Drowning
The English Beat Lyrics

Compromise around the corner
A situation where you may have to settle for something less than what you want is imminent and lurking nearby.

Can you hear the accountant's call?
Are you aware of the consequences of your actions? Do you understand the financial implications?

Could you refuse another dollar?
Would you be able to say no to more money? Do you have the strength of character required to resist temptation?

Could you stop yourself from falling?
Are you capable of preventing yourself from giving in to negative emotions or bad decisions that could affect your life?

So in between the sleepless nights
During those anxious moments when you cannot sleep and your mind is racing with thoughts and worries.

You dream that you are winning fights
You imagine yourself in a situation where you are victorious and in control of your life.

But then it happens, dreadful thing
Suddenly, something terrible occurs, and your life spirals out of control.

A wave appears too big to swim
A metaphor for a challenge or problem that appears insurmountable; it can be used to describe a situation that feels beyond your capacity to resolve.

You're drowning, you're drowning
You are suffocating in a crisis, and you are losing hope.

Buy a beach before next summer
A suggestion that you should acquire something or make a plan before it is too late and the opportunity is gone.

How do you feel in the morning?
Upon waking up, how do you feel about your life and what you must face today?

If the light's an awful bother
If you are afraid of the truth and would rather hide from it, this line may be a reference to how it can be easier to avoid reality by not looking at things clearly.

I could always close the curtains
A suggestion to avoid a truth or potentially painful situation by hiding it from view.

Just close your eyes and count to ten
In a difficult situation, sometimes taking a moment to pause and breathe can be helpful in regaining control and composure.

See if you still remember when
This line suggests reflection on the past and how it can be used to inform future decisions and behavior.

Your life seemed easy, you had friends
A reminder of a time when your life was simpler, and you had people around you who cared.

But that was different, that that was then
A recognition that things have changed and that your life has evolved since that time.

You're drowning, you're drowning
The realization that you are in trouble and need help to survive.

You want fe go in a de ocean
Jamaican Patois for 'You want to go into the ocean'; it could be a metaphor for wanting to escape or trying to confront a daunting challenge.

I saw you drowning in slow motion
A vivid and slow description of seeing someone sink in water or a situation, implying that it is happening in slow motion or being felt intensely.

Far too late to make a commotion
At a point of no return, where it is no longer possible to resist or protest what is happening.

Too late for you to show easy motion
At this point, it is no longer possible to act with ease or grace, and panic has set in.

That's why you go down to the bottom, say you can't reach the top
When it feels like things can't get worse, and we've hit the bottom of a metaphorical ocean, we might feel like there's no way out and we've lost hope.

Get stuck on the bottom, say you can't reach the top
When things seem to be going wrong, we can get into a cycle of negative thinking and feel like we're stuck and unable to progress or overcome problems.

A two days later say they find you 'pon the rocks
A reference to someone being stranded and potentially injured or killed by the hazards of the ocean or their situation.

Say ha ha ha ha ha, bad luck, eh, so
A mocking observation that someone has met with their downfall, possibly due to their own action or lack thereof.

Tell yourself until you're certain
A reminder to keep repeating a positive mantra or thought until you believe it's true and effective.

When you hear the accountants call
When you are faced with financial decisions, and the outcome could have a significant impact.

You'll buy a beach before next summer
A reference to taking control of your fate and making decisions while you have the opportunity to do so.

Swim away and leave it all
Sometimes, it is necessary to walk away from a situation when it becomes too difficult or isn't worth it anymore.

So underwater, deaf and blind
Being surrounded by circumstances that feel suffocating and overwhelming despite being unable to see or hear how to relieve or escape the situation.

Under such pressures you might find
When under severe stress or pressure, you may discover something new about yourself or your situation.

A secret right before the end
At a critical moment, you may come to understand something meaningful, profound, or significant that could make a difference in your outcome.

That makes you want to breathe again
Upon discovering something valuable, you may feel renewed and motivated to continue despite the challenges and obstacles in your way.