Waterfall
Joel Ansett Lyrics

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Walking alone through the woods / there's a roar that cannot be denied
Constant and loud / a sound that surrounds / it beckons you come and find

But you drown it out / so sure that it's something you could do without
Your heart is still hard / so you disregard the loudest and loveliest sound

Oh won't you come where the water is white / let it shove you under / let it steal your might
And when you surface downstream / for the first time / you will be free

You're keeping busy so you stay sane / and were you to stop you would hear your real name
So stop your ignoring / come find the roaring / come back to from where you came

Oh won't you come where the water is white / let it shove you under / let it steal your might
And when you surface downstream / for the first time / you will be free

Overall Meaning

In Joel Ansett's song "Waterfall," the lyrics describe the allure of nature and the transformative power it holds over humans. The opening lines, "Walking alone through the woods / there's a roar that cannot be denied," set the scene for the singer's journey of self-discovery. The "roar" mentioned is a symbol of the natural world's untamed power that surrounds the singer and demands their attention, urging them to explore it. However, the singer is initially resistant to this call, as they "drown it out," convinced that they don't need it in their life. The lyrics suggest that this attitude is a reflection of their "hard heart," which is unwilling to be softened and transformed by the majesty of nature.

The song's chorus urges the singer to give in to the allure of the waterfall and be "shoved under" by its white water. It implores them to surrender their might and let go of all the things that they have been holding onto, so they may be free as they "surface downstream" on the other side. The second verse speaks directly to the singer's resistance to self-discovery and its consequences. It calls for them to stop ignoring the roar that follows them and "come back to where they came," to rediscover themselves and their identity. The lyrics suggest that true liberation can only be found when we are willing to confront the parts of ourselves that we have been avoiding and embrace the transformative power of nature.

Line by Line Meaning

Walking alone through the woods / there's a roar that cannot be denied
As you walk in solitude through the woods, there's a thunderous sound that you cannot ignore, a sound that's impossible to escape.

Constant and loud / a sound that surrounds / it beckons you come and find
This sound is steady in its intensity and it surrounds you completely. It implores you to follow it and discover its source.

But you drown it out / so sure that it's something you could do without
You choose to ignore this sound, sure that it's something you can manage without, and thus you drown it out.

Your heart is still hard / so you disregard the loudest and loveliest sound
You've become numb and hardened to this beautiful and powerful sound, so you pay no attention to it.

Oh won't you come where the water is white / let it shove you under / let it steal your might
The singer urges you to follow this sound to where the water is pristine and unspoiled. Let it engulf you completely, and allow it to take away your strength.

And when you surface downstream / for the first time / you will be free
When you finally emerge downstream, you'll be a transformed person, unburdened by your previous worries and fears. You'll experience true freedom for the first time.

You're keeping busy so you stay sane / and were you to stop you would hear your real name
To avoid going insane, you keep yourself occupied with mundane tasks. If you stopped for a moment, you would hear your inner voice calling out your true name.

So stop your ignoring / come find the roaring / come back to from where you came
The singer tells you to stop ignoring your inner voice, to go looking for the source of that mystical sound, and to return to your true self.

Contributed by Camilla C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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