Dead in the Water
Ellie Goulding Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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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Cupid


on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"

You're the light, you're the night
You're the color of my blood
You're the cure, you're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

You're the fear, I don't care
'Cause I've never been so high
Follow me through the dark
Let me take you past the satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life

So love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've gotta find
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around, I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Ah

I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around, I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, la-la-love me like you do (Oh)
Touch me like you do, ta-ta-touch me like you do (Ah)
What are you waiting for?

Cupid


on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"

You're the light
You're the night
You're the colour of my blood
You're the cure
You're the pain
You're the only thing I wanna touch
Never knew that it could mean so much, so much

You're the fear
I don't care
'Cause I've never been so high
Follow me through the dark
Let me take you past the satellites
You can see the world you brought to life, to life

So love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Fading in, fading out
On the edge of paradise
Every inch of your skin is a holy grail I've gotta find
Only you can set my heart on fire, on fire
Yeah, I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around
I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Ah ah

I'll let you set the pace
'Cause I'm not thinkin' straight
My head's spinnin' around
I can't see clear no more
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Yeah)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do
What are you waiting for?

Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Like you do)
Love me like you do, lo-lo-love me like you do (Oh)
Touch me like you do, to-to-touch me like you do (Ah)
What are you waiting for?

Milena Donis


on Love Me Like You Do - From "Fifty Shades of Grey"

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