Understanding
Seahaven Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did you ever pray to overcome
The circumstantial barricades?
Well I don't pray for even myself,
So I doubt that I'd do it for somebody else.
But I would have for you if I knew it would help.
So uneasy,
Just fails to see, the world inside of my head,
The catastrophic difference.
"What about him?" said with such conviction,
Denying all existence.
I am the derivative so I will not cut down the root.
Did you settle for less. Let me reassess.
Did you settle for less than what you were blessed,
Toain from turning a home on it's head?
What a bittersweet method to maintain a
Structure built over your name.
As far as they knew you did not build a thing.
I found understanding. Can he understand me?
I found understanding, will he understand?
In "Understanding," Seahaven frontman Kyle Soto questions if his audience has ever prayed to overcome difficult obstacles they face, and admits that he himself doesn't pray for anyone, let alone himself. He shows genuine concern, however, saying that he would consider praying for a loved one if it could help them. The song captures an individual attempting to connect with another but finds themselves stifled by a lack of mutual understanding. The song's chorus asks directly, "I found understanding, can he understand me?", revealing the internal turmoil of feeling misunderstood and unheard.
The second verse delves deeper into the theme of misunderstanding, as Soto reflects on how the world inside his mind seems to be invisible to others, and how the inadequate communication between people can lead to denial of their inner world. The line, "I am the derivative so I will not cut down the root," shows Soto hesitant to tear down anything that formed the foundation for his identity, even in the face of criticism or disregard.
One interesting fact about "Understanding" is that it is the opening track on Seahaven's second studio album, "Reverie Lagoon: Music For Escapism Only," which the band proclaimed was inspired by their hometown of Torrance, California. Another interesting fact is that Seahaven entered a hiatus from touring and recording for several years after releasing "Reverie Lagoon," before reemerging with a new album in 2019. The song was received favorably by music critics, who praised its introspective lyrics and atmospheric sound, with some comparing the band's style to the likes of fellow emo-revivalists Brand New and Balance and Composure.
Chords: The chords for this song are currently unavailable as the band has not released official sheet music, but it can be learned through online tutorials or by ear.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever pray? Let me rephrase.
Have you ever felt helpless and wished for a miracle? Let me rephrase.
Did you ever pray to overcome
Have you ever prayed to overcome the obstacles in your way?
The circumstantial barricades?
The difficult circumstances that were blocking your progress.
Well I don't pray for even myself,
I personally do not pray, even for myself.
So I doubt that I'd do it for somebody else.
I don't think I would pray for someone else either.
But I would have for you if I knew it would help.
Although I don't usually pray, I would have done so for you if I believed it could have made a difference.
So uneasy,
Feeling very uneasy.
He doesn't feel respected for everything that he did,
He feels like he is not being appreciated for all the effort he has put in.
Just fails to see, the world inside of my head,
He is unable to understand the thoughts and emotions that I have inside my head.
The catastrophic difference.
The huge difference in our perspectives.
"What about him?" said with such conviction,
"What about him?" said with a lot of certainty.
Denying all existence.
Ignoring the very fact of my existence.
I am the derivative so I will not cut down the root.
I am a result of my past experiences and decisions, so I won't undermine them.
Did you settle for less. Let me reassess.
Have you ever settled for something less than what you deserved? Let me ask again.
Did you settle for less than what you were blessed,
Did you compromise on something that you were bestowed with by fate?
Toain from turning a home on it's head?
To avoid creating chaos or confusion within a settled way of life.
What a bittersweet method to maintain a
It's a combination of both good and bad to keep up with a certain way of life.
Structure built over your name.
A rigid framework that has been established in your identity.
As far as they knew you did not build a thing.
As far as others knew, you did not contribute anything towards it.
I found understanding. Can he understand me?
I have finally found someone who understands me. Will he be able to reciprocate?
I found understanding, will he understand?
I have found someone who understands me, but I am not sure if the feeling is mutual.
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@kswissmc9778
This band has gotten me through a lot every time I have a panic attack I listen to them and the calm me down
@azariafitzgerald2066
thank you for creating such awesome music seahaven. almost 10 years of enjoying your music!!
@leopurcaro353
This is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard
@shakezula1123
song is one of my favorite seahaven tracks. perfection embodied.
@indoeyess
SEAHAVEN IS THE BEST BAND IN THE WORLD
@deannagnzlz9
LOVE THEM SO MUCH.
@lucim7663
Did you ever pray? Let me rephrase.
Did you ever pray to overcome
The circumstantial barricades?
Well I don't pray for even myself,
So I doubt that I'd do it for somebody else.
But I would have for you if I knew it would help.
So uneasy,
He doesn't feel respected for everything that he did,
Just fails to see, the world inside of my head,
The catastrophic difference.
Did you settle for less. Let me reassess.
Did you settle for less than what you were blessed,
To refrain from turning a home on it's head?
What a bittersweet method to maintain a
Structure built over your name.
As far as they knew you did not build a thing.
So uneasy,
He doesn't feel respected for everything that he did,
Just fails to see, the world inside of my head,
The catastrophic difference.
"What about him?" said with such conviction,
Denying all existence.
I am the derivative so I will not cut down the root.
I found understanding. Can he understand me?
I found understanding, will he understand?
So uneasy,
He doesn't feel respected for everything that he did,
Just fails to see, the world inside of my head,
The catastrophic difference.
"What about him?" said with such conviction,
Denying all existence.
I am the derivative so I will not cut down the root.
@jessyfmelgar
I always have my spotify on shuffle and I hadn't listen to this album in a while but every time I heard the beginning I thought it was Transit. Haha
@satan9107
this song makes me crY IM EMO