Sea Calls Me Home
Julia Holter Lyrics


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I don't need no one to follow, feathers full
Get up early just to charm unawakened souls
When the sea called me
When the sea called me home

I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear

It's no wonder they're shipping all my clothes
Wear the fog, I'll forget the rules I've known
Look in cloud's mirror
When the sea calls me home

I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear





I hear small words from the shore
No recognized pattern

Overall Meaning

The song "Sea Calls Me Home" by Julia Holter speaks to the transformative power of nature and the seductive call of the sea. The first two verses speak of a sense of self-sufficiency and an independent spirit that will not conform to societal expectations or norms. The image of feathers full symbolizes freedom, flight, and independence. The phrase "charming unawakened souls" suggests a desire to awaken others to the beauty and mystery of the world, and to help them to see beyond the mundane. The line "when the sea calls me" suggests a longing for adventure and a willingness to answer the call of the unknown.


The chorus repeats the line "I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear" three times, which seems to be a paradoxical statement. One might expect the opposite response to be lucid, but the phrase seems to suggest a clarity of thought and emotion that is so intense that it immobilizes and paralyzes. It's a statement of vulnerability and self-awareness, acknowledging that there are limits to our abilities and that there are things we cannot control.


The third verse hints at a sense of displacement or a lack of home, as the singer's clothes are being shipped away. The image of wearing fog suggests a desire to escape from reality and to forget the rules and restrictions that have been imposed upon oneself. The mirror in the clouds suggests self-reflection and introspection, perhaps seeking to find one's own sense of identity and place in the world.


Overall, the song is a meditation on the power of nature and the search for meaning and identity. It's an invitation to let go of societal expectations and to embrace the unknown, even if it means taking risks and grappling with uncertainty.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't need no one to follow, feathers full
I am independent and confident in my own decisions, like a bird with full feathers.


Get up early just to charm unawakened souls
I wake up early to share my creativity and beauty with those who may not yet appreciate it or be fully awake.


When the sea called me
When I felt a strong pull towards the ocean or a desire to explore my emotions and subconscious.


When the sea called me home
When I finally found a sense of belonging and peace in my own skin, as if the sea was my true home.


I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I feel overwhelmed by the clarity and depth of my emotions, as if I am drowning in my own thoughts and feelings.


It's no wonder they're shipping all my clothes
I am shedding the layers of expectations and societal norms that once constrained me, and it's understandable why others may not recognize or understand me anymore.


Wear the fog, I'll forget the rules I've known
When I allow myself to get lost in the mysterious and unknown, I can forget the restrictive rules and expectations that once held me back.


Look in cloud's mirror
I find clarity and insight by looking at my reflection in nature or through artistic expression, like a mirror formed by the clouds.


I hear small words from the shore
While I may hear voices or advice from those who have not ventured into the depths that I have, their words seem small compared to the vastness of my own experience.


No recognized pattern
My journey and emotions lack a clear and linear pattern, and that's okay. I am learning to embrace the twists and turns of life as they come.




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY
Written by: JULIA HOLTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@jeremyauz1379

Lyrics:

I don't need no one to follow, feathers full
Get up early just to charm unwaking souls
When the sea called me
When the sea called me home

[Chorus]
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear

[Verse 2]
It's no wonder they're shipping all my clothes
Wear the fog, I'll forget the rules I've known
Look in cloud's mirror
When the sea called me home

[Saxophone Solo]

[Chorus]
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear

[Outro]
I hear small words from the shore
No recognized pattern



@lightsoul2096

I don't need no one to follow, feathers full
Get up early just to charm unawakened souls
When the sea called me
When the sea called me home
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
It's no wonder they're shipping all my clothes
Wear the fog, I'll forget the rules I've known
Look in cloud's mirror
When the sea calls me home
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I hear small words from the shore
No recognized pattern



All comments from YouTube:

@eduardomunguia7866

es verdaderamente asombroso como la música de Julia te transporta a otro mundo, un mundo mágico, sobrenatural, inverosímil, es como ascender a otro plano, la música misma, los sintetizadores , la voz de Julia...Uf! temazo !

@DokkaChapman

I love the sound of the sax in this track. It's always best to hear the clicks from it in a recording. It's like hearing the reverb of the strings on an acoustic guitar as you change chords.

@charleschauffe4350

Yep- Not your ordinary sax solo, kind of reminds me of something you would hear from Pharoah Sanders, which is pretty amazing!

@PappyMandarine

It's like she grabbed something there, a sort of alchemy of different sounds, that musicians, singers & composers have been looking for a long time without getting a hold of it. But she has it naturally... and it's out there now.

@stilldasayme

I don't understand how I hadn't heard of her before this last effort. It's definitely one of those albums that I feel like I've been waiting for forever right on the first listen.

@amandamc6569

I love how she expresses herself so simply

@modern_thing

Julia Holter is a treasure!

@jeremyauz1379

Lyrics:

I don't need no one to follow, feathers full
Get up early just to charm unwaking souls
When the sea called me
When the sea called me home

[Chorus]
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear

[Verse 2]
It's no wonder they're shipping all my clothes
Wear the fog, I'll forget the rules I've known
Look in cloud's mirror
When the sea called me home

[Saxophone Solo]

[Chorus]
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear
I can't swim, it's lucidity, so clear

[Outro]
I hear small words from the shore
No recognized pattern

@ivonnebarrera9155

I never get tired of this video, and always find something new to appreciate.

@philroberts1103

Beautifully sung Julia this chorus has to be close to the best hook of the year. Love the video with its kites, where she's singing into the mic in the desert or swimming underwater. She really has it all going on and is one I'll be watching in the future.

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