He came from Toronto; she, from Seattle.
He came from Toronto; she, from Seattle.
His parents started a radio station; hers were music teachers.
Both had music in their blood, instruments in their hands, and a mind to create.
The mountains led him to the west; a star led her to the north.
In Vancouver they met and schooled—studying music and life.
They found promise.
They found love.
In less than a year they put school on hold, got married, and lived.
With music and purpose guiding them, school called again and to Nashville they went.
He became an audio engineer; she became a songwriter; music stayed central and they continued to create.
Entering the Nashville music scene in 2009, Handsome and Gretyl released their debut EP, Hold On Tight Love, February 2011.
Handsome and Gretyl have created an earthy folk feel crossed with an imaginative jaunt of pop, a sweet and tangy piece of wild berry pie. This duo draws from real life, delivering optimistic though realistic lyrics, seasoned with the chill of snow, the sea breeze, and the hope of tomorrow’s sunrise.
Sea Legs
Handsome and Gretyl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here's the line drawn by the tide
One side dream, one side I'm rooted
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
Can I get these sea legs on
Can I get these sea legs on
Can I get these sea legs on me
Sailing soon this was my doing
Abandon ship or let the sail lift
Should I stay, I think I must leave
Heave heave ho
Can I get these land legs off
Can I get these land legs off of
Can I get these land legs off of me
When all I want to do is stay
Oh no no no, oh no no no...
Can I get these sea legs on
Can I get these sea legs on
Can I get these sea legs on me
Anchors aweigh, anchors aweigh
When all I want to do is stay
All I want to do is stay
All I want to do is stay.
The lyrics of Handsome and Gretyl's Sea Legs portray a person who is caught in a position where they are struggling to find a sense of belonging between their dreams and their responsibilities. The first stanza describes the persona standing at the shoreline, facing the line where the sea and land meet, feeling caught between their dreams and their rooted reality. They are caught in a dilemma, "caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," and are unsure of which path to take. They are aware of the fact that whatever action they take will have a significant impact on their future.
The second stanza illustrates the persona's internal conflict where they want to stay but are simultaneously considering leaving. They use the metaphor of sailing soon as "their doing," where they feel they have control over the outcome of their choices. However, they are struggling with their decision, and the sea winds hide their salty and sad eyes. They are caught between abandoning their ship or letting their sails lift, which metaphorically symbolizes their desire to leave behind their obligations for a life of dreams.
The persona is struggling with their sense of stability and is trying to find their balance between their roots and their dreams. They want to establish their sea legs to embark on the voyage of their dreams, and at the same time, they battle their land legs, trying to find a way to get rid of their obligations to stay. The last line emphasizes their desire to stay, but their need to find balance and direction in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
Here I stand where sea touches land
I am at the edge of the ocean, where the waves meet the shore.
Here's the line drawn by the tide
The water leaves a visible boundary between the wet sand and dry sand on the beach.
One side dream, one side I'm rooted
One part of me wants to explore and sail away, while another part of me wants to stay anchored and grounded.
Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea.
I'm stuck in a difficult situation and have to choose between two undesirable options.
Can I get these sea legs on
Can I adjust to the rocking motion of a boat on the water?
Sailing soon this was my doing
I made the choice to go out to sea and set sail.
Sea winds hide my salty sad eyes
The wind from the ocean is making my eyes water and sting, but it's also disguising my emotions.
Abandon ship or let the sail lift
I have to decide whether to give up and quit or to keep going and face the challenges ahead.
Should I stay, I think I must leave
I'm conflicted about whether I should stay where I am or move on to something new.
Heave heave ho
A chant used when pulling ropes to raise the sails of a ship.
Can I get these land legs off
Can I adjust to standing on solid ground again after being on a rocking boat?
When all I want to do is stay
I feel torn between wanting to stay in one place and wanting to explore and move forward.
Oh no no no, oh no no no...
Expressing a feeling of distress or upset about the situation.
Anchors aweigh, anchors aweigh
A traditional phrase used to indicate that a ship is about to depart.
When all I want to do is stay
Even though I'm leaving, I still feel a strong desire to stay where I am.
All I want to do is stay
The repetition of this line emphasizes the internal conflict between staying and leaving.
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.