I Sat by the Ocean
Queens of the Stone Age Lyrics


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I sat by the ocean
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you

There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night

There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view

Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide





Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night

Overall Meaning

Queens of the Stone Age's song "I Sat by the Ocean" is a poignant exploration of heartbreak and the difficult process of moving on from a past relationship. The lyrics are evocative and rich in symbolism, painting a vivid picture of a man struggling to come to terms with his own loneliness and the memories of his lost love. The song opens with the singer sitting by the ocean, drinking a potion in a desperate attempt to forget about the woman he has lost. It is clear from the outset that he is struggling to cope with his emotions and his inability to face his former lover.


The chorus of the song centers around the idea that there is no use in crying over the past. The singer acknowledges that his friends may offer sympathy, but ultimately it is up to him to pick himself up and move on. The second verse of the song delves deeper into the theme of loneliness and the pain of unrequited love. The singer reflects on how things might have been if he had been able to win his lover's heart, but ultimately he is left alone with his thoughts and memories.


The final verse of the song deals with the notion of lies and the way in which they can slip through our fingers. The singer suggests that time heals all wounds, but it is not always clear what is true and what is false. The imagery of passing ships in the night and crashing ships in the final lines of the song conjures up a sense of inevitability and the idea that we are all adrift in the sea of life, hoping to find our way to the shore.


Overall, "I Sat by the Ocean" is a deeply moving and introspective song that deals with profound themes of loss, loneliness, and the human condition.


Line by Line Meaning

I sat by the ocean
I sat near the sea


And drank a potion, baby to erase you
I had a drink to forget you


Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
I was unable to confront you despite being down and out in the streets


There ain't no use in cryin'
There is no point in shedding tears


It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Crying won’t accomplish anything, so why bother?


Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Your friends will show compassion, but I might not require it


Imagine I'd be your one and only
Suppose I were your only love


Instead I'm the lonely one
But I am feeling alone


You, me, and a lie
Us, each other, and a falsehood


Silence is closer
Silence is nearly present


We're passing ships in the night
We are like ships in the night, not connecting with each other


There's nowhere to run away
There is no place to escape to


Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
Someone told me that if I wanted love I'd have to seek it elsewhere


'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Someone asked me if I knew what kind of person I was and whether I was genuinely myself


Lies are a funny thing
Lies are strange


They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
They slip away as if they never happened to you


Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
As we disappear, time will eventually heal everything


Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Left with no place to conceal oneself, exposed to the light


Closer and closer
Nearer and nearer


We're crashing ships in the night
We are colliding ships in the darkness




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Dean Anthony Fertita, Josh Homme, Joshua Michael Homme, Michael Jay Shuman, Troy Dean Van Leeuwen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@businessraptor127

LYRICS
I sat by the ocean
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night



@PedroMachadoBorges

I sat by the ocean
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night



@notsay1775

This song is a very special one to me....[[not relevant to the song meaning]]
A friend of mine suggested it to me and he was 20 years older than me and lived far away.....

Obviously INTERNET FRIENDS...
We had a convo about metting up some time...
Little did i know he had a very short life span....
And yeah....
I called...and one of his friends sent a video of his funeral...

That hit me very hard ....
So yeah...
I feel closer to him whenever i hear this song...

"""Silence is closer """😢😢



All comments from YouTube:

@bizichyld

I love their chord progressions. Instead of repeating, they go in unexpected directions, sometimes spanning several measures. Musically complex, yet easy to listen to. Infinite replayability.

@FredMorris-pc8ed

if you like this you might like my brothers music. His name is Stu Morris.

@SextacyFTW

Beatles tend to do the same.

Kinda what happens in Penny Lane, going to a weird and unexpected direction

@alistairmurray626

This is a pop song, not musically complex. That's why it's easy to listen to, and infinitely repayable.

@businessraptor127

LYRICS
I sat by the ocean
And drank a potion, baby to erase you
Face down in the boulevard yet I couldn't face you
There ain't no use in cryin'
It doesn't change anything, so baby what good does it do?
Your friends they'll sympathize, maybe I don't need them to
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
There's nowhere to run away
Said, 'Boy if you want love, you'll have to go and find it with someone new'
'Do you know who you really are? Are you sure it's really you'?
Lies are a funny thing
They slip through your fingertips because they never happened to you
Time wounds all the heals as we fade out of view
Imagine I'd be your one and only
Instead I'm the lonely one
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
You, me, and a lie
Silence is closer
We're passing ships in the night
Into the light, left with nowhere to hide
Closer and closer
We're crashing ships in the night

@albertmajor950

Ok bro i like the Queens of the stone age

@arianmegantara621

This song will be forever in my heart. What a masterpiece!

@florenciathomas

It represents a year in my life, coincide

@arianmegantara621

@Florencia Thomas Hey, that's what I feel too! 2016 will always attached to this song, along with all the memories happened in that year.

@arantzac7620

Although all their songs are excellent, for me this is their best one😊

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