Deep Water
Jewel Lyrics


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You find yourself falling down
Your hopes in the sky
But your heart like grape gum on the ground

And you try to find yourself
In the abstractions of religion
And the cruelty of everyone else
And you wake up to realize
Your standard of living somehow got stuck on survive

When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
And when you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love

You wake up to realize your only friend
Has never been yourself or anyone who cared in the end
That's when suddenly everything fades or falls away
Cause the chains which once held us
Are only the chains which we've made

When you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
And when you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind
It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love

We've compromised our pride
And sacrificed our health
We have to demand more
Not of each other
But more from ourselves
Cause when you're standing in deep water
And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
When you're drowning in deep water
And you wake up making love to a wall
Well it's these little times that help to remind




It's nothing without love, love, love
It's nothing without love

Overall Meaning

Jewel's "Deep Water" is a poignant exploration of the often-overwhelming feeling of being lost and searching for answers. The opening lyrics set the scene, with the imagery of hope in the sky and heart like "grape gum on the ground" offering a sense of disconnection between the two. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is grappling with big questions about faith, purpose, and relationships. The abstraction of religion is juxtaposed with "the cruelty of everyone else", suggesting the singer has felt let down by both institutions and individuals alike.


The chorus is perhaps the most resonant part of the song, emphasizing the feeling of being overwhelmed by life's challenges. The metaphor of standing in deep water and trying to bail oneself out with a straw illustrates the futility of trying to control situations beyond one's means. The line "And when you're drowning in deep water/And you wake up making love to a wall" is particularly striking, conveying a sense of desperation and disconnection from reality. Amidst all these struggles, the chorus asserts that love is the one thing that truly matters, capturing the song's central message that everything else pales in comparison to this crucial emotion.


Overall, "Deep Water" is a powerful exploration of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose amidst a barrage of difficulties. Its evocative imagery and direct language make it an affecting listen that resonates with anyone who's ever felt lost, alone, or overwhelmed.


Line by Line Meaning

You find yourself falling down
You feel yourself falling apart or losing control of your life.


Your hopes in the sky
You have high expectations for yourself and your future.


But your heart like grape gum on the ground
You feel stuck, like your heart has been stepped on and left behind.


And you try to find yourself
You attempt to discover who you are and your purpose in life.


In the abstractions of religion
You seek meaning, guidance, and comfort in religious/spiritual teachings.


And the cruelty of everyone else
You face the harsh reality of people's negative, selfish behaviours towards each other.


And you wake up to realize
You have an epiphany or awakening to the true nature of your situation.


Your standard of living somehow got stuck on survive
Your life has become about just getting by day-to-day, rather than thriving.


When you're standing in deep water
When you're struggling in a difficult, overwhelming situation.


And you're bailing yourself out with a straw
When you're trying to fix the problem with inadequate, temporary solutions.


And when you're drowning in deep water
When you're sinking, overwhelmed, and helpless in a negative situation.


And you wake up making love to a wall
When you feel alone and disconnected from those around you.


Well it's these little times that help to remind
These struggles are necessary to remind you of the importance of...


It's nothing without love
The importance of love to make life worth living and to overcome challenges.


You wake up to realize your only friend
You realize you don't have many connections or support systems in place at the moment.


Has never been yourself or anyone who cared in the end
You realize that you can't only rely on yourself, but have to reach out and build meaningful relationships.


That's when suddenly everything fades or falls away
The struggles and challenges you thought were everything seem to lose their importance or disappear.


Cause the chains which once held us
The societal norms and expectations that held us back.


Are only the chains which we've made
Are the ones we've created ourselves and can break free from through love and connection.


We've compromised our pride
We've given up our sense of dignity and self-respect to conform to societal norms.


And sacrificed our health
We've neglected our physical and mental health to meet societal expectations and standards.


We have to demand more
We need to aim for higher standards of living, self-care, and love in our lives.


Not of each other
We shouldn't depend on others to provide us with love and support, but should start it from ourselves.


But more from ourselves
We need to become stronger and better by beginning to love ourselves and share that love with others.


It's nothing without love, love, love
The importance of love is a repeated message, reminding us to see through hardships with a positive and loving attitude.


It's nothing without love
Love is the most essential thing to make us whole and help us thrive despite difficult times.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Jewel Kilcher

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Scott Mcaleer

I identity with these lyrics I feel it jewel ❤️ such a beautiful heart soul and compassion you have and so stunning beautiful gorgeous and very sweet ❤️❤️❤️

TBJ

One of my favs of all times. So many incredible memories with this song! I just love Jewel!

RANDOM VIDEOS BY MARK

Beautiful beyond comprehension!!!!!!♡!!!!!!!!

Jennifer Martinez

One of my faves!

h7opolo

thanks for uploading and making a playlist

Alfred Lee

Absolutely Beautiful,
Love and Light from the Heart of Texas.

Stew Who

Perfect for the time

Sergio Castro

How I love your voice...!

ROGNY FRANK

Wake up to realize.... yeah 🤘🎸

Eliza Merrifield

This song makes me think of the Christmas special "The Little Troll Prince"

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