Walk Across the Water
Spoons Lyrics


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I watch the ceiling for an answer
I lie in bed and in open cars
Iยนm checking heaven oh so human
Iยนm holding out for a miracle
Things like aurora borealis
Tidal waves and falling stars
Make me wonder what Iยนm doing
Make me wonder how I got this far

I think of the better things
In this life
Thereยนs got to be better things
In this life
We say...

Walk across the water
Walk across the sea
Walk across the water
Just donยนt walk across me
Walk...

I walk a fine line not a straight line
Iยนm talking circles all around the world
I visit cities and famous buildings
It doesnยนt change anything at all
Things like a guitar and a movie
Divert my mind to another place
Weยนre making nothing out of something
And that somethingยนs gonna hit me in the face

I think of the better things
In this life...
We say...

Walk across the water
Walk across the sea
Walk across the river
Just donยนt walk across me
Walk across the water
Walk across the sea
Walk across the water




Just donยนt walk across me
Walk...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Spoons's song "Walk Across the Water" denote an individual's quest for answers and meaning in their life. The singer is seeking a way to connect with the divine, or something bigger than themselves, by contemplating the mysterious workings of nature, such as the aurora borealis, tidal waves, and falling stars. Despite these wonderous and awe-inspiring occurrences in the world, the singer is still left grappling with existential questions: what are they doing with their life, how did they get to where they are now?


The lyrics then take a turn, and we see the singer struggling with direction and purpose in their life. They seem to feel lost, wandering aimlessly and not finding any answers even in the midst of visitng famous buildings and seeing the world. The lyric "We're making nothing out of something, and that something's gonna hit me in the face" suggests the singer feels as though they're wasting their time and not making progress. The chorus then comes in as an unyielding statement of self-preservation: "Walk across the water, walk across the sea, just don't walk across me."


Overall, the lyrics of the song represent the human struggle of trying to find meaning and direction in their life, and the fear of being used or taken advantage of in the process. The singer seems to be longing for something greater than themselves while simultaneously feeling lost and unable to find it.


Line by Line Meaning

I watch the ceiling for an answer
I look up at the ceiling, hoping for a response to the questions that are troubling me.


I lie in bed and in open cars
In bed or outside in a car, I am unable to escape the thoughts that plague me.


I'm checking heaven oh so human
I am searching for something divine, but in a very human and flawed way.


I'm holding out for a miracle
I am waiting for something amazing to happen to change my situation.


Things like aurora borealis
Natural occurrences like the northern lights captivate me and make me question my place in the world.


Tidal waves and falling stars
Natural phenomena like tsunamis and meteor showers also pique my curiosity and make me contemplate the greater meaning of life.


Make me wonder what I'm doing
These things make me question my purpose and my actions in life.


Make me wonder how I got this far
These thoughts make me reflect on my past and how I ended up where I am now.


I think of the better things in this life
Despite my contemplation, I try to focus on the positive elements of life.


There's got to be better things in this life
I believe that there are greater things to experience in life than what I have seen so far.


Walk across the water
The idea of walking on water implies doing something impossible, which I hope to achieve.


Walk across the sea
Similarly, walking over a vast body of water suggests achieving something incredible.


Walk across the river
Even walking over something smaller like a river symbolizes accomplishing the impossible.


Just don't walk across me
However, I do not wish to be stepped on or taken advantage of in the process of achieving greatness.


I walk a fine line not a straight line
In pursuit of my dreams, I am walking a path that is not simple or straightforward.


I'm talking circles all around the world
My thoughts and conversations revolve around my desires and aspirations, no matter where I go.


I visit cities and famous buildings
I seek new experiences and inspiration by traveling to iconic locations.


It doesn't change anything at all
Despite my travels and attempts to find enlightenment, nothing seems to change internally.


Things like a guitar and a movie
Creative outlets like music and film help distract me from my troubles.


Divert my mind to another place
These hobbies provide me with a temporary escape from reality.


We're making nothing out of something
In the grand scheme of things, all our efforts and achievements may amount to nothing.


And that something's gonna hit me in the face
Eventually, the reality of the futility of my endeavors will become apparent to me.




Contributed by Madelyn C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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