Green Apple Quick Step was a Seattle-based alternative rock band that relea… Read Full Bio ↴Green Apple Quick Step was a Seattle-based alternative rock band that released two albums before breaking up in the mid 1990s. Their debut CD, "Wonderful Virus," was released on Reprise Records imprint label, Medicine Records, in 1994. Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard helped produce the band's follow-up, 1995's "Reloaded." The band scored a mild hit on modern rock radio with "Los Vargos." The band's "Dizzy" appeared on the "Basketball Diaries" movie soundtrack. The band recorded "New Disaster" for Columbia Records in 1998 before disbanding. "New Disaster" was never released.

Underwater
Green Apple Quick Step Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When we all grow down
Looking up is easy
When the shelter breaks
And it's so hard to please me
All I'm hoping for
Is for you to see me

And I know it's coming down

And I know your under water
And I know your turning blue

And I know you have a
Pounding headache
And a vice is golden
Too bad you can't spend it
I will always be inside your mind
I will always be inside your head

And I know it's coming down

And I know it's so confusing
And I know your under water

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Green Apple Quick Step's song "Underwater" present a sense of emotional vulnerability in the face of a tumultuous situation. When the singer remarks that "Looking up is easy" during a time when "We all grow down," there is a sense of wanting to cling to a sense of childhood innocence and hope in the face of growing uncertainty. However, the shelter surrounding the singer has broken, making it difficult for anyone to please them. Instead, they hope for someone to see them and understand the struggles they are going through.

The next stanza presents a more visceral imagery, with the singer acknowledging that they know someone - perhaps the person they are addressing - is "under water," and that they are "turning blue" as a result. This could be a metaphorical allusion to being overwhelmed and drowned by a difficult situation. The physical symptoms of a "pounding headache" and an impossible desire to spend a "golden" vice underscore the desperation and futility of the situation. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer's presence and thoughts will always be with the person they are addressing, even as they both struggle with the overwhelming confusion and feeling of being "under water."

Overall, "Underwater" presents a haunting and somber depiction of emotional and psychological struggle, with a sense of reaching out for understanding and comfort. The use of metaphors involving physical sensations and a sense of drowning contribute to the overall atmosphere of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

When we all grow down
As we age, we become more jaded and disillusioned, losing our childlike wonder and joy.

Looking up is easy
It's easy to be optimistic and hopeful when we're young and haven't yet experienced all of life's hardships.

When the shelter breaks
When we lose the things that have protected us or provided comfort, like a relationship or a job, we can feel exposed and vulnerable.

And it's so hard to please me
When we feel exposed and vulnerable, it becomes harder to find satisfaction and fulfillment in life.

All I'm hoping for
Despite feeling unfulfilled, we still cling to the hope that someone will see and understand us.

Is for you to see me
We long for someone to truly see us for who we are, without any masks or pretense.

And I know it's coming down
The inevitability of disappointment and failure can weigh heavily on us, making it hard to escape a sense of impending doom.

And I know your under water
We can feel overwhelmed and suffocated by the pressures and stresses of life, like we're drowning and can't escape.

And I know your turning blue
This overwhelming stress can manifest physically, leading to negative health outcomes, like feeling sick or overwhelmed.

And I know you have a
Despite all this, we can still find comfort in the vices and crutches we use to cope with our struggles.

Pounding headache
One physical manifestation of stress can be headaches or other tension-related pains in the body.

And a vice is golden
Our vices can feel like fleeting escapes from the stresses of life, providing a temporary sense of relief and pleasure.

Too bad you can't spend it
Despite the comfort our vices provide, we know deep down that they aren't really a solution to our problems and can't be relied upon in the long term.

I will always be inside your mind
People and experiences can linger within us, shaping our thoughts and feelings and influencing how we see the world.

I will always be inside your head
Memories and emotions can be difficult to escape, like a persistent soundtrack that we're unable to mute or ignore.

And I know it's coming down
Despite moments of respite or comfort, the pressures of life can still feel inescapable and ever-present.

And I know it's so confusing
When we're feeling overwhelmed and suffocated, it's hard to make sense of things or have any clear direction or purpose.

And I know your under water
The feeling of drowning or suffocation can remain constant, regardless of any momentary relief or remission.

Contributed by Lincoln P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS