Driftwood
Drakeford Lyrics
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In between the things I know are wrong and right
I've proclaimed, and I've pretended
But I'm not ready for that stranger in the night
Oh and now I see
That the life I lead
Is different underneath this summer sky
I've been standing for a long time
I've been stuck here, in the same place
And I cannot pick my feet up off the floor
I was lost at sea
In hopes to be
Like driftwood off the Carolina shore
Oooh, aah
Ooh
And though the sea gets rougher every day
All these crashing waves make me smooth
And though I'm tossed around in every way
Still I stay afloat upon your truth
Well I've been tossed around
I've been underground
And then was found by You
You made me into something new
Ooh, aah
In Drakeford's song Driftwood, the lyrics speak of an individual who finds themselves walking on a thin line between what they know is right and wrong. They have been pretending and proclaiming, but they are not ready for that stranger in the night. This could be interpreted as someone who is not ready for change, or perhaps someone who is scared of what lies ahead. As they reflect on their life beneath the summer sky, they realize that the life they lead is different. They have been standing in the same place for a long time and they do not believe they can continue doing so any longer. They have been like driftwood off the Carolina shore, lost at sea, in search of something.
The lyrics continue with a sense of hope, that even though the sea is getting rougher every day, the crashing waves are making them smooth. The individual is being tossed around in every way but they still stay afloat upon your truth, which could be interpreted as their faith or something they hold onto dearly. They have been underground and lost but then were found by this truth, and it has turned them into something new.
Overall, the song seems to speak of the struggles of life and finding one's place in it. It speaks of the desire for something more, but also the fear of change and the unknown. The lyrics suggest that even in the face of adversity, staying true to oneself and finding that truth to hold onto can turn someone into something new and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been walking on a thin line
I have been leading a life where I have been walking on a fine line between choices that are morally right or wrong.
In between the things I know are wrong and right
I am at a point where it is hard to distinguish between what is right and what is wrong.
I've proclaimed, and I've pretended
I have pretended to take the right path and even proclaimed it, but inside, I'm not ready to face the consequences of my choice.
But I'm not ready for that stranger in the night
I'm not ready to face the truth or consequences of my behavior because I don't know what to expect.
Oh and now I see
Now, I can see clearly.
That the life I lead
I can see that the way I'm living my life is not the best way to live.
Is different underneath this summer sky
Even though I'm leading this life in the summer where things seem lively, it is not how it appears to be.
I've been standing for a long time
I have been at a standstill for a long time.
And I don't think I can do this anymore
I don't think I can continue living my life the way I am anymore.
I've been stuck here, in the same place
I have been stuck in the same cycle, unable to break free.
And I cannot pick my feet up off the floor
I am unable to make any progress forward. I feel stuck.
I was lost at sea
I was directionless with no clarity like someone lost at sea.
In hopes to be
But I had hoped to be.
Like driftwood off the Carolina shore
I had wished my life would drift like a piece of wood, aimlessly without a purpose, on the Carolina shore.
And though the sea gets rougher every day
Even though life seems to get harder with every passing day.
All these crashing waves make me smooth
The hurdles and obstacles of life have made me stronger and resilient.
And though I'm tossed around in every way
Even though life has been dragging me through every obstacle, I'm still fighting.
Still I stay afloat upon your truth
Despite everything that life has thrown at me, I'm still holding on to my belief and my truth.
Well I've been tossed around
I've been through a lot and have experienced a lot of pain.
I've been underground
I was lost without any clue or direction.
And then was found by You
But then, I discovered and found You.
You made me into something new
You changed me, what I am today is entirely different from what I was before.
Contributed by Bella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.