The Sea
Screaming For Emily Lyrics


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Silent people
The time is now
Take your overs
And take your vows
For forty four years
They asked you dear
Now forty five more
And now it's clear...
How much more can we take?
How much more til the bow breaks?
Silent people
It's time to go
Take your children
And take your souls
For forty four years
They asked you dear
Now forty five more
And now it's clear...
How much more can we take?
How much more til the bow breaks?
CHORUS-
From the land we come
But to the sea we'll go
Through the falling tide
Won't you take me there?
From the land we come
But to the sea we'll go
Through the gales and storm
Won't you take me there?
Can you take me there?
Silent people
The time is here




Sons and daughters
A mother's fear...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Screaming For Emily's song "The Sea" delve into themes of determination, struggle and resilience. The song begins by addressing "silent people" who are asked to take their "overs" and "vows," implying a sense of responsibility or burden. The repetition of the phrase "for forty-four years" emphasizes the duration of a long-standing struggle. The lyrics state that it is now clear and ask the question, "How much more can we take?" This paints a picture of a community that has been pushed to its limit and is still hanging on by a thread.


The second verse repeats the same sentiments, but with more urgency. The "silent people" are told that it's time to go and take their children and souls with them. It's clear that the situation has become unbearable and they must leave. The chorus is a call to the sea, a metaphor for a place of refuge and escape. It's a place where they can find peace and start anew. The lyrics ask if the sea can take them there, emphasizing a sense of dependency and desperation. The song ends with a haunting final line that represents a mother's fear for her children, making it clear that leaving is not an easy decision.


Overall, the lyrics to "The Sea" suggest a community that is struggling and has been for a long time. It's a song about resilience and the need to find a way out of an oppressive situation. The repetition of the phrase "for forty-four years" adds emphasis to the duration of this struggle and highlights the resilience of this community.The song presents an interesting perspective on how people hold on to hope in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, recognizing the costs of staying and the courage it takes to leave.


Line by Line Meaning

Silent people
Those who have been oppressed or unheard and remain quiet


The time is now
There is a sense of urgency to act


Take your overs
Take your burdens, problems and troubles


And take your vows
Make a promise to change, act or achieve something


For forty four years
For a long time, we have been suffering


They asked you dear
The oppressors have asked for your submission and obedience


Now forty five more
And after all this time, it's still going on


And now it's clear...
It's now clear that they won't change without us taking action


How much more can we take?
We cannot endure this any longer


How much more til the bow breaks?
How much more until we reach our breaking point?


From the land we come
We are born on this land and have lived here for so long


But to the sea we'll go
We will die and be buried in the ocean


Through the falling tide
Through the ups and downs of life


Won't you take me there?
Can someone show me the way to peace and freedom?


Through the gales and storm
Through the hardships and challenges we face


Silent people
Those who have been oppressed or unheard and remain quiet


It's time to go
It's time to stand up and leave this oppressive situation


Take your children
Take your loved ones with you, protect them


And take your souls
Take your spirit and energy to fight for justice


A mother's fear...
A mother's worry and anxiety for her children in this world




Contributed by Adeline N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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