His studio albums have become increasingly experimental. While they often feature full arrangements including horns, piano, bass, drums, and back-up singers, he has translated these arrangements on stage to just himself and his guitar without slowing the tempo or sacrificing components of the song. Like the folk-country and Delta blues singers that influence him, he uses his feet, the palm of his left hand, and his voice, to simulate drums and bass behind his vocals and guitar chords. Often Sexton will accentuate his songs by running his vocals through a guitar processor (similar to Peter Frampton), as well as a jazz trumpet-like singing style.
Over My Head
Martin Sexton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This boy in a boat that I am
Through the haze I can catch a glimpse
Of the damage that's been done
Miles like minutes they pass as I row
And I count them in my head
Further and further I seem to go
From the home that I once made
No direction and my pockets full of sand
I'm over my head
I the first few days of my journey
Friends and strangers came aboard my ship
Until the firsts of their passing
Crowded my quarters with gold
I've got no room for them anymore
For I fear I might go under
My anchor is tangled in weeds down below
As I heed the distant thunder calling
Raise the question that's in front of me
Clear as the sun I feel through the haze I'll never see
I'm over my head on the crazy ocean
I'm over my head on the stormy sea
I'm over my head with a clear commotion
I'm over my head and it's killing me
I'll raise my bow to the winds that blow
Face the storm face to face as I know
She's banging hard on my cabin door
I face my fear face to face and what's more
She's in front of me
And then she's gone for just awhile
And I'm crying
I'm over my head
Martin Sexton's song "Over My Head" is a powerful meditation on feeling lost and overwhelmed. The opening lines of the song immediately set the scene: the singer is out at sea, looking out at the vast expanse of water in front of him. He feels adrift and disoriented, unable to find his bearings. The imagery of the "boy in a boat" conveys a sense of vulnerability and isolation. Through the haze, he catches glimpses of damage that has been done, perhaps a reference to environmental degradation or other forms of human-caused harm to the natural world.
As the singer rows further out to sea, he reflects on the passing of time and the distance he has traveled from his home. He feels lost and directionless, his pockets "full of sand" as if weighed down by a heavy burden. The repetition of the line "raise the anchor raise these tired hands" emphasizes the singer's sense of weariness and the need to take action. However, he also acknowledges that he is "over his head" and struggling to keep his head above water.
The second verse of the song introduces the theme of other people coming aboard the singer's ship. At first, he welcomes their company, but as more and more people join him, he begins to feel suffocated and overwhelmed. The "gold" they bring with them symbolizes the distractions and temptations of the world that keep him from focusing on his own path. The image of the tangled anchor suggests that the singer is stuck in place and unable to move forward. The distant thunder represents the unknown dangers and uncertainties that lie ahead.
Overall, "Over My Head" is a poignant and introspective song that speaks to the experience of feeling lost and adrift. Its vivid imagery and haunting melody make it a powerful piece of music that resonates with listeners on an emotional level.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm looking out into the ocean
I'm standing on the boat and gazing at the vast sea ahead of me
This boy in a boat that I am
I'm the one sailing the boat, feeling helpless like a boy at times
Through the haze I can catch a glimpse
Despite the foggy weather, I can see some of the destruction caused by the storm
Of the damage that's been done
I can see the wreckage caused by the storm and nature's fury
Miles like minutes they pass as I row
As I row, the miles seem to pass like minutes, but the journey is long and painful
And I count them in my head
I keep counting the miles in my head, hoping to reach my destination soon
Further and further I seem to go
I'm going farther away from the place I once called home
From the home that I once made
I'm leaving behind my home and everything I held dear
Raise the anchor raise these tired hands
I raise the anchor of my boat using my tired hands, ready to move on
No direction and my pockets full of sand
I'm lost and don't know where to go next, with nothing but sand filling my pockets
I'm over my head
I'm in over my head, dealing with challenges I don't know how to overcome
I the first few days of my journey
During the early days of my voyage
Friends and strangers came aboard my ship
People I knew and didn't know joined me on my boat for a while
Until the firsts of their passing
Until they started dying one by one
Crowded my quarters with gold
They left behind their wealth, but it's of no use to me in this dire situation
I've got no room for them anymore
I can't keep carrying the dead and their riches with me, as it only weighs me down
For I fear I might go under
I'm afraid that their death and burden might cause me to sink under the water
My anchor is tangled in weeds down below
The anchor of my boat is stuck in the underwater weeds, causing me to stay in one place
As I heed the distant thunder calling
I hear the distant thunderstorm approaching, urging me to take action
Raise the question that's in front of me
I face the hard question that's in front of me: whether to stay or to move on
Clear as the sun I feel through the haze I'll never see
I realize clearly that even if I get through this storm, there's no guarantee of finding clarity or success
I'm over my head on the crazy ocean
I'm facing unexpected challenges on the tumultuous ocean, that I don't know how to tackle
I'm over my head on the stormy sea
I'm struggling against the strong waves and winds on the rough sea
I'm over my head with a clear commotion
I'm clearly distressed and overwhelmed by the situation I'm in
I'm over my head and it's killing me
The stress of the situation is taking its toll on me and I'm at my breaking point
I'll raise my bow to the winds that blow
I raise my boat's bow to face the strong winds that are blowing against me
Face the storm face to face as I know
I confront the storm head-on, as I know that's the only option I have
She's banging hard on my cabin door
The storm is hitting hard against my boat's cabin door
I face my fear face to face and what's more
I confront my fear directly, realizing that it's the only way out of this situation
She's in front of me
The storm is facing me directly
And then she's gone for just awhile
I get a brief respite from the storm, but it'll return soon enough
And I'm crying
I'm emotionally overwhelmed, and my tears flow freely
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SEXTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind