Swim Good
Frank Ocean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Big enough to take these broken hearts and put 'em in it
Now I'm driving 'round on the boulevard, trunk bleeding
And every time the cops pull me over, they don't never see them
They never see them (ow)
And I've got this black suit on
Roaming around like I'm ready for a funeral
Five more miles 'til the road runs out
I'm about to drive in the ocean
I'ma try to swim from something bigger than me
Kick off my shoes and swim good and swim good
Take off this suit and swim good and swim good, good
Got some pretty good beats on this 808 CD, yeah
Memory seats I'm sitting on stay heated (yeah)
I woulda put tints on my windows but what's the difference (no, no)
If I feel like a Ghost (no Swayze) ever since I lost my baby?
I've had this black suit on (ow)
Roaming around like I'm ready for a funeral (ow)
One more mile 'til the road runs out, out
I'm about to drive in the ocean
I'ma try to swim from something bigger than me
Kick off my shoes and swim good and swim good
Take off this suit and swim good and swim good, good
I'm going off (oh my pretty love), don't try stopping me
I'm going off (throw me a line), don't try saving (oh my)
No flares (oh my), no vest (but you're my love), and no fear
Waves are washing me (out)
I'm about to drive (drive) in the ocean (ocean, yeah)
I'ma try to swim from something bigger than me (bigger than me)
Kick off my shoes (good) and swim good (good), and swim good
Take off this suit (take off this suit)
And swim good, and swim good, good
In "Swim Good," Frank Ocean paints a picture of a man grappling with the loss of his love, seeking solace in driving and eventually diving into the ocean. The trunk of his Lincoln town car serves as a metaphor for his emotional baggage - he imagines it being big enough to contain his broken heart, and yet it can't contain the pain that continues to bleed out of him. The black suit he's wearing suggests that he's in mourning and ready for a funeral. The repetition of the phrase "swim good" after every verse and chorus evokes the notion of trying to swim through the intense emotions that are overwhelming him, and perhaps finding some kind of release or catharsis in the process.
The second verse alludes to a sense of dissociation or detachment from reality: the singer sits in leather memory seats, has an 808 CD playing, and imagines himself as a ghost, likening his experience of grief to death. He's resistant to putting tinted windows on his car, as if to suggest that he doesn't care if people see him in his state of mourning. In the bridge, the singer becomes more emphatic and urgent in his bid to escape from his pain, declaring that he's going off and no one should try to stop or save him. The waves that wash over him as he drives into the ocean ultimately become a metaphor for his feelings of being swallowed up and overwhelmed by his despair.
Line by Line Meaning
That's a pretty big trunk on my Lincoln town car, ain't it?
The singer is commenting on the spaciousness of the trunk of his car.
Big enough to take these broken hearts and put 'em in it
The trunk is metaphorically large enough to hold all of the singer's emotional baggage.
Now I'm driving 'round on the boulevard, trunk bleeding
The trunk is metaphorically bleeding from the weight of the singer's emotional baggage.
And every time the cops pull me over, they don't never see them
The artist's emotional baggage is hidden from the outside world, including the police who have pulled him over.
And I've got this black suit on
The artist is wearing a black suit, a common outfit for funerals.
Roaming around like I'm ready for a funeral
The singer is dressed in a way that suggests he is resigned to death or mourning.
Five more miles 'til the road runs out
The singer is nearing the end of the road, both literally and metaphorically.
I'm about to drive in the ocean
The artist is planning to drive his car into the ocean.
I'ma try to swim from something bigger than me
The artist is attempting to escape from a problem or situation that is overwhelming him.
Kick off my shoes and swim good and swim good
The artist is taking off his shoes and preparing to swim.
Take off this suit and swim good and swim good, good
The singer is removing his funeral suit and symbolically shedding his attachment to death and mourning.
Got some pretty good beats on this 808 CD, yeah
The artist is listening to a CD with strong bass beats.
Memory seats I'm sitting on stay heated (yeah)
The car's seats are heated and the singer is enjoying their warmth and comfort.
I woulda put tints on my windows but what's the difference (no, no)
The singer is dismissive of the idea of adding tinted windows to his car.
If I feel like a Ghost (no Swayze) ever since I lost my baby?
The singer feels like a ghost since he lost his significant other, but he clarifies that he is not like Patrick Swayze's character in the movie 'Ghost.'
One more mile 'til the road runs out, out
The artist is one mile closer to the end of the road.
I'm going off (oh my pretty love), don't try stopping me
The artist is determined to continue on his current path despite any attempts to dissuade him.
I'm going off (throw me a line), don't try saving (oh my)
The singer does not want to be saved and instead wants to fully experience his self-destructive behavior.
No flares (oh my), no vest (but you're my love), and no fear
The singer is going into the ocean without any safety equipment and without fear.
Waves are washing me (out)
The artist is being swept away by the waves.
I'm about to drive (drive) in the ocean (ocean, yeah)
The artist is again mentioning his plan to drive into the ocean.
I'ma try to swim from something bigger than me (bigger than me)
The artist is attempting to escape from a situation that is too big and overwhelming for him to handle.
Kick off my shoes (good) and swim good (good), and swim good
The singer is again preparing to swim.
Take off this suit (take off this suit)
The artist again emphasizes the importance of removing his black funeral suit.
And swim good, and swim good, good
The singer is emphasizing the importance of swimming well to escape his problems.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Charles Gambetta, Christopher Breaux, Kevin Risto, Waynne Nugent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
900533356.+6
++6
5.33.*9
2321638-23413|
on Pink + White
Introductory line, no real meaning behind it.
Every day is unpredictable, and we have no control over it.
No matter how hard we try, the future is always uncertain and out of our control.
The environment is always changing, and we can only adapt to the changes.
No matter the circumstances, life will always be what it is.
Our experiences in life shape us and influence how we react to certain situations.
Stay alert, be aware of your surroundings, and face your adversity head-on.
Life can be slow and monotonous, but it's important to keep moving forward.
Sometimes we wish things were different, but we have to work with what we have.
Change is constant and inevitable, and we must adapt accordingly.
We are confined to our natural surroundings and must find ways to thrive within them.
I will be there for you and remain reliable through thick and thin.
Stay calm and composed when things are going well.
I will not abandon you when things fall apart.
I learned how to remain dependable and support others from your example.
My upbringing and past taught me how to love and connect with others.
There is a power or higher force that we cannot control but can find solace in.
I have respect and admiration for the person who has influenced me so deeply.
Things will become easier once we've overcome certain obstacles.
In the aftermath of a disaster or tragedy.
Referring to the black community and the beauty of darker skin tones.
Going underwater.
Represents makeshift arrangements that still offer a sense of stability.
Taking risks and enjoying life, despite the danger.
The inspiration and influence of those older and more experienced than us.
An allusion to reincarnation, a second chance starting over.
Coming back to the surface after experiencing hardship.
Showing gratitude for the world that has allowed us to survive and thrive.
Being thankful for everything that we have and acknowledging our place in the universe.
Our environment and experiences offer an opportunity to learn and grow in order to survive.
We must persevere even when things get tough.
Reflecting on our lives and past experiences.
Referring to the end of childhood and the beginning of adulthood.
Giving a shout-out to friends or individuals who have impacted their life.
Acknowledging people they love or admire.
Showing appreciation for the promise of eternal life or a legacy that will live on after death.
Preparing to take action, possibly to run or escape.
Trying to escape the pain and hardship of life through various vices or addictions.
Engaging in reckless behavior or coping through unhealthy means.
Looking for comfort or pleasure in the face of adversity.
Jokingly considering the benefits of eternal life or a lasting legacy.
Accepting that life, with all its joys and hardships, is finite and will eventually end.