Swim
Bush Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Could not believe
Came here today
Helmet was on
You blew me away
House is on fire
We're naked again
Maybe all we need
Is water and friends
Shackles and chains
Won't keep me away
Temple is you
And my brow is insane
I want to be just like you
I want to feel right through you
I want to see just with you
I want to live
I want to die you
Thinning ice
14 hairdryers
Swimming to you
Flame on earth desire
Poor on the rise
Rich on the fall
This cripple's with you
Fame is a whore
I want to fit inside you
I want to room inside you
If money talks I want to buy you
I want to die
I want to die
I want to live you
I'm not scared of you
Gave up on drugs
If I make it through
The jaws of love




Jaws of love
You give

Overall Meaning

The song "Swim" by Bush, contains lyrics that are both evocative and puzzling. Upon analysis of the lyrics, they appear to be a rambling series of interconnected phrases that deal with themes of rebirth, desire, and desperation. The opening lines perhaps reflect a feeling of shock and disbelief at a new situation, "Could not believe, came here today, helmet was on, you blew me away" and the line "house is on fire, we're naked again, maybe all we need is water and friends" seems to suggest a desire to connect with others on a deeper, primal level.


The lyrics then delve into more complex notions of desire and yearning that seemingly cannot be fulfilled, "Shackles and chains won't keep me away, temple is you and my brow is insane. I want to be just like you, I want to feel right through you, I want to see just with you, I want to live, I want to die you." The line "poor on the rise, rich on the fall, this cripple's with you, fame is a whore" is a biting commentary on social stratification and the performative nature of celebrity.


The lyrics then culminate in a somewhat surrealistic image of "swimming to you, flame on earth desire, thinning ice, 14 hairdryers, jaws of love," which leaves the listener with a sort of sense of floating on a sea of emotion that defies logic.


Overall, "Swim" is a deeply immersive and richly layered song that is open to interpretation. It is a study of contrasts and opposing forces: desperation and desire, fear and courage, life and death.


Line by Line Meaning

Could not believe
I was astonished by what I saw


Came here today
I arrived at this place today


Helmet was on
I was prepared for anything


You blew me away
You surprised me or impressed me immensely


House is on fire
My life is falling apart


We're naked again
We are vulnerable and exposed


Maybe all we need
Perhaps the only thing we need to fix our problems is...


Is water and friends
...support and companionship.


Shackles and chains
Obstacles and hardships


Won't keep me away
Cannot stop me from reaching my goal


Temple is you
You are my place of worship or devotion


And my brow is insane
I am obsessed or crazy


I want to be just like you
I admire and aspire to be like you


I want to feel right through you
I want to feel your emotions and experiences


I want to see just with you
I want to see and experience things together with you


I want to live
I want to enjoy life to the fullest


I want to die you
I want to be fully immersed and dedicated to you


Thinning ice
A dangerous and uncertain situation


14 hairdryers
A comical or absurd detail


Swimming to you
Going towards you with effort and determination


Flame on earth desire
An intense, burning desire


Poor on the rise
People in poverty are becoming more numerous


Rich on the fall
The wealthy are losing their power or influence


This cripple's with you
I am emotionally dependent on you, despite my weakness or flaws


Fame is a whore
Public attention and acclaim are shallow and fleeting


I want to fit inside you
I want to be deeply connected with you


I want to room inside you
I want to have a place or role in your life


If money talks I want to buy you
If wealth is the most important thing, I want to have power over you


I want to die
I want to have a profound and meaningful experience with you


I want to live you
I want to be fully present in your life and enjoy it together


I'm not scared of you
I respect and admire you, but I am not intimidated by you


Gave up on drugs
I stopped using drugs to escape my problems


If I make it through
If I am able to overcome my difficulties


The jaws of love
The powerful and sometimes destructive force of love


You give
You provide me with support and love




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Round Hill Music Big Loud Songs
Written by: GAVIN ROSSDALE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions