Panic! at the Disco recorded their first demos while they were in high school. Shortly after, the band recorded and released their debut studio album, A Fever You Can't Sweat Out (2005). Popularized by the second single, "I Write Sins Not Tragedies", the album was certified triple platinum in the US. In 2006, founding bassist Brent Wilson was fired from the band during an extensive world tour and subsequently replaced by Jon Walker. The band's second album, Pretty. Odd. (2008), was preceded by the single "Nine in the Afternoon". That album marked a significant departure from the sound of the band's debut. In 2009, Ross and Walker formed a new band, the Young Veins, leaving Urie and Smith as the sole remaining members of Panic! at the Disco.
Continuing as a duo, Urie and Smith released a new single, "New Perspective", for the movie Jennifer's Body, and recruited bassist Dallon Weekes and guitarist Ian Crawford as touring musicians for live performances. Weekes was later inducted into the band's lineup as a full-time member in 2010. The band's third studio album, Vices & Virtues (2011), was recorded solely by Urie and Smith in 2010, produced by John Feldmann and Butch Walker. Crawford departed once the tour cycle for Vices & Virtues ended in 2012.
As a three-piece, Urie, Smith, and Weekes recorded and released the band's fourth studio album, Too Weird to Live, Too Rare to Die!, in 2013. Prior to the release of the album, Smith unofficially left the band due to health and drug-related issues, leaving Urie and Weekes as the remaining members. The duo recruited guitarist Kenneth Harris and drummer Dan Pawlovich as touring musicians for live performances.
In 2015, Smith officially left the band after not performing live with them since his departure in 2013. Shortly thereafter, Weekes reverted to being a touring member once again, resulting in Panic! becoming Urie's solo project. In April 2015, "Hallelujah" was released as the first single from Panic! at the Disco's fifth studio album, Death of a Bachelor (2016). In December 2017, Weekes officially announced his departure from the band. In March 2018, Panic! at the Disco released "Say Amen (Saturday Night)", the lead single from its sixth studio album, Pray for the Wicked (2018), which was released in June. Panic! at the Disco's seventh studio album, Viva Las Vengeance, was released on August 19, 2022.
On January 24, 2023, Urie officially announced that Panic! at the Disco would be disbanding following the conclusion of the Viva Las Vengeance Tour.
Behind the Sea
Panic! at the Disco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Breaks free of my wooden neck
Left a nod over sleeping waves
Like bobbing bait for bathing cod
Floating flocks of candled swans
Slowly drift across wax ponds
The men all played along to marching drums
They sang (hey)
So our matching legs are marching clocks
And we're all too small to talk to god
Yes, we're all too smart to talk to god
Toast the fine folks casting silver crumbs
To us from the dock
Jinxed things ringing as they leak
Through tiny cracks in the boardwalk
Scarecrow, now it's time to hatch
Sprouting suns and ageless daughters
Don't you know, don't you know
That those watermelon smiles
Just can't ripen underwater
Just can't ripen underwater
The men all played along to marching drums
And boy did they have fun behind the sea
They sang (hey)
So our matching legs are marching clocks
And we're all too small to talk to god
Yeah, we're all too smart to talk to god
Oh, we're all too smart to talk to god
Oh, legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs
Waves of wooden legs
Legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs
Waves of wooden legs
Legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs
Waves of wooden legs
Legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs
Waves of wooden legs
Oh, so close
The lyrics of "Behind the Sea" by Panic! at the Disco evoke a dreamlike state, with vivid imagery of floating flocks of swans, suns sprouting from scarecrows, and waves of wooden legs. The song seems to be about the limitations of human understanding and our attempts to connect with something greater than ourselves. The chorus repeats the lines "So our matching legs are marching clocks / And we're all too small to talk to God / Yes, we're all too smart to talk to God" suggesting that no matter how much humans try to understand the mysteries of the universe, we are ultimately limited by our own smallness and intelligence.
The verses are filled with surrealistic imagery, such as the "candled swans" and the "silver crumbs" cast by the "fine folks" on the dock. The jarring line "Jinxed things ringing as they leak through tiny cracks in the boardwalk" creates an eerie feeling, further adding to the dreamlike quality of the song. The final verse seems to suggest that happiness and fulfillment cannot be achieved without being able to fully "ripen", which is not possible when one is metaphorically underwater.
Overall, "Behind the Sea" is a haunting and mysterious song that explores the depths of human understanding and the limitations we face in attempting to connect with something greater than ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
A daydream spills from my corked head
A fanciful thoughts flows out of my sealed mind
Breaks free of my wooden neck
Escapes from my stiff, expressionless posture
Left a nod over sleeping waves
Created a ripple over quiet tides
Like bobbing bait for bathing cod
An irresistible lure for unsuspecting prey
Floating flocks of candled swans
A peaceful image of serenity and grace
Slowly drift across wax ponds
Gently glide over still water surfaces
The men all played along
Everyone followed the same tune
To marching drums
To a steady, rhythmic beat
And boy did they have fun
And enjoyed themselves to the fullest
Behind the sea
Beyond the horizon
They sang (hey!)
They raised their voices in unison
So our matching legs
Our synchronized movements
Are marching clocks
Are regulated like precise timepieces
And we're all too small
We're insignificant in the grand scheme of things
To talk to God
To comprehend the divine
Yes, we're all too smart
We're intelligent, but limited in knowledge
Toast the fine folks casting silver crumbs
Celebrate those who give generously
To us from the dock
To those waiting on the shore
Jinxed things ringing as they leak
Cursed items making noise as they break apart
Through tiny cracks in the boardwalk
Via small openings in the walkway
Scarecrow, now it's time to hatch
It's time to come alive and flourish
Sprouting suns and ageless daughters
Budding celestial objects and timeless offspring
Don't you know
Aren't you aware
That those watermelon smiles
Those happy expressions
Just can't ripen underwater
Are unable to flourish in the wrong environment
Legs of wood waves, waves of wooden legs
An abstract, surreal image
Waves of wooden legs
Repetitive, nonsensical phrase
Oh
Expression of emotion
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Brendon Urie, George Ross, Jonathan Walker, Spencer Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Grace Banta
This song is so amazing, Ryans voice is so calming I swear
I'm a fever you cant sweat out
Grace Banta true
Amanda Haman
I don't know why Ryan earlier said that he can't sing. He is as talented as any other singer!
angrymullet
Amanda Haman even more talented than most tbh
d d
his air particles are more talented than the entire universe in my opinion.
Mikey!!
Much much more*
sunkentree
Ryan is the better singer by far.
Minty Coffee
@sunkentree The band including ryan clearly didn't think so lol
Kaja Wojtkowska
Ok but can you hear Ryan and Brendon singing together I'm crying
blanche sr
same