in their own thoughts. The singer of the song considers "kick[ing] off their shoes" and "sink[ing] in," suggesting a desire for immersion in a more natural and primitive state of being. The absence of other humans is striking, with the only living creature mentioned being the polliwog in the pond, which serves as a symbol of the natural world and the solitary experience of life.

The lyrics then shift from the natural world to the metaphorical world, where the singer is compared to a watering can in a sandbox, pouring themselves out to another. This section of the lyrics suggests that the solitude and introspection in the marshland has allowed for a deeper emotional connection between the singer and another person. The final repetition of the chorus serves to draw the listener back into the space of the marshland, reminding them that the true beauty of the song lies in the ability to disconnect from society and fully immerse oneself in reflection.

Overall, "Marshland" is a beautifully crafted song that captures the complexities of human emotions and the human experience of introspection and solitude.

Line by Line Meaning

I parked my car out on the highway
I abandoned my vehicle on the road, leaving it behind.

And I left it there mmhmm
I walked away without looking back, leaving my car exposed to the elements.

I walked down to the marshland
I strolled towards the swamplands, seeking solace in the natural surroundings.

Well I got to thinking mmhmm
As I kept exploring the marshland, several thoughts started flooding my head.

Well maybe I should kick off my shoes
I contemplated the possibility of taking off my shoes and feeling the damp earth with my feet.

And sink in
I thought of immersing myself completely into the marshland, letting its essence permeate my being.

There'll be no one to call out to
I realized that I was alone in this endeavor, with no one to reach out for help or comfort.

To come along
In fact, there was no one around who could accompany me on this journey of self-discovery.

And the only one who knows what I'm talking about is
Yet, amidst this loneliness, I felt a connection with a polliwog in the pond who seemed to understand my plight.

The polliwog in the pond
This small, insignificant creature became the one source of support and empathy for me in this vast surrounding.

Well you're gonna lose your tail
As I observed the polliwog, I understood its metamorphosis and how it will eventually lose its tail and evolve into a frog.

And I'm gonna lose a tooth
This realization made me aware of my own mortality and how I too, will experience a similar transformation.

I've got the end of a string wrapped around the door
As I surveyed my surroundings, I noticed a string wrapped around the door of an unknown structure, perhaps symbolizing a thread of hope amidst confusion.

You got arms and legs coming out of you
I again looked at the polliwog, marveling at how its limbs were sprouting out and taking shape, representing growth and determination.

Like a caterpillar in a cocoon
This reminded me of the caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, signifying the potential for positive change in all of us.

I am waiting
Amidst all these insights and moments of reflection, all I could do was wait for things to fall into place and make sense.

Like a watering can in a sandbox
I felt like a watering can, pouring out myself to the universe in hopes of finding purpose and fulfillment.

I pour out myself to you
In this instance, 'you' could represent the universe, nature, or some higher power that I was reaching out to for guidance and understanding.

Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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