The Ocean
Mae Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Am I alone in this?
Never a night when I can sleep myself till day,
We must try to figure it out, figure it out,
It won't be that easy,

(We lost it somehow...)

You come over unannounced,
Silence broken by your voice in the dark,
I need you here tonight,
Just like the ocean needs the waves...

Oh the night becomes a space that's somewhere in between,
What I feel and what I'm told,
Sitting on the shore line trying to figure it out, figure it out,
To find out the meaning..

(and reach it somehow)

You come over unannounced,
Silence broken by your voice in the dark,
I need you here tonight,
Just like the ocean needs the waves...
Fall around me now,
And like stars that shine and brighten the way,
I need you here tonight just like this night it needs the rain.

The season has changed,
The wind, it blows colder now, colder now,
The clouds are raised,
The rain, it falls harder now, all around..

You come over unannounced,
Silence broken by your voice in the dark,
I need you here tonight,
Just like the ocean needs the waves
Fall around me now,
And like stars that shine and brighten the way,
I need you here tonight just like this night it needs the rain.

Over unannounced, silence broken by your voice in the dark,
I need you here tonight,




Just like the ocean needs the waves,
Just like the stars that fall around me now..

Overall Meaning

Mae's "The Ocean" is a poignant ballad with an emotive and heartfelt plea for comfort and companionship. The song is a portrayal of the singer's feelings of loneliness and confusion, which they try to convey through the metaphor of the ocean. Throughout the entire song, there's a pervasive sense of melancholy that is palpable from the slow, wistful melody.


The lyric, "Never a night when I can sleep myself till day" suggests insomnia, hinting at a troubled mind that cannot find rest. The singer then goes on to say, "We must try to figure it out, figure it out, It won't be that easy," acknowledging that he/she doesn't have a clear understanding of what's causing this internal turmoil. This constant state of confusion has made it impossible for the singer to find rest or peace, just like a ship lost in the stormy seas.


The metaphor of the ocean is continued throughout the song, with the singer comparing their need for companionship to the ocean that needs the waves. The chorus of the song is a desperate plea for someone to be there and provide the comfort and support that the singer needs so badly. The final stanza of the song shows a changing season, with the wind blowing colder and the rain falling harder, possibly suggestive of emotional turmoil.


Line by Line Meaning

Am I alone in this?
I am questioning whether or not I am the only one going through this experience.


Never a night when I can sleep myself till day,
I struggle to sleep through the night without feeling restless or troubled.


We must try to figure it out, figure it out,
We need to put effort into understanding our situation.


It won't be that easy,
Finding a solution will not happen quickly or without obstacles.


You come over unannounced,
You appear without prior notice or warning.


Silence broken by your voice in the dark,
Your voice disturbs the quiet and darkness of the moment.


I need you here tonight,
I desire your presence and support in this moment.


Just like the ocean needs the waves...
I need you just as much as the ocean needs its waves to exist.


Oh the night becomes a space that's somewhere in between,
The night transforms into an undefined space between emotion and received knowledge.


What I feel and what I'm told,
There is a discrepancy between what I experience and what I have been taught or told.


Sitting on the shore line trying to figure it out, figure it out,
I am attempting to comprehend my situation while in a state of vulnerability by the water's edge.


To find out the meaning...
I am searching for the significance of my experience.


Fall around me now,
Rain or truth is falling all around me now.


And like stars that shine and brighten the way,
You guide me through this difficult time like stars that brighten the path.


Just like this night it needs the rain.
Just as the night benefits from the restorative rain, I need you to renew and lift my spirit.


The season has changed,
A time of transition and evolution is occurring.


The wind, it blows colder now, colder now,
The air is cooler and less comfortable than before.


The clouds are raised,
The clouds are becoming more noticeable as they move and change in the sky.


The rain, it falls harder now, all around..
The rain is heavier and more encompassing than in previous moments.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JEREMY D. MARSHALL, RONALD WARD, RONALD WARD, JR., SAMUEL MC CANDLESS, SAMUEL ALAN MC CANDLESS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions