Gundersen's music banks on strong lead vocals, boasting a poetic and lyrical charm, backed by ambient backgrounds of strings and percussion. Gundersen's music has been called a blend of melancholy folk and electric euphoria, occasionally drawing comparisons to the likes of Elijah Wyman, David Wilcox, and Damien Rice. Drawing the attention of crowds across the South Puget Sound region, Noah Gundersen regularly performs in a variety of settings, ranging from small college basements to more prestigious venues such as the Triple Door, the Crocodile Cafe, and the Columbia City Theater.
Gundersen and his younger sister usually create studio work on their own - together they have produced two EPs, a live album, and most recently two full length albums:
• Brand New World EP (Noah Gundersen) - 2008
• Live at The Triple Door (Noah Gundersen & The Courage) - 2008
• Saints & Liars EP (Noah Gundersen & The Courage) - Oct. 9, 2009
• Fearful Bones (The Courage) - Sept. 11, 2010
• Family (Noah Gundersen) - Aug. 6, 2011
Official site: noahgundersenmusic.com/
The Ocean
Noah Gundersen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Set your eyes oh, west against the morning
Cause I have no warning of this
When they come to wake me up
Set your sights love
Set your sights oh, far across the ocean
Cause if I never touch the ocean
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Cut your ties love
Cut your ties, and say I never knew you
But they'll see right through you
And you cannot run and hide
But keep your faith love
Keep the faith, I know it's gonna to bring you life
I know it's gonna bring you down
But though the devil may not take you
You never will escape this love
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Still this burning in my throat
Is going through all of the motions
And I will someday come to my home
And maybe one day I will reach the ocean
The lyrics to "The Ocean" by Noah Gundersen are a beautiful and introspective depiction of the internal struggles and doubts that one faces when navigating the uncertainties of life. The singer urges their loved one to set their sights on the horizon, to look towards the west where the morning sun rises. This seems to be a symbol of hope, an indication that there's something beyond the darkness and chaos of our present moment. However, the singer admits that they have no warning of what the future holds. There's a sense of fear and uncertainty here, a sense that the future could bring anything.
The next set of lyrics sees the singer urging their loved one to cut their ties, to remove themselves from difficult situations, and perhaps even from the singer themselves. However, they also urge them to keep their faith - faith in themselves, in their journey, and in the power of love. The singer acknowledges that life is a mix of ups and downs, with moments of euphoria and moments of profound despair. The final lines of the song seem to hint at the idea that someday, the singer will find their way back home - whether that's a physical or emotional home is unclear. And maybe, just maybe, they'll finally be able to touch the ocean.
Overall, "The Ocean" is a song that captures the very essence of the human experience - the struggles, doubts, and fears that we all face, as well as the moments of joy and hope that keep us moving forward through the darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
Set your eyes love
Direct your gaze, my love
Set your eyes oh, west against the morning
Look towards the west when the sun is rising, my love
Cause I have no warning of this
Because I do not have any indication or notice of what is to come
When they come to wake me up
When they come to disturb my slumber
Set your sights love
Fix your aim, my love
Set your sights oh, far across the ocean
Aim far beyond the vast expanse of the sea, my love
Cause if I never touch the ocean
Because if I never get to experience the ocean's touch
I would only come back home to sleep
I would only return home to rest
But oh, my sight
But oh, my perspective
Am I alright?
Am I doing okay?
Am I alright
Am I okay
Oh, my sight
Oh, my perspective
Am I alright?
Am I doing okay?
Am I alright?
Am I okay?
Cut your ties love
Sever your connections, my love
Cut your ties, and say I never knew you
Sever connections and claim that we never met
But they'll see right through you
But they'll be able to see the truth behind your actions
And you cannot run and hide
And you cannot escape or conceal the consequences of your actions
But keep your faith love
Hold onto your faith, my love
Keep the faith, I know it's gonna to bring you life
Maintain your faith, I believe it will bring you life
I know it's gonna bring you down
I know it's going to trouble you
But though the devil may not take you
But even though the devil may not take you
You never will escape this love
You can never outrun this love
Still this burning in my throat
Still this inflammation in my throat
Is going through all of the motions
Is following through all of the actions
And I will someday come to my home
And one day, I will return to my home
And maybe one day I will reach the ocean
And perhaps one day I will finally touch the ocean
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
wendy carrillo
Lyrics
Set your eyes love
Set your eyes oh, west against the morning
Cause I have no warning of this
When they come to wake me up
Set your sights love
Set your sights oh, far across the ocean
Cause if I never touch the ocean
I would only come back home to sleep
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Cut your ties love
Cut your ties, and say I never knew you
But they'll see right through you
And you cannot run and hide
But keep your faith love
Keep the faith, I know it's gonna to bring you life
I know it's gonna bring you down
But though the devil may not take you
You never will escape this love
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Still this burning in my throat
Is going through all of the motions
And I will someday come to my home
And maybe one day I will reach the ocean
MdmaMadnesS
This song is so incredibly wonderful, it touches the deepest parts of my heart..the violin is amazing, the lyrics are perfect..definitely one of my all time favourite songs! (:
I hope you dont see this as spam, but I just think that good music needs to be shared..
I found a band called "Where stories are written".
If you've got time, listen to their song "The silence after the storm.
It's such a heartwarming and cute song about a friendship.. (:
wendy carrillo
Lyrics
Set your eyes love
Set your eyes oh, west against the morning
Cause I have no warning of this
When they come to wake me up
Set your sights love
Set your sights oh, far across the ocean
Cause if I never touch the ocean
I would only come back home to sleep
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Cut your ties love
Cut your ties, and say I never knew you
But they'll see right through you
And you cannot run and hide
But keep your faith love
Keep the faith, I know it's gonna to bring you life
I know it's gonna bring you down
But though the devil may not take you
You never will escape this love
But oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Oh, my sight
Am I alright?
Am I alright?
Still this burning in my throat
Is going through all of the motions
And I will someday come to my home
And maybe one day I will reach the ocean
andrew walker
wendy carrillo thanks for this 😀
David Acosta
i love you so much wendy.
Brandyn A
I can't find this in stores and have been looking for it for ages. This man has changed my life in many ways. I would give almost anything to spend a day with him. Where did you get the album (if you own it)?
Dakota B
thank you so much for uploading these songs, im in love with this guy now <3
holeemo
Boy!, I'm 57 and I just found you by accident. You write so honestly. So refreshing to find people still creating music. Damn dude, are you real?
aidan
this is my favorite song in the world I LOVE THIS GUY!!, I have listened to each of his songs 15 times.
economycry9738
This is real music 💕
TallyVanWyngarden
beautiful voice, and the song too :)