What the Water Gave Me
Florence 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
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 on 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 could have it any other way
'Cause she's a cruel mistress
And the 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
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
Pockets full of stones
Lay me down
Let the only sound
Be the overflow
"What the Water Gave Me" is a song by Florence + the Machine, from her second studio album, "Ceremonials." The song is known to be a reference to Frida Kahlo's painting of the same name, which details the moment before her own suicide attempt. The song features several allusions to waves and water, which are symbolically connected to life and death, as well as beauty and danger.
The opening verse of the song speaks to the idea that everything in life has a cost, that destinations come at a price. It suggests that everything good and bad that comes to us can be attributed to the waters of life. It illustrates that everything in life is transient, and that time and love both come together to create a fleeting and transient reality.
The chorus, "Lay me down, let the only sound be the overflow, pockets full of stones " shows the despair of the singer. The phrase "pockets full of stones" refers to the practice of suicide victims weighting themselves down to make sure they drowned. However, there is a sense of liberation in the song as well, a sense of letting go of past hurt and anguish.
The closing verse of the song speaks to the idea that life is a cruel mistress, and that we must make a bargain with it in order to live. It speaks to the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. The singer seems resigned to the fact that the waters will take her and perhaps alludes to the idea that suicide may be a path to take.
Line by Line Meaning
Time it took us
The duration it took us to reach the water.
To where the water was
To the location of the water.
That's what the water gave me
The opportunity to reach the water and the experiences that came with it.
And time goes quicker
Time seems to pass more quickly when we are together.
Between the two of us
When we are together as a couple.
Oh, my love, don't forsake me
Don't abandon me my love.
Take what the water gave me
Embrace the opportunities and experiences that came with reaching the water.
Lay me down
Allow me to rest.
Let the only sound
The only audible noise.
Be the overflow
Be the excess of water pouring over my body.
Pockets full of stones
Weighed down by burden and pain.
And oh, poor Atlas
Compassion for the mythical figure who carried the weight of the world.
The world's a beast of a burden
The world is a heavy burden to carry.
You've been holding on a long time
The burden has been carried for a long time.
And all this longing
The intense desire for relief from the burden.
And the ships are left to rust
The ships have been abandoned and left to decay.
That's what the water gave us
The water brought both opportunity and decay.
'Cause they took your loved ones
Because they took your loved ones away from you.
But returned them in exchange for you
But gave them back to you after you took their place.
But would you have it any other way?
Do you regret the choices you made, leading to this outcome?
Would you have it any other way?
Would you have done things differently?
You could have it any other way
You had the power to make different choices.
'Cause she's a cruel mistress
Water is unforgiving and unrelenting.
And the bargain must be made
A deal must be struck with water.
But oh, my love, don't forget me
Don't forget about me, my love.
When I let the water take me
When I surrender myself to the water's power.
So, lay me down
Grant me rest.
Let the only sound
The only audible noise.
Be the overflow
The excess of water pouring over my body.
Lay me down
Allow me to rest.
Let the only sound
The only audible noise.
Be the overflow
The excess of water pouring over my body.
Lay me down
Allow me to rest.
Let the only sound
The only audible noise.
Be the overflow
The excess of water pouring over my body.
Pockets full of stones
Weighed down by burden and pain.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FRANCIS EG WHITE, FLORENCE WELCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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