Dead in the Water
Ellie Goulding Lyrics


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If I was not myself
And you were someone else
I'd say so much to you
And I would tell the truth
'Cause I can hardly breathe
When your hands let go of me
The ice is thinning out
And my feet brace themselves

I'm there in the water
Still looking for you
I'm there in the water
Can't you see?
Can't you see?

You've seen this all before
A life left on the shore
We're smiling all the same
You sail away again

I'm there in the water
Still looking for you
I'm there in the water
Can't you see?
Can't you see?

Oh, yeah, I'm dead
(I'm dead in the water)
I'm dead in the water
(Still looking for you)
Oh, still looking for you
(I'm dead in the water)
For you, for you, oh
(Can't you see?)
Can't you see?
I'm dead in the water
Still looking for you
I'm dead in the water
Can't you see?

I'm dead in the water
Still looking for you
I'm dead in the water




Can't you see?
Can't you see?

Overall Meaning

"Dead in the Water" by Ellie Goulding is a song about a failed relationship. The singer insinuates that if she were not herself and the person she was talking to was someone else, she would be able to share how she truly feels. The singer is struggling to breathe after being let go by the other person's hands. She feels like she is in the water, looking for her former partner, but the ice is thinning, and her feet feel shaky. The singer may be trying to metaphorically say that she is struggling to stay afloat and survive without the presence of her partner.
The chorus repeats this feeling of being lost, still looking for her partner, but the partner sails away, and the singer feels left in the water struggling. It's a relatable feeling to those who have lost their partner and are struggling to find their place in the world after that loss. The singer expresses the hurt and confusion in a surprisingly upbeat and light manner.


Line by Line Meaning

If I was not myself
If I were different from who I am


And you were someone else
And you were a different person


I'd say so much to you
I would say a lot to you


And I would tell the truth
And I would be honest


Cause I can hardly breathe
Because I'm struggling to breathe


When your hands let go of me
When you release me from your grip


The ice is thinning out
The situation is becoming more vulnerable and unstable


And my feet brace themselves
And I prepare myself for what's to come


I'm there in the water
I'm immersed in the situation


Still looking for ya
Still searching for you


Can't you see, can't you see
Don't you see it?


You've seen this all before
You've experienced this before


Life left on the shore
Life continues without us


We're smiling all the same
We're still pretending to be happy


You sail away again
You leave again


Oh yeah
Just an expression of emotion


I'm there in the water
I'm still in the situation


Still looking for ya
Still searching for you


Can't you see, can't you see
Don't you realize?


I'm there in the water
I'm still in the situation


Still looking for ya
Still searching for you


Can't you see, can't you see
Don't you see it?


I'm there in the water
I'm still in the situation


Still looking for ya
Still searching for you


Can't you see, can't you see
Don't you realize?




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Finlay Graham Dow Smith, Elena Jane Goulding

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

@thekvcoco

Lyrics:

If I was not myself
And you were someone else
I'd say so much to you
And I would tell the truth
Cause I can hardly breathe
When your hands let go of me
The ice is thinning out
And my feet brace themselves

I'm there in the water
Still looking for ya
I'm there in the water
Can't you see, can't you see

You've seen this all before
Life left on the shore
We're smiling all the same
You sail away again
I'm there in the water
Still looking for ya
I'm there in the water
Can't you see, can't you see
Oh yeah

I'm there in the water
Still looking for ya
I'm there in the water
Can't you see, can't you see
I'm there in the water
Still looking for ya
I'm there in the water
Can't you see, can't you see



All comments from YouTube:

@promghost07

My friend requested that this song be played at her funeral when she died. Not long after, she committed suicide. I never knew she was going to, but I desperately wish I had so I could've helped her in whatever way I could. My heart breaks every time I listen to this song. I miss you. <3

@jenny-bu4le

I'm sorry to hear that, I hope that you can one day feel not so down about it or at least not feel so bad, I could never imagine something like that happening

@iconic198

sorry for your lost but sometimes we don't know how bad some people are hurting cause they keep it tucked away trying to stay strong for everyone else

@promghost07

She had been planning it for awhile and wouldn't talk to me or any of her other friends. Then she left the state shortly before she did it. She wanted to go, but if I had known.... I would've done everything I could to convince her that her life was worth living and how she affected my life so positively, and other lives too. And that none of what was going on was her fault. I can't do anything about it now except keep her memory alive and honor her and all the good she did. It's been almost three years, but it's still hard to believe she's not in my life anymore.

@shaniqua2950

your story saddens my heart. I'm so sorry for your loss.

@verity5554

It is not your fault. Whatever she was going through must have been horrible. She is now in a better place for her and her state of mind. <3

45 More Replies...

@GimmeSome1DLove

T:"Can I ask you something?"  
F:"Sure."
T:"What's your tattoo?" 
F: "Wanna see it?" 
T:"It's amazing…. The factions….. why do you have all of them?"
F:"I don't want to be just one thing…. I can't be.  I wanna be brave, and I want to be selfless.  Intelligent, and honest, and kind…. Well… I'm still working on kind."  😍 😂  DIVERGENT ❤️

@jezvictor791

The feels of tris & four

@ItsMarenxoxo

Malu Robertson you dont even know how to spell tris...

@jezvictor791

damn sorry... It's Maren 〈3 

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