Sullivan Street
Counting Crows Lyrics


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Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Cross the water and home through the town
Past the shadows that fall down wherever we meet
Pretty soon I won't come around

I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly fallen to her knees
Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Where all the bodies hang on the air
If she remembers, she hides it whenever we meet
Either way now, I don't really care

I'm almost drowning in her seas
She's nearly crawling on her knees
She's down on her knees

Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
I'm just another rider burned to the ground

I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly crawling on her knees
It's almost everything I need




I'm down on my knees
I'm down on my knees

Overall Meaning

The opening verse of Sullivan Street by Counting Crows paints a somber picture of someone taking the familiar path home, one that leads back to Sullivan St. This route takes them through the town and over water, with shadows falling wherever they meet. However, the lyrics seem to indicate that this journey will not continue for long, "Pretty soon I won't come around". There is a sense of finality and an undertone of sadness, perhaps indicating the end of a relationship with someone who may have lived on Sullivan Street.


The repetition of "I'm almost drowning in her sea" and "She's nearly falling to her knees" emphasizes the intensity of the situation. There is a sense of being overwhelmed by emotion. The second verse mentions bodies hanging in the air, perhaps alluding to a metaphorical sense of death or loss. The singer might be hoping for some kind of closure or resolution, but they don't really care if the other person remembers them or not. The third verse mentions being "burned to the ground", which could suggest an ending that is absolute or painful.


Line by Line Meaning

Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
The singer suggests going back to Sullivan Street to face the memories and traumas they have there.


Cross the water and home through the town
The singer associates traveling over water with returning home, and they must move through the town to get there.


Past the shadows that fall down wherever we meet
The singer acknowledges the heavy burden they carry and remembers their past that haunts them every time they confront it.


Pretty soon I won't come around
The artist hints at leaving the place and moving on, as they won't be around for long.


I'm almost drowning in her sea
The artist feels overwhelmed and consumed by an emotional connection with another person.


She's nearly fallen to her knees
The person the singer is referring to is also struggling heavily with their emotions and is close to giving up.


Where all the bodies hang on the air
The singer describes a place where memories and emotions are thick in the air, all-consuming and impossible to ignore.


If she remembers, she hides it whenever we meet
The artist feels like the other person is hiding their true feelings about the past from them and chooses not to acknowledge or bring them up.


Either way now, I don't really care
The artist is resigned to accepting the fact that the past can't be changed and is not worth worrying about anymore.


I'm just another rider burned to the ground
The artist describes themselves as a broken, defeated person who has been through a lot and doesn't have much left emotionally or physically.


It's almost everything I need
Despite the hardships, the singer still craves the intense emotional connection with the other person and is willing to endure a lot to keep it going.


I'm down on my knees
The artist is at their most vulnerable, physically and emotionally broken, on their knees.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM FREDRIC DURITZ, BEN G MIZE, CHARLES THOMAS GILLINGHAM, DANIEL JOHN VICKREY, DAVID LYNN BRYSON, MATTHEW MARK MALLEY, STEVE BOWMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@michaelbush1374

Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Cross the water and home through the town
Past the shadows that fall down wherever we meet
Pretty soon I won't come around
I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly fallen to her knees
Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Where all the bodies hang on the air
If she remembers, she hides it whenever we meet
Either way now, I don't really care
I'm almost drowning in her seas
She's nearly crawling on her knees
She's down on her knees
Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
I'm just another rider burned to the ground
I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly crawling on her knees
It's almost everything I need
I'm down on my knees
I'm down on my knees



@davidjonburke2729

Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Cross the water and home through the town
Past the shadows that fall down wherever we meet
Pretty soon I won't come around
I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly fallen to her knees
Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
Where all the bodies hang on the air
If she remembers, she hides it whenever we meet
Either way now, I don't really care
I'm almost drowning in her seas
She's nearly crawling on her knees
She's down on her knees
Take the way home that leads back to Sullivan St.
I'm just another rider burned to the ground
I'm almost drowning in her sea
She's nearly crawling on her knees
It's almost everything I need
I'm down on my knees
I'm down on my knees



All comments from YouTube:

@Smoove_J

It’s funny that Counting Crows was considered “alternative.” This is such a classic, soulful arrangement. Still sounds great almost 30 years later.

@theistrix8675

Well when what was mainstream was hair band rock and synth pop..

@Beaches_south_of_L.A.

It is alternative that's why it was considered that.

@christineperez8160

I say the same thing

@paulmclaughlin2771

I fell in love with this album when I was 15.. Its a love that has stood the test of time

@JustElia420

Same here. They might all be gone, but My Love for his song and Album have Never deserted me.

@davebanfield6251

one of the best albums ever. love every single song 💯

@richardbwanika2166

Always a pleasure to read a comment like yours Paul. I cannot begin to explain what joy and sweet melancholy Duritz & Co. have spoiled me with over the years. Cheers.

@aubreegallucci8343

This CD reminds me of innocence. I was a freshman in high school. This was very powerful music at that young age.

@alexandermakrianis

I was a junior in high school. I agree with you about how this song is reminiscent of innocence, it seemed like a different world sometimes back then.

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