The idea for the project began one day a couple of years ago when Alaina made fun of Patrick for playing tennis in college. A year later the two fled their hometown Denver to spend eight months sailing and exploring the North Atlantic coast. During their adventures they began writing music together documenting their experiences. The Longboat Pass Songfacts reports that the pair eventually recorded their songs. The resulting album, Cape Dory, is about their time on the seas, the majority of the tracks being about the difficulties they experienced during their trip.
There other artists with the same name:
2. Australian Indie band containing two brothers, two cousins and a mystery bass player. Tennis have left the halcyon days of art school behind in pursuit of the perfect musical storm. Tennis played their first gig at a strip club in Surry Hills circa ’06, simultaneously debuting in Sydney’s indie and adult entertainment scenes.
Pursuing the former rather than the latter, Tennis have since graced the stages of many more credible venues, supporting the likes of; Matt & Kim(USA), The Ruby Suns(NZ), Wolf and Cub, Children Collide, Lost Valentinos, Tame Impala and The Holidays. Their colliding beats, wild rhythms, melodic vocals and stark atmospheres meld into a festive music de force driving listeners into a sweaty rapture.
3. IDM project of Ben Edwards & Douglas Benford. Their releases:
Wooden Sweets (CD, 2000)
Duckshelf / Interview (7", Expanding 2001)
Europe On Horseback (CD, BiP_HOp 2001)
Furlines (2xCD, BiP_HOp 2003)
4. A now-defunct alternative pop/punk band from New York consisting of singer/guitarist Greg Tuohey, bassist Kris Bauman, and drummer Jochen Rueckert.
Swimmer
Tennis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at all these tourist as they flock to the sea
Getting in the water like it's nothing, but it's
Not without a consequence
I hear it comes quite naturally
But that description doesn't fit with me
Not going over never going under
The narrows, the river
Empty into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Such a good man, had a good job
I'd take up swimming for the patriarch
Now dispersed so casually like
Sediment into the sea
The swollen moon all flushed with red
One eclipse from the bay of the dead
It ain't right I'm telling you, it's
More than coincidence
One stroke at a time
On my way
Back to land
It's better for me
With my feet
In the sand
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
The lyrics of Tennis's song "Swimmer" convey a sense of discontentment and a longing for a different reality. The singer reflects on a summer that has been planned for them, but it is not what they had envisioned. The presence of tourists flocking to the sea and effortlessly getting in the water contrasts with the singer's own struggle. They feel that going into the water comes naturally to others, but it doesn't fit with their own experience. The phrase "Not going over never going under" suggests a desire to stay afloat and navigate through life without facing consequences.
The imagery of the narrows and the river emptying into the sea adds another layer of meaning. It could represent the singer's progression in life, slowly but surely reaching their own destination. However, they still feel a sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction, as if their experiences are being discarded or wasted. The line "Some summer you have planned for me, emptied into the sea" repeats throughout the song, reinforcing the idea that the singer's expectations have been unfulfilled and lost in the vastness of the sea.
The second verse introduces a character described as a good man with a good job. The singer suggests that for the sake of this patriarch, they would take up swimming. This can be interpreted as a sacrifice or an attempt to please someone else, even if it means diving into unfamiliar waters. The line "Now dispersed so casually like sediment into the sea" presents a melancholic image of someone's importance fading away and being forgotten.
The mention of the swollen moon flushed with red and the bay of the dead introduces a slightly eerie atmosphere. It seems to suggest that there is something deeper and troubling underlying the singer's dissatisfaction and disconnectedness. They believe it is more than a coincidence or a simple series of events.
In the final part of the song, the singer expresses a longing to return to land and find solace with their feet in the sand. This can be seen as a desire for stability, a groundedness that is lacking in their current situation. The repeated refrain of "Some summer you have planned for me, emptied into the sea" emphasizes the disappointment and resignation the singer feels towards their circumstances.
Overall, "Swimmer" by Tennis explores themes of dissatisfaction, longing, and a sense of being adrift in life. It captures the emotions and experiences of someone who feels disconnected from their surroundings and seeks a deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Some summer you have planned for me
The singer is expressing disappointment and frustration with the plans someone else has made for their summer.
Look at all these tourist as they flock to the sea
There are many tourists gathering near the ocean, enjoying their summer vacations.
Getting in the water like it's nothing, but it's
People are effortlessly entering the water, seemingly unaware of the potential consequences.
Not without a consequence
However, there are indeed negative outcomes or results that one must face.
I hear it comes quite naturally
Apparently, some people find it easy or instinctive to embrace these consequences.
But that description doesn't fit with me
The singer doesn't resonate with the idea of accepting the consequences without hesitation.
Not going over never going under
The singer is determined to overcome challenges without succumbing to them.
The narrows, the river
Referring to a specific location or path that will be traversed.
Empty into the sea
Ultimately, everything ends up merging or disappearing into the vastness of the sea.
Such a good man, had a good job
Describing an individual who was respectable and held a stable occupation.
I'd take up swimming for the patriarch
The singer would engage in swimming activities to honor or follow the example set by the respected male authority figure.
Now dispersed so casually like
However, now everything has been scattered or spread out effortlessly, similar to
Sediment into the sea
how sediments easily settle or dissolve into the sea.
The swollen moon all flushed with red
Referring to the moon, which appears larger and appears to have a reddish hue.
One eclipse from the bay of the dead
Implying that the moon simply needs to align or darken slightly to signify a dangerous or negative occurrence.
It ain't right I'm telling you, it's
The artist strongly believes that something is unjust and wants to convey this.
More than coincidence
There is a deeper meaning or connection beyond mere chance or happenstance.
One stroke at a time
The singer takes things slowly and steadily, focusing on one step or action at a time.
On my way
They are progressing or moving forward.
Back to land
Heading towards safety or stability.
It's better for me
This path or situation is more beneficial or preferable for the artist.
With my feet
Having a firm grip or grounding
In the sand
On the solid ground, avoiding the uncertainty and risks associated with water.
Some summer you have planned for me
Reiterating the disappointment and dissatisfaction with the plans made for the summer.
Emptied into the sea
All the expectations and hopes have ended up being washed away like water into the vast sea.
Some summer you have planned for me
Again emphasizing the disappointment and dissatisfaction with the planned summer.
Emptied into the sea
All the anticipated experiences and joys have vanished or been lost in the vastness of the sea, leaving emptiness behind.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Patrick Riley, Alaina Moore-Riley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ulrichwolfgang1824
I hope these are right
Some summer you have planned for me
Look at all these tourist as they flock to the sea
Getting in the water like it's nothing, but it's
Not without a consequence
I hear it comes quite naturally
But that description doesn't fit with me
Not going over never going under
Not without a consequence
The narrows, the river
Empty into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Such a good man, had a good job
I'd take up swimming for the patriarch
Now dispersed so casually like
Sediment into the sea
The swollen moon all flushed with red
One eclipse from the bay of the dead
It ain't right I'm telling you, it's
More than coincidence
One stroke at a time
On my way
Back to land
It's better for me
With my feet
In the sand
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
Some summer you have planned for me
Emptied into the sea
@alheofl8070
I wouldn’t have any problem if this album were the soundtrack of my life
@Aaron-fb6mb
On god. It really has been lately
@DirectorHMAN
It is for me. 😢
@MirandaAndUh
This song is the perfect encapsulation of being somewhere beautiful while wracked with a deep, personal melancholy.
@Not-Ap
Well it's about death and reflections on the loss of a loved one so that would be accurate.
@gp3828
Release cyclist and then you can call the album Triathlon.
@no1u521
Underrated
@ZPiiLe1
Lmao
@slimjong-un5743
This probably planned already
@vxel
listening to this song while reading their genius annotations and processing the details of them scattering patrick’s father’s ashes into the sea next to the beach genuinely made me cry. this song is essentially a eulogy for patrick’s father and it’s so beautiful and yet so somber. this album is actually too good.