Discography:
1995 - Sleater-Kinney (Chainsaw)
1996 - Call the Doctor (Chainsaw)
1997 - Dig Me Out (Kill Rock Stars)
1999 - The Hot Rock (Kill Rock Stars)
2000 - All Hands on the Bad One (Kill Rock Stars)
2002 - One Beat (Kill Rock Stars)
2005 - The Woods (Sub Pop)
2015 - No Cities to Love (Sub Pop)
2019 - The Center Won't Hold (Mom+Pop)
2021 - Path of Wellness (Mom+Pop)
The Swimmer
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The only time she never feels alone
On the land her body distorts
In the water lines are true to her mind
I can hardly see you now
Are you getting closer and
Do you know you're the one?
They will never understand
The spot light of the sun, it shines on
The Swimmer knows she'll never touch the floor
She can float unharmed by murky wars
And the land is as plain as her skin
But the water shines like the star in her mind
I can hardly see you now
Are you getting closer and
Do you know you're the one?
They will never understand
How washed up you feel on land
The spot light of the sun, it shines on
“The Swimmer” is a song by Sleater-Kinney that delves into the importance of physical and emotional oceans. The singer of the song, The Swimmer, always feel comfortable in the water than on land. The lyrics describe how she is in her element when swimming, but feels alone and distressed on the shore. The water provides solitude and a sense of linearity, as compared to the chaos and distortion of the land. The Swimmer is never alone in the water, as she knows the water would always be there, holding her up. The sun, in some sense, represents hope, as it shines on her and her dreams, and her desires.
The lyrics "The swimmer knows she'll never touch the floor" illustrates the idea that the Swimmer is capable of navigating through her life without sinking, and compares the ocean floor to the bottom of depression. Similarly, "They will never understand how washed up you feel on land" is referring to the feeling of being stranded or helpless. Society, with its tendency of labeling certain things as 'good' or 'bad', often shuns people who they regard as 'not good.' The song speaks about how misunderstood people feel, as others can’t understand their unmet needs.
Line by Line Meaning
The swimmer is so far from the distant shore
The Swimmer is far from the shore and feels a sense of relief from the familiarity of the land.
The only time she never feels alone
Being in water is the only time The Swimmer doesn’t feel lonely.
On the land her body distorts
Walking on land, The Swimmer's body feels abnormal and out of place.
In the water lines are true to her mind
When swimming, The Swimmer’s mind feels at peace and in sync with the natural lines formed by the water.
I can hardly see you now
The Swimmer is so far out in the water that the artist can barely see her.
Are you getting closer and
The singer wants to know if The Swimmer is coming back to shore.
Do you know you're the one?
The singer wants The Swimmer to realize how important she is.
They will never understand
Others will not understand the peace The Swimmer finds in the water.
How washed up you feel on land
The Swimmer feels out of place on land and disconnected from the world around her.
The spot light of the sun, it shines on
Despite feeling washed up on land, The Swimmer feels illuminated by the spotlight of the sun, as if it signifies a ray of hope during dark times.
Contributed by Mia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.