C
The Civil Wars Lyrics


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Swan dive down eleven stories high
Hold your breath until you see the light
You can sink to the bottom of the sea
Just don't go without me

Go get lost where no one can be found
Drink so long and deep until you drown
Say your goodbyes but darlin' if you please
Don't go without me

C'est la vie, c'est la mort
(Such is life, such is death)
You and me
Forevermore

Lets walk on the road that has no end
Steal away where only angels tread
Heaven or hell or somewhere in between
Cross your heart and take me with you please
Don't go




Please don't go
Don't go without me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Civil Wars' song "C" are tinged with a sense of longing, desperation, and fear of being alone. The opening line, "Swan dive down eleven stories high," brings a clear image of death by suicide to mind. However, the following line, "Hold your breath until you see the light," suggests a desire for rebirth, perhaps indicating a plea for a new beginning. The fear of being alone is palpable in the line, "Just don't go without me," suggesting that the singer knows they cannot face whatever horror awaits them without the company of another.


The second verse brings with it a sense of recklessness as the singer urges their loved one to "Get lost where no one can be found," perhaps urging them to escape the realities of life. The idea of drowning oneself in despair is also present in the subsequent line, "Drink so long and deep until you drown." However, the singer still begs their loved one not to "go without me," emphasizing that even in their darkest moments, they need the comfort of companionship.


The closing verse brings the narrative to a new level, painting a picture of a final journey with the line "Let's walk on the road that has no end." The imagery of angels and heaven/hell adds a spiritual element to the lyrics, while the plea of "Don't go without me" emphasizes the need for companionship even in the afterlife. The French phrase "C'est la vie, c'est la mort" serves as a reminder that life and death are two sides of the same coin and that the only constant is change.


Line by Line Meaning

Swan dive down eleven stories high
Take a big risk; go all in; jump without hesitation from a significant altitude.


Hold your breath until you see the light
Persist through the tough times and don't give up until you see the end result.


You can sink to the bottom of the sea
It is possible to hit rock bottom or fail.


Just don't go without me
Stay with me through thick and thin; don't leave me alone to face challenges.


Go get lost where no one can be found
Escape from the world and take some alone time.


Drink so long and deep until you drown
Indulge in something to the point of excess and letting go of the consequences.


Say your goodbyes but darlin' if you please
If you must go, say your farewells, but let me come along with you.


Don't go without me
Don't leave me stranded or abandoned.


C'est la vie, c'est la mort
Such is life, such is death.


You and me
Together, we can face anything.


Forevermore
For eternity; for all time.


Lets walk on the road that has no end
Let's embark on a journey with no destination in mind.


Steal away where only angels tread
Escape to a secret place that is untouched and serene.


Heaven or hell or somewhere in between
No matter where we end up, we'll face it together.


Cross your heart and take me with you please
Make a promise and take me with you.


Don't go
Stay here; don't leave.


Please don't go
A plea to stay and not go.


Don't go without me
Don't leave me behind or alone.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOY WILLIAMS, JOHN WHITE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Anna Strohmayr

Swan dive down eleven stories high
Hold your breath until you see the light
You can sink to the bottom of the sea
Just don't go without me

Go get lost where no one can be found
Drink so long and deep until you drown
Say your goodbyes but darlin' if you please,
Don't go without me.

C'est la vie, C'est la mort.
(Such is life, such is death.)
You and me,
Forevermore.

Let's walk down the road that has no end
Steal away where only angels tread
Heaven or hell or somewhere in between
Cross your heart to take me when you leave
Don't go
Please don't go
Don't go without me



All comments from YouTube:

ashleyf

Continuously amazed in each video how somehow they sound even better live.

Morgan Downing

I am so sad I never got to see them perform live.

Vanity Over Sanity

@Morgan Downing i feel ya... that will make me sad for the rest of my life

THEonionsack

Just magical! And the frivolous, whimsical repartee before they start playing is such a strange contrast to the import and mood of the song itself. But that's The Civil Wars, isn't it..

Coppretta57

I thought music had died- and then I found them! The humor is a huge bonus too! Thank you Joy, John and your spouses for sharing you with us!

Chandler Leighton

Breaks my heart that they don't sing together anymore.

Anna Strohmayr

Swan dive down eleven stories high
Hold your breath until you see the light
You can sink to the bottom of the sea
Just don't go without me

Go get lost where no one can be found
Drink so long and deep until you drown
Say your goodbyes but darlin' if you please,
Don't go without me.

C'est la vie, C'est la mort.
(Such is life, such is death.)
You and me,
Forevermore.

Let's walk down the road that has no end
Steal away where only angels tread
Heaven or hell or somewhere in between
Cross your heart to take me when you leave
Don't go
Please don't go
Don't go without me

Don't be shy

Anna Strohmayr i had to scroll al' the way o the bottom worth it thanks ;)

A. Josie

"i'm playin! look at me! i'm playin!" lol, i love joy. she's so cute, and JP is amazing! they're both great performers, but together- wow, magic. :) i love the civil wars!

Karlee Johnston

I love their music so much but her bubblyness and his humour and their awesome togetherness really takes it to the next level of looooooooooovvveee!

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