To the Sea
Katzenjammer Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The wind is a'whipping through the open doors
Speaking of the sea and the rolling' waves
Maybe there's a ship at the bottom now
Or struggling on the surface with a cry for help
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Twenty years ago it was a howling storm
As the voice of a god from a great beyond
I was standing on the shore as the sky grew dark
With a hand on a bible and a hand on my heart
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors of our house

The sun was drying up the rain in our sky
Shining gold in our sails and
Our hearts standing by
Remember what they're singing
On their way to the sea:
"Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye for me"
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Empty were the coffins and
The house where we lived
As the grave that I dug
By our place on the beach
How I wish the water could
Be poured out of the sea
So I can go and get you back ashore with me
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors of- ONE MORE TIME!!




Because all I have left is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors of our house

Overall Meaning

The song "To the Sea" by Katzenjammer takes the listener on a journey through emotions of longing, grief, and frustration. The imagery of the wind whipping through the open doors sets the stage for the feeling of being lost at sea, both literally and metaphorically. The singer sings of wishing to forget and escape from dreams of a lost love, possibly lost at sea twenty years prior in a howling storm. The lyrics also suggest the possibility of a ship being lost currently, and the singer's desire to do something to help.


The nostalgic tone of the song is underscored by the hopeful memory of a beautiful day spent sailing with the lost love. The chorus repeats the phrase "all I have left is the voice of the wind blowing through the doors of our house," emphasizing the sense of loss and emptiness. The singer's grief is palpable as they sing of wishing the water could be poured out of the sea to bring their loved one back ashore.


The song is a powerful depiction of the long-lasting effects of grief and loss as well as the desire to hold onto memories and hope for reunion. The haunting melody and the poignant lyrics make this song a moving tribute to the power of love and loss.


Line by Line Meaning

The wind is a'whipping through the open doors
The wind is blowing fiercely through the open doors, which reminds the singer of the sea and the rolling waves.


Speaking of the sea and the rolling' waves
The sound of the wind evokes thoughts of the sea and its undulating waves.


Maybe there's a ship at the bottom now
The singer wonders if there might be a sunken vessel at the bottom of the sea.


Or struggling on the surface with a cry for help
Alternatively, the artist imagines a ship in distress on the surface with crew members desperate for assistance.


Wish I could forget and let the years go by
The artist desires to forget the painful memories and move on with their life.


Wish I could escape from my dreams of you
The singer wants to escape from the dreams about the person they miss.


Twenty years ago it was a howling storm
The singer recalls a violent storm that occurred twenty years ago.


As the voice of a god from a great beyond
They describe the sound of the wind as divine and otherworldly.


I was standing on the shore as the sky grew dark
The artist remembers standing by the shoreline as the sky turned gloomy.


With a hand on a bible and a hand on my heart
During that moment, the artist was holding both a bible and their heart, signifying their fear and anxiety.


Because all I have left is the voice of the wind
The singer admits that their only remaining connection to their memories is the sound of the wind.


Blowing through the doors of our house
The wind is blowing through the doors of their shared home, reminding them of what's lost.


The sun was drying up the rain in our sky
The weather was improving, indicating a brighter future.


Shining gold in our sails and Our hearts standing by
In the past, they were optimistic about their love and future together, represented by golden sails.


Remember what they're singing On their way to the sea: "Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye for me"
The singer recalls a song about saying farewell to loved ones on their journey to sea.


Empty were the coffins and The house where we lived
The artist paints a bleak picture of their home and surrounding area, now devoid of life.


As the grave that I dug By our place on the beach
The artist reveals that they dug a grave by the place they used to enjoy beach time.


How I wish the water could Be poured out of the sea
They express a desperate desire for the water to disappear so they can retrieve their loved one from it.


So I can go and get you back ashore with me
The singer wants to bring their loved one back to their shared home, where they belong.


Because all I have left is the voice of the wind Blowing through the doors of- ONE MORE TIME!!
The artist reiterates that the only thing they have left is the sound of the wind, which blows through the doors of their empty home.


Because all I have left is the voice of the wind Blowing through the doors of our house
For a final time, the artist declares that the sound of the wind is all that remains of their relationship, and it haunts their empty house.




Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@karenmoya2511

The wind is a'whipping through the open doors
Speaking of the sea and the rolling' waves
Maybe there's a ship at the bottom now
Or struggling on the surface with a cry for help
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Twenty years ago it was a howling storm
As the voice of a god from a great beyond
I was standing on the shore as the sky grew dark
With a hand on a bible and a hand on my heart
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors
Of our house

The sun was drying up the rain in our sky
Shining gold in our sails and our hearts standing by
Remember what they're singing on their way to the sea:
"Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye for me"
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Empty were the coffins and the house where we lived
As the grave that I dug by our place on the beach
How I wish the water could be poured out of the sea
So I can go and get you back ashore with me
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors
Of our house!



All comments from YouTube:

@Ella35222

im so happy i discovered this band. i love this song so much. the piano, the violin, the singing, it's all perfect

@karenmoya2511

The wind is a'whipping through the open doors
Speaking of the sea and the rolling' waves
Maybe there's a ship at the bottom now
Or struggling on the surface with a cry for help
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Twenty years ago it was a howling storm
As the voice of a god from a great beyond
I was standing on the shore as the sky grew dark
With a hand on a bible and a hand on my heart
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors
Of our house

The sun was drying up the rain in our sky
Shining gold in our sails and our hearts standing by
Remember what they're singing on their way to the sea:
"Goodbye fare thee well, goodbye for me"
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Empty were the coffins and the house where we lived
As the grave that I dug by our place on the beach
How I wish the water could be poured out of the sea
So I can go and get you back ashore with me
Wish I could forget and let the years go by
Wish I could escape from my dreams of you

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors

Because all I have left
Is the voice of the wind
Blowing through the doors
Of our house!

@kevinelmore8504

I'm not very familiar with this band, but this song fills me with numbing joy.

@myronthedog

I love this song. I just heard it on Pandora and had to listen to it again. They have such a unique sound.

@davidkrygier2378

Love your Music. I bounce around like a teenager when I hear it. Not bad considering I'm over 60. Please consider a concert series through Canada. ( Calgary ) We will treat you like Royalty. Love " To the sea " it actually reminds me of a favourite song "Pirate Jenny" from Brechts 3 Penny opera.

@sunnysea24

I'n arranging this song for my treble choir! Super excited to perform it.

@eyalsegal6730

Did you do it?

@Oliver-eq8eo

did you?

@HelenMClyde

Jeg elsker Norge! Und ich liebe diese Band! J´aime tous les langues! Oh, and the song´s perfect. Pure perfection :-)

@Betopp

This is just brilliant!!!

More Comments

More Versions