What the Water Gave Me
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
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To where the water was
That's what the water gave me
And time goes quicker
Between the two of us
But, oh, my love, don't forsake me
Take what the water gave me
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
And, oh, poor Atlas
The world's a beast of a burden
You've been holding up a long time
And all this longing
And the ships are left to rust
That's what the water gave us
So, lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
'Cause they took your loved ones
But returned them in exchange for you
But would you have it any other way?
Would you have it any other way?
You couldn't have it any other way
'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made
But, oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me
So, lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
The song What the Water Gave Me by Florence + the Machine is a poetic representation of the relationship between time, life and death, and the transformative power of water. The first verse begins with the singer reflecting on the passage of time and the way water has played a role in transforming their life. The second verse introduces the idea of burden and longing, referencing the character of Atlas who is said to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders. The chorus, with its repetitive lyrics, create a sense of weightlessness and surrender that underlines the themes of acceptance and transformation. The third verse circles back to the relationship between the singer and the water, evoking the image of a cruel mistress. The final repetition of the chorus becomes both a lament and a celebration of the transformation that water brings, a reminder that everything in life is cyclical and that we must surrender to the flow of time.
The song has a haunting quality that is mirrored in its lyrics. It explores the idea of transformation through the metaphor of water, and the relationship between life and death. The chorus is particularly powerful, with its repetition of "Lay me down, let the only sound be the overflow, pockets full of stones," creating an image of joyous surrender and acceptance mixed with a hint of danger. One interpretation of the song is that the singer is asking for a watery death, not as a rejection of life but as a way of fully embracing it.
Overall, the song captures the beauty and fragility of life and the transformative power of water, and the gentle reminder to surrender to the flow of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Time it took us
To where the water was
That's what the water gave me
And time goes quicker
Between the two of us
But, oh, my love, don't forsake me
Take what the water gave me
The time we spent getting to the water is now a part of us, just like the experiences and moments we share. Time flies between us but please don't abandon me. Let's cherish what the water has given us.
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Let me rest in peace and allow the only noise that echoes to be the sound of the surging water around me. As a symbol of my sorrowful life, I carry pockets full of stones.
And, oh, poor Atlas
The world's a beast of a burden
You've been holding up a long time
And all this longing
And the ships are left to rust
That's what the water gave us
Even the mighty Atlas bathes in the waters of despair. The world is an incessant burden, and we have been struggling for so long. Despite our hopes and desires, everything we build is eventually ruined and forgotten, and the ocean is to blame for it.
'Cause they took your loved ones
But returned them in exchange for you
But would you have it any other way?
Would you have it any other way?
You couldn't have it any other way
You traded your loved ones' lives for your own, do you regret it? Was there ever any other choice? No, there wasn't.
'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made
But, oh, my love, don't forget me
When I let the water take me
The all-powerful ocean is a ruthless master, and we are at its mercy. We must make a deal with her, but when I leave this life, please don't forget me.
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Lay me down and let the only sound be the powerful, surging water that surrounds me, as I add my heavy pockets of stones to the ocean floor.
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Lay me down and let the only sound be the powerful, surging water that surrounds me, as I add my heavy pockets of stones to the ocean floor.
Contributed by Madison D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mateocivello1222
The Lyrics:
Time it took us
To where the water was
That’s what the water gave me
And time goes quicker
Between the two of us
Oh, my love, don’t forsake me
Take what the water gave me
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
And oh, poor Atlas
The world’s a beast of a burden
You’ve been holding up a long time
And all this longing
And the ships are left to rust
That’s what the water gave us
So lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
‘Cause they took your loved ones
But returned them in exchange for you
But would you have it any other way?
Would you have it any other way?
You couldn't have it any other way
‘Cause she’s a cruel mistress
And a bargain must be made
But oh, my love, don’t forget me
When I let the water take me
So lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the over flow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
So lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
@ryan_machine
She once said that as a child, she dove to the bottom of a swimming pool and, for a moment, felt like she could breathe, and she's been trying to recreate the feeling ever since.
@diana002563
***** I didnt know that, but she said reciently that this song is inspired in a Frida Kahlo painting called Lo que el agua me dio Or what the water gave me in english :D
@ellebelly4118
You're are right, she said that about the water thing at her concert
@itsrollintime
+Ryan Clarke i thought that this song is about virginia woolf's death,am i wrong?
@CandKrocknroll
+Açelya Dalgıç no i think it was inspired by both of them
@itsrollintime
CandKrocknroll it sounds true,thank you
@rups9518
For anyone who may not know, this song is inspired by the English writer Virginia Woolf. She suffered from Bipolar Disorder throughout most of her life and eventually succumbed to it. She committed suicide by drowning with "pockets full of stones." This song beautifully depicts her struggle. One of Florence's best songs!
@blakcnagisa01
rups9518 Wrong, is for the oil painting of Frida Kahlo Lo que el agua me dió (What the Water Gave Me)
@cheyenneShel
That painting is artistic but it's disgusting to ne
@--7984
VII The Magician "Welch decided to name the song "What the Water Gave Me" after seeing a Frida Kahlo painting. During an interview, she confirmed that the song was inspired by Virginia Woolf, an English writer." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_the_Water_Gave_Me_%28song%29