Unlike most of Lennon's previous songs, "Saltwater" combines subtle melodies with gentle vocals to bring forward the issues of environmental conservation and world poverty. The lyrics juxtapose the many marvels and feats of human civilization with the death of the natural world, constantly emphasising the passing of time - 'Time is not a friend, 'cos friends we're out of time'
The recording features an uncredited George Harrison on lead guitar.
An instrumental version (Guitar Duet) of this song was recorded by Chet Atkins and Tommy Emmanuel on their album "The day Finger Pickers Took Over the World".
Saltwater
Julian Lennon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Around a golden sun
We are a billion children rolled into one
So when I hear about the hole in the sky
Saltwater wells in my eyes
We climb the highest mountain
We'll make the desert bloom
But when I hear of how the forest have died
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I have lived for love
But now that's not enough
For the world I love is dying And now I'm crying
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
As friends we're out of time
And it's slowly passing by ....right before our eyes
We light the deepest ocean
Send photographs of Mars
We're so enchanted my how clever we are
Why should one baby feel so hungry she cries
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I have lived for love
But now that's not enough
For the world I love is dying And now I'm crying
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
As friends we're out of time
And it's slowly passing by ....right before our eyes
We are a rock revolving
Around a golden sun
We are a billion children rolled into one
What will I think of me the day that I die
Saltwater wells in my eyes
Saltwater wells in my eyes
The song Saltwater by Julian Lennon highlights the global issues and the deteriorating state of the environment. The song is a reflective and nostalgic account of the state of the world, its beauty, and its struggles. Julian, in the first verse, talks about the earth and its inhabitants, describing them as a rock revolving around a golden sun and a billion children rolled into one. The imagery portrays the world as a collective entity that is alive and full of life. However, he goes on to talk about how the world is slowly dying, with a hole in the sky and forests that have died, which leads to saltwater welling up in his eyes. The saltwater, in this context, represents tears, sorrow, and helplessness in the face of this reality.
The second verse talks about human progress, how we have climbed mountains, made the desert bloom, and walked on the moon. Still, we have failed in protecting the environment, leading to the destruction of forests and wildlife. The chorus talks about how love is not enough to save the world, and time is not our friend, and as friends, we are out of time. He concludes, wondering about his legacy and questioning what he would think of himself on the day he would die, with saltwater welling up in his eyes.
Overall, "Saltwater" carries a critical message about the state of the world and our role in preserving it for future generations. It is a melancholic but powerful song that reminds us of the importance of environmental awareness and encourages us to be mindful of our impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We are a rock revolving
Humans are a part of Earth which orbits around the sun
Around a golden sun
The sun is a life-giving source of energy and light
We are a billion children rolled into one
All humans are connected, and we are a collective species
So when I hear about the hole in the sky
The depletion of the ozone layer is a concern
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I am saddened and emotional about the negative effects of human activity
We climb the highest mountain
Humans can achieve great feats
We'll make the desert bloom
Humans can cultivate and transform barren land
We're so ingenious we can walk the moon
Humans are capable of amazing technological advancements
But when I hear of how the forest have died
Deforestation and loss of biodiversity is a devastating issue
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I am saddened and emotional about the negative effects of human activity
I have lived for love
I have prioritized love and compassion in my life
But now that's not enough
Love alone cannot solve the environmental crisis
For the world I love is dying And now I'm crying
I am deeply upset about the state of the planet
And time is not a friend (no friend of mine)
Time is running out to address the issue
As friends we're out of time
As a collective, we have limited time to take action
And it's slowly passing by ....right before our eyes
We are running out of time faster than we realize
We light the deepest ocean
Humans have explored and illuminated the depths of the oceans
Send photographs of Mars
Humans have extended their reach to other planets
We're so enchanted my how clever we are
Humans are proud of their intelligence and accomplishments
Why should one baby feel so hungry she cries
The existence of poverty and famine is a tragic reality
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I am saddened and emotional about the negative effects of human activity
What will I think of me the day that I die
I will reflect on my life and impact on the world
Saltwater wells in my eyes
I am saddened and emotional about the negative effects of human activity
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Julian Lennon, Leslie Ann Spiro, Mark Spiro
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kyachdistent1301
Cruel, huh?! Hardly as cruel as the losers of today-thanks to the internet and nonstop celeb culture that allow these piss-poor excuses for "pop stars" and human beings the shove their hateful crap down all our throats, eyes and ears-in ever mag, ad, poster, billboard, screen and so on, they're all the same and you can't escape them-nothing like it was in the 80s. I don't think any of those arrogant twats would deign to soak up anything but a mountain of artificial praise for their dubious abilities. You are way too sensitive. You a publicist for one of them by any chance.
I can't really see them all chucking themselves of the roofs of their 50 room mansions in mass formation. Which do you think they'd chose? The Primrose Hill one, Hollywood Hills one, San Fernando Valley one, French Riviera one? So many to pick, hey, they might even have a heart attack doing it. Yeah, cos they're REALLY going to break down with all their bodyguard louts and insulating millions when they see that several people are brave enough to call out their crap for being just that. Oh, no, Adele, someone might like every howling, shrieking, boring, pointless banal word you kill? Don't eat yourself. Oh no, Pariah Carey, we know you're a skank with as much musical talent as the Splice Girls you vile Bev Hills Barbie-and now you're going to die in a routine liposuction to make your surgically stuck ego-grin even larger than it already is. Oh no, Oasis and Timberlake, don't chuck yourself under a lorry. I didn't give your bullshit records and crimes to music the usual glowing suck-up tat the rest of the world does. Oh woe is me, I've killed all the bullshit pop stars. Yayyyyyyy!
The world is full of talent and people that can sing and make decent records once more and not exiiting merely to piss us off and amass untold undeserved wealth for no other reason than to lord it over everybody.
Yeah right...word to the wise. Youtube doesn't exist to any loser with tonnes of money unless it has silly kittens or babies bouncing about in a video, or they've already used to earn their fake place among the supreme and sad. That's what twitter is for these days and try getting the bastard of that, when they're not floating their grotesque forms and houses on Instagram and reminding us all why they're so hateful in the first place.
The 80s was never like this (though we had the vile Madonna of course-the prelude to today's love-me shit). That's the evil of the internet for sure.
@pattisimmons67
In April, 2020 , in a pandemic spanning the world.
Never, in the history of ever, has this song been more apropos.
Since this started and the world has been essentially shut down, the LARGEST, most congested cities in the world have seen a dramatic reduction in air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution.
People are seeing stars for the first time in decades, they can see a TRUE blue sky.
People hear the joyful song of birds where there were none
People watching dolphins and many OTHER sea creatures in the canals of Venice!
Our Mother CAN heal herself! She already is.
Until the factories and the vehicles and the constant lust for more gets turned back on.
Why can't we be happy with enough?
Why do we constantly lust for more?
Our planet's oceans, beaches , waterfronts are littered with cheap plastic crap:
Everything from dish drainers to laundry baskets, Shampoo, body wash, lotion and hand soap dispensers to old tooth brushes.
Our need to be "clean and fresh" has created the filthiest conditions for all other life.
I could go on with this but I hope you get the point. We are NOT the only life on THIS planet.
Please, take the time during this lockdown to truly THINK about how you use things and how you could change your thinking and use less, waste less, want less cheap plastic trinkets, instead, purchasing stuff in glass that can be EASILY recycled/upcycled.
Try to buy things made IN your own country to help slow the use of so many pollution belching forms of transportation. Encourage companies to start producing locally.
There are so many things we can do.
I've said these things for over 40 years. This is nothing new.
Perhaps now, our minds are more open to changing the way we do things.
Not a Green New Deal.
Just common sense and realistic environmentalism.
We can change the world
We have to start by changing our minds.
Thank you for reading this,
Pattie Simmons
@LouJames-xv9ud
His mother did such an amazing job raising him to have a gentle caring soul.
@Nina_realismo
❤
@loriholloway5866
Criminal that Julian's music doesn't get air play. Forget who he's related to. He's his own man. Own artist. Loved him from day one. ❤
@auberjean6873
@tomholloway5866 ❤
Thank you for expressing exactly what I was thinking, and putting it so eloquently.
@rickstalentedtongue910
Sorry, can[t escape it.
@bellablue9520
This song was ahead of its time. His voice is just beautiful. I could listen to this all day. ❤️
@bellablue9520
@@gregnormal5101Hi, yes. I am a huge fan of Julian Lennon.
@bellablue9520
@@gregnormal5101 I'm ok, how are you?
@PursonMusic
It sounds like a straight emulation of his father's work from 20+ years prior. Not sure how this is ahead of it's time at all.
@rachaelkimberley9216
You're so right. This song and Julian as an artist are both unfairly underrated. What he sings about then, the video of people in masks....that's now. A man so ahead of his time, his dad's son through and through