Swimming Upstream
Josef Salvat Lyrics

The lyrics of "Swimming Upstream" by Josef Salvat suggest a narrative of a relationship that starts off promising and hopeful but eventually becomes tangled in past mistakes and misunderstandings.

The opening lines, "Didn’t I move you once? We started out so open, So at home," express the singer's initial connection with their partner, implying that they had a strong emotional impact on them. However, as the relationship progresses, the partner begins to mistake the singer for someone they have previously known, causing confusion and miscommunication. The line "I’m nothing like the ones you’ve been with" highlights the singer's frustration with being lumped into a category with their partner's past relationships.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We tried swimming upstream," which can be seen as a metaphor for the couple's struggle against the current of their problems. The partner assures the singer that they know where the river is going, suggesting they have a plan and direction for the relationship. However, the line "Somewhere you’re busy making old mistakes" reveals that while the singer is trying to change and grow, their partner is still caught up in repeating past errors. This realization creates a sense of discord and instability within the relationship.

In the bridge of the song, there is a shift in the narrative as the singer addresses their partner in French with the line "T’étais a côté de la plaque," which translates to "You were beside the point." This indicates the singer's growing frustration and feeling of being lost while trying to find their way in love. The more they ask their partner for clarity or understanding, the more they seem to lose themselves. The line "Oh you are still with the one’s you’ve been with" suggests that despite the singer's efforts, their partner remains stuck in the patterns of their previous relationships.

The repetition of the lines "Yeah you are just like the one’s you’ve been with" and "The only danger you got to worry bout’s yourself" emphasizes the realization that the partner's actions and impact on the relationship primarily affect themselves. The singer recognizes that they are not responsible for their partner's choices and mistakes and that the partner's own behavior is the true danger they need to be concerned about.

Overall, the lyrics of "Swimming Upstream" explore the complexities and frustrations of a relationship where one person is trying to grow and change while the other remains trapped in past patterns. The song suggests that in such a situation, the only person who can truly protect themselves is the one who is making the mistakes, and the singer realizes that they cannot change their partner but can only focus on their own well-being.