Sea Of Love
The National - Lyrics

Oh, you say you love me, Joe
The singer questions Joe's love for her and wonders how she can know for sure.

How am I supposed to know?
The singer is uncertain about Joe's feelings for her.

When you go under the waves
Joe's behavior is unpredictable and the singer doesn't know how he will act.

What am I supposed to say?
The singer doesn't know how to react to Joe's actions.

I see people on the floor
The singer is observing dancers at a party or club.

They slide into the sea
The singer associates the dancing with sinking into a dangerous ocean or abyss.

Can't stay here anymore
The atmosphere of the party or club is becoming unbearable for the singer.

We're turning into fiends
The singer and others at the party are losing control and behaving recklessly.

If I stay here trouble will find me
The singer realizes that staying at the party could lead to negative consequences.

If I stay here I'll never leave
The singer knows that it's easy to get trapped in addictive behaviors and patterns.

I believe
The singer affirms her decision to leave the party and avoid trouble.

Joe, I'll always think of you
The singer reflects on her past relationship with Joe.

As a kind of child who knew
The singer recalls Joe's innocence or naivety in their relationship.

This was never gonna last
The singer acknowledges that their relationship was not meant to be long-term.

Oh Joe, you fell so fast
Joe got caught up in the intensity of the relationship and lost control.

Hey Joe, sorry I hurt you but
The singer addresses Joe directly and apologizes for causing him emotional pain.

They say love is a virtue, don't they?
The singer questions the cultural belief that love is a positive and noble attribute.

I see you rushing down (tell me how to reach you)
The singer observes Joe's reckless behavior and tries to understand what is motivating him.

I see you rushing down (what did Harvard teach you?)
The singer sarcastically references Joe's education and questions if his behavior is reflective of his intelligence.

I see you rushing down (don't drag me in)
The singer doesn't want to be dragged into Joe's self-destructive behavior.

Tell me how to reach you
The singer still cares about Joe and wants to help him if she can.

What did Harvard teach you?
The singer suggests that Joe's Ivy League education may not have prepared him for real life problems.