Adam Young’s music is constantly enamoured with the power of the ocean, with many songs either making reference to the ocean or having it as a central theme. All Things Bright and Beautiful’s predecessor, Ocean Eyes, is perhaps the best example of Young’s infatuation with the ocean and its many wonders. However, How I Became The Sea is one of the first times Young has sung directly from the actual perspective of the ocean.
The song's first verse in the chorus refers to the famed RMS Empress of Ireland, an ocean liner that sank near the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River in the early hours of May 29th, 1914. She foundered in a mere 14 minutes following a collision in thick fog with the Norwegian collier SS Storstad, despite being equipped with watertight compartments and more than enough lifeboats. Of the 1,477 people aboard, 1,012 died and only 465 survived, making this the worst peacetime maritime disaster in Canadian history. Numerous books, films, and documentaries have told the story of the fated Empress, and it is likely that much of Adam Young’s inspiration for this song came from this shipwreck, as well as others.
How I Became the Sea
Owl City Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dug by hand, a haven that hid me well
Beneath the sand
The white windy waves washed in
But I stayed dry
The great breakers broke again
'Cause I'm on and off inside
And then, when the empress run aground
I heard a gorgeous sound
And that's when it became a dream
When the sky fell in
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
I wrenched the engines off
And dragged them down
The depths turned the iron soft
As they swiftly drowned
And I brought the ocean side
To its rusty knees
As I felt the even tide
Deep in my shallow dreams
And then, when the empress run aground
And my eyes turned blue and green
I heard a gorgeous sound
And that's when it became a dream
When the sky fell in
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
(When the sky fell in)
When the sky fell in
(When the sky fell in)
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
That's how I became the sea
That's how I became the sea
"How I Became the Sea" by Owl City is a song about transformation and rebirth. The lyrics depict a person's journey of finding solace in the sea and becoming one with it. The opening line "June was the lobster shell" suggests that the singer is using the shell as a hiding place and sanctuary from the world. The reference to the lobster shell, which is a protective cover for the creature before it matures, symbolizes the singer's state of immaturity and emotional vulnerability.
The singer describes how the waves come crashing in, but they remain dry underneath the sand, indicating their desire to stay secluded and disconnected from the outside world. However, the singer hears a "gorgeous sound," which becomes their driving force for hope and a new beginning. The empress's shipwreck represents a breaking point in the singer's life, where they transform and become one with the sea. Finally, the song concludes with the singer achieving wholeness and a sense of freedom, represented by their transformation into the sea itself.
Overall, "How I Became the Sea" is a poetic exploration of the human experience of transformation and finding oneself through connection with nature.
Line by Line Meaning
June was the lobster shell
June represents a time of shelter, a place to hide away and keep safe.
I dug by hand, a haven that hid me well
I found this haven on my own, and it provided a great hiding spot for me.
Beneath the sand
I was hidden beneath the surface and not easily seen.
The white windy waves washed in
The waves crashed onto the shore.
But I stayed dry
I remained safe despite the harsh waves crashing around me.
The great breakers broke again
The waves continued to crash onto the shore, but I was unaffected.
'Cause I'm on and off inside
I am not always emotionally stable, but in this moment I feel secure.
And then, when the empress run aground
When all seemed lost and the ship was beached.
And my eyes turned blue and green
My emotions began to take over as I observed the scene, and my eyes reflect that.
I heard a gorgeous sound
Despite the chaos around me, I heard something beautiful and calming.
And that's when it became a dream
It felt like a dream, unreal and surreal.
When the sky fell in
When everything felt like it was collapsing around me.
When the hurricanes came for me
When I was faced with great storms.
I could finally crash again
In this moment I allowed myself to let go and release control.
And that's how I became the sea
Through this experience, I transformed into a powerful, volatile force.
I wrenched the engines off
I deliberately destroyed the things that kept me afloat and in control.
And dragged them down
I took the things that had once given me power and weighed them down.
The depths turned the iron soft
The deep ocean softened the harsh metal and made it malleable.
As they swiftly drowned
The things that once gave me power and control were now powerless and sinking.
And I brought the ocean side
I made the vast, powerful sea smaller and more manageable.
To its rusty knees
I brought it down to its weakest point, as rust indicates decay and weakness.
As I felt the even tide
As I experienced the calming ebb and flow of the tide.
Deep in my shallow dreams
I was fully immersed in my own thoughts and feelings, despite them being superficial and lacking depth.
(When the sky fell in)
Reiterating that everything was collapsing around me.
(When the hurricanes came for me)
The hurricanes were a powerful force, and I couldn't escape them.
That's how I became the sea
Through these experiences, I transformed into something powerful, dynamic, and ever-changing, like the sea.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM R. YOUNG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Christy S
Song interpretation:
Let me know if you agree or if you have something entirely different!
“June was the lobster shell
I dug by hand
A haven that hid me well
Beneath the sand”
He has found emotional stability/safety. He’s hiding within himself.
"The wide windy waves washed in
But I stayed dry
The great breakers broke again
As I nodded off inside."
He has built barriers inside himself to protect him from emotional pain, and has therefore shut off emotions all together.
"And then
When the Empress ran aground
And my eyes turned blue and green"
Someone has entered his life (a girl) and brought life with her. His eyes have new life in them.
"I heard a gorgeous sound
And that's when it became a dream
When the sky fell in
When the hurricanes came for me"
Trials or depression has returned.
"I could finally crash again"
He’s not afraid to go “crash” though and live life, even with the pain.
"And that's how I became the sea"
He’s accepting the ups and downs of life.
"I wrenched the engines off
And drank them down"
He’s taking the extreme control over his emotions off.
"The depths turned the iron soft
As they swiftly drowned"
He (becoming the sea, with his new life) is watching the emotional control leave.
"And I brought the ocean side
To its rusty knees"
He is not letting depression get the best of him and is living.
"As I felt the even tide
Deep in my shallow dreams"
Imam Mehdi
[Verse 1]
June was the lobster shell
I dug by hand
A haven that hid me well
Beneath the sand
The wide windy waves washed in
But I stayed dry
The great breakers broke again
As I nodded off inside
[Chorus]
And then
When the Empress ran aground
And my eyes turned blue and green
I heard a gorgeous sound
And that's when it became a dream
When the sky fell in
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
[Verse 2]
I wrenched the engines off
And drank them down
The depths turned the iron soft
As they swiftly drowned
And I brought the ocean side
To its rusty knees
As I felt the even tide
Deep in my shallow dreams
[Chorus]
And then
When the Empress ran aground
And my eyes turned blue and green
I heard a gorgeous sound
And that's when it became a dream
When the sky fell in
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
When the sky fell in
(When the sky fell in)
(When the sky fell in)
When the hurricanes came for me
I could finally crash again
And that's how I became the sea
(How I became the sea)
That's how I became the sea
(How I became the sea)
That's how I became the sea
(How I became the sea)[x2]
[Outro]
(When the sky fell in)
(When the hurricanes came for me)
(I could finally crash again)
(And that's how I became the sea)
(How I became the sea)
Enharmonics
We must prevent ocean pollution if for the sole reason of protecting our dear Adam Young, who has become the sea
_inmygrannyera
LOL.
Katie KA
Man, now I actually care about ocean pollution lol
Flyboy Stayfly
Lol yes
keerthana vasan
haha yes please
Morgan!!★☽
The sksksk save the turtles just created a purpose for me now
Eden Louise
This is one of my ultimate favourite Owl City songs. WHY IS IT NOT ON SPOTIFY????
Morgan!!★☽
IKRRRRR
Erin Lewis
Owl city didn’t know he was the sole reason I didn’t kill myself in 2007 but here I am today still completely in love with the magic he composed. I listened to him every single day on loop for my entire teen years and here I am 31 and I couldn’t thank Adam young more for showing up on MySpace so many years ago. The life I needed has always came from his lyrical genius. I wish I could meet him one time to thank him
ghost eye
Me too, I felt this message big time