Rachel Goswell (born May 16 1971 in Fareham, England) is a singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Rachel Goswell (born May 16 1971 in Fareham, England) is a singer-songwriter who was the guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the shoegazing group Slowdive. Following Slowdive's dissolution, Goswell joined Slowdive alumni Neil Halstead and Ian McCutcheon to form Mojave 3, an indie pop/dream pop outfit. This new outfit also included Simon Rowe (of Chapterhouse fame) and Alan Forrester.

The year 2004 saw Goswell release solo recordings with co-writer Joe Light and producer David Naughton. Nine months after Mojave 3 released Spoon and Rafter, she released The Sleep Shelter EP. Waves Are Universal, her first full-length recording, appeared a month later. In 2005, a limited edition remix 12" (now available as a download) entitled Coastline / Plucked was issued. This recording, released on Valentine's Day, features two mixes apiece from The Earlies and Ulrich Schnauss.

Goswell was married to Cuba's Christopher Andrews from 1994 until 2000.

Recently Goswell has fallen ill. For the past year she has been fighting very serious ear infections that have caused her to lose hearing in one ear and problems with her balance. Because of her medical condition Goswell will not be able to go on tour to support Mojave 3's new album.

Coastline
Rachel Goswell Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

This coastline's like a long-lost friend
Giving me grounding once again
Being here with you
There's no place I'd rather be

You know we've touched on something real
With all that's good
You've given to me

You've given to me

And all those fears can keep rolling in
Surrounding beauty keeps me going
And being here with you
Nothing comes close to this

You know this is something real
With all the truth
That you've shown me
So, keep me safe
And love me for good

I'm not going anywhere
I'm not going anywhere

Overall Meaning

The song "Coastline" by Rachel Goswell is a beautiful reflection on the calming and grounding effect that nature can bring, particularly when experienced with a loved one. The opening lines immediately establish the metaphor of the coastline being a "long-lost friend" that is now providing comfort and stability once again. The imagery of being by the sea with a partner brings a sense of assurance that there is nowhere else the singer would rather be.

The song continues to explore the deep connection between the singer and their loved one, acknowledging that they have touched on something real and profound. The line "with all that's good you've given to me" suggests that the partner has played an important role in the singer's life, bringing positivity and goodness into it. Despite any fears that may arise, the beauty of the surroundings and the security of the relationship with the partner keep the singer going. The final lines of the song express a desire to be loved and kept safe by that partner, affirming that the singer is committed to this relationship and isn't going anywhere.

Overall, "Coastline" is a deeply emotional song that celebrates the power of nature, love, and stability. It offers a sense of reassurance that even in the face of uncertainty and fear, the singer can find comfort and strength by the sea with their loved one.

Line by Line Meaning

This coastline's like a long-lost friend
The coastline feels familiar and comforting to me as if it were a dear friend who I haven't seen in a long time

Giving me grounding once again
Being near the coastline helps me feel balanced and secure

Being here with you
Being with you, my loved one, in this place

There's no place I'd rather be
I am content and happy right here with you, no other place could make me feel more fulfilled

You know we've touched on something real
We have discovered something genuine and authentic between us

With all that's good
Despite any negativity or hardships we've faced, we've found something positive between us

You've given to me
You've shared your goodness with me, and I appreciate it

And all those fears can keep rolling in
Even though fear and anxiety may come my way

Surrounding beauty keeps me going
The beauty of the surroundings helps to keep me motivated and persevering

And being here with you
Also, being here with you, my loved one

Nothing comes close to this
There is no other experience that compares to this one with you and the beautiful surroundings

You know this is something real
We both understand that what we have is genuine and authentic

With all the truth
We've been honest and open with each other