Overboard
Stay Outside Lyrics

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Hey Joe, I′m dying here
This place will confiscate the air out of
My broken lungs
And I can't
Put my head above the water
These flames are getting hotter
I′m drowning here
I'm drowning here

'Cause I want you to believe
That there′s something deep in me
When I tell you I can stay
Will you tell me it′s okay?
But I won't

I won′t let you go under the water
You're overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won′t lie
It's me and everybody
We′ve got a shotgun wedding and a stain on your sleeve
We're goin' overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won′t lie

Hey Joe
Remember when
We used to paint the town a different color
′Till we all were fallin' over?
Those were the times
Remember we played louder in the attic
′Till they came to shut us down?

I don't know
How we let
These things go

I won′t let you go under the water
You're overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won′t lie
It's me and everybody
We've got a shotgun wedding and a stain on your sleeve
We′re goin′ overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won't lie

I won′t let you go under the water
You're overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won′t lie
I won't let you go under the water
You′re overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard
You know I won't lie

It's me and everybody
We′ve got a shotgun wedding and a stain on your sleeve
We′re goin' overboard
O-Overboard
Overboard

You know I won′t lie
You know I won't lie

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Stay Outside’s song “Overboard” are about feeling suffocated in one’s surroundings, but having a desire for others to see the deeper parts of oneself. The verses describe a feeling of being trapped and drowning, unable to escape the flames that surround the singer. Yet, despite this overwhelming sense of unease, the chorus provides a sense of comfort and safety, with the singer reassuring someone named Joe that they won’t let him “go under the water.” The repetition of “overboard” throughout the song suggests a feeling of being overwhelmed or potentially lost, but the promise that the singer won't let the person they're talking to drown reinforces the importance of human connection and support in difficult times.

The second verse highlights a sense of nostalgia for happier times, remembering playing music with others in an attic and painting the town a different color. The line “we played louder in the attic ’till they came to shut us down” suggests a disregard for authority and a desire to make noise and be heard. This juxtaposes with the earlier feelings of being trapped, as if the singer is reflecting on a time when they felt more free and unencumbered. The song ends on the repetition of the chorus, again underscoring the importance of the singer's support for Joe.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey Joe, I′m dying here
The singer feels overwhelmed and close to collapsing in their current environment.

This place will confiscate the air out of My broken lungs
The singer is struggling to breathe and the location they're in is exacerbating their condition.

And I can't Put my head above the water These flames are getting hotter I′m drowning here I'm drowning here
The singer is struggling to keep their head above water, both metaphorically and literally, and feels overwhelmed by the challenges they're facing.

'Cause I want you to believe That there′s something deep in me When I tell you I can stay Will you tell me it′s okay? But I won't
The artist wants the listener to understand that they have inner strength, but they're not sure if they can handle the situation they're currently in.

I won′t let you go under the water You're overboard O-Overboard Overboard You know I won′t lie It's me and everybody We′ve got a shotgun wedding and a stain on your sleeve We're goin' overboard O-Overboard Overboard You know I won′t lie
Despite their own struggles, the artist promises to support and save the listener from metaphorically drowning. They acknowledge that they're in it together with everyone else, facing similar challenges.

Hey Joe Remember when We used to paint the town a different color ′Till we all were fallin' over? Those were the times Remember we played louder in the attic ′Till they came to shut us down?
The singer and Joe reminisce about a time when life was more carefree and they had more freedom. They recall moments of joy and loud music before authority figures tried to silence them.

I don't know How we let These things go
The singer reflects on how they've lost some of their freedom and carefree spirit over time and wonders how this has happened.

Writer(s): Aaron Becker

Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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