The Thermals' sixth LP and debut for Saddle Creek, Desperate Ground, was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in Hoboken, NJ. Agnello and The Thermals completed the record and evacuated the studio just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, a fate quite fitting when you consider the product. Desperate Ground is a true scrappy and scratchy return-to-form for The Thermals, with all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP's so insanely enjoyable. Lyrically, Desperate Ground is a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death. A dark and yet joyous affair, Desperate Ground tells the (murky) tale of a lone rogue in the night. One man, one path, one sword. An unceasing urge to destroy. A never-ending battle against the forces of nature. A destiny impossible to avoid.
In early 2013 The Thermals signed to Saddle Creek, a label they've known and admired for many years. The Thermals and Saddle Creek have a long history of sleeping on floors together: The Thermals have toured with Cursive and Ladyfinger, and Hutch and Kathy organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland way back in 1999.
The Thermals were most famous for turning down $50,000 from Hummer, discovering the elusive fourth chord in punk rock (F#m) and for soundtracking that scene in Weeds where Mary-Louise Parker jumps in the pot-filled pool in her underwear.
The Thermals announced they were splitting in April 2018.
The Thermals lineup was Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster and Westin Glass.
Back to the Sea
The Thermals Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord, we'll take 'em two by two
We'll lead 'em to the bedroom floor
We'll lead 'em in the dead of morning
Two by two
Lord, we'll take 'em two by two
We'll lead 'em through the pouring rain
We'll lead 'em to the gas chamber
But not me
I'm gonna crawl
I'm gonna crawl
I'm gonna crawl
Back to the sea
Judge us now
Lord, won't you judge us now?
We know exactly who we are
We know exactly what we do
Judge us now
Lord, won't you judge us now?
Everybody, stand on two legs
Everybody, kneel on two knees
And I'm turnin' around
And I'm gonna crawl
I'm gonna crawl
Yeah, I'm gonna crawl
Back to the ocean I know
Back to the ocean I need
Back to the sea
And all I need to enroll is to believe
So I'm gonna crawl
I'm gonna crawl
I'm gonna crawl
Back to the sea
The Thermals' "Back to the Sea" is a song that has evocative lyrics, expressing a defiant attitude towards society and a desire to reconnect with nature. The song begins with the line "Two by two, Lord, we'll take 'em two by two," which could be interpreted as a reference to the biblical story of Noah's ark in which animals are taken in pairs. However, the lyrics take a much darker turn, suggesting leading people to their doom by implying that they will lead them to a bedroom floor, a gas chamber, or through pouring rain. The singer, however, will not follow this path and crawls back to the sea.
The song's chorus implies a sense of guilt and shame as the singer addresses the lord, asking him to judge them. The lines "We know exactly who we are, we know exactly what we do" suggest that the singer is aware of the society's wrongdoings and feels a kinship towards those like him. The lyrics "Everybody, stand on two legs, Everybody, kneel on two knees" seem to signify conformity and subservience, with the singer being the only one who rebels against the establishment.
The chorus of the song contains the lines "And all I need to enroll is to believe," which conveys that the singer feels a deep yearning to return to a simpler time, far away from society's complexities. The last line of the song "Back to the sea" represents a recurring theme that appears throughout the song as the singer seeks a return to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
Two by two
We'll take them in pairs
Lord, we'll take 'em two by two
We'll take them in pairs, guided by our faith
We'll lead 'em to the bedroom floor
We'll lead them to engage in physically intimate activities
We'll lead 'em in the dead of morning
We'll lead them in the early hours when most people are asleep
Two by two
We'll take them in pairs
Lord, we'll take 'em two by two
We'll take them in pairs, guided by our faith
We'll lead 'em through the pouring rain
We'll lead them through adverse weather conditions
We'll lead 'em to the gas chamber
We'll lead them to their death through atrocious means
But not me
I won't follow along
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
Back to the sea
To return to the sources of life
Judge us now
Please evaluate us
Lord, won't you judge us now?
Please evaluate us, divine being
We know exactly who we are
We're aware of our identity
We know exactly what we do
We're aware of our actions
Judge us now
Please evaluate us
Lord, won't you judge us now?
Please evaluate us, divine being
Everybody, stand on two legs
Everyone, please stand up
Everybody, kneel on two knees
Everyone, please kneel down
And I'm turnin' around
I'm reversing my course of action
And I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
Yeah, I'm gonna crawl
I'm definitely going to move slowly on my hands and knees
Back to the ocean I know
To return to the familiar and comforting ocean
Back to the ocean I need
To return to the ocean that symbolizes the beginning of life
Back to the sea
To return to the sources of life
And all I need to enroll is to believe
The only requirement to return to the sources of life is to have faith
So I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
I'm gonna crawl
I'll move slowly on my hands and knees
Back to the sea
To return to the sources of life
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Hutch Harris, Kathleen Foster
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind