"Gatsby Believed In the Green Light"
Tobey Maguire & Craig Armstrong Lyrics
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It eluded us then, but that′s no matter
Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...
And one fine morning
So we beat on,
Boats against the current,
Borne back ceaselessly into the past.
The lyrics of "Gatsby Believed in the Green Light" by Tobey Maguire & Craig Armstrong are deeply introspective and insightful. The song is based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby" and talks about Gatsby's longing for the future and how it recedes year by year. The green light in the song represents Gatsby's hope and aspiration, which he believes will materialize in the future. However, as time goes by, he realizes that the future he longed for is slipping away from him. Nonetheless, he still decides to chase it relentlessly, promising to run faster and stretch his arms farther.
The song then ends on a melancholic note, with the lyrics "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." These lyrics are inspired by the novel and signify that despite our constant efforts to move forward, we are always pulled back by the past.
The song's lyrics are a beautiful representation of the human desire to strive for success and fulfillment. It showcases our willingness to believe in something, even when it seems impossible, and our determination to pursue it.
Line by Line Meaning
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us.
Gatsby had faith in the green light that symbolized the exciting but elusive future that continuously slips further away from us with each passing year.
It eluded us then, but that's no matter
Although we couldn't grasp the green light back then, it's not important now.
Tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...
The next day, we'll move more swiftly, reach further and make progress in catching hold of our goals.
And one fine morning
Someday in the future, at some point, everything will be alright.
So we beat on,
We persevere despite difficulties and challenges.
Boats against the current,
We push ourselves against the current of life that always pushes back.
Borne back ceaselessly into the past.
We are repeatedly drawn back towards our past by forces beyond our control.
Writer(s): Armstrong Craig Mackenzie
Contributed by Isaiah K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@oscribe2772
The story of a man who loved a woman. That woman didn't deserved that love... and that man. Definitly.
@mohamedfatmi5667
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
@twentyonepoots4776
I'm crying holy shit. It never ceases to amaze me how music can capture emotions and feelings and portray them even more vividly than the written word. studding.
@MrStepan523
twentyonepoots Great words
@MasonOfLife
We use the sounds of instruments to replicate the singing and crying of emotional beings (us), the very emotional soul of us we can replicate in these instruments, this expression of soul isn’t a binary exchange of information as words are.....it is the depth of emotion and soul that is the essence of music
@samosullivan1744
I love Tobey Maguire’s narration! He gave a truly underrated performance as Nick Carraway!
@sadhbhpotts5233
Okay I shat myself when he started speaking
@benjamingonzalez363
accurate
@Minae2584
So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past
@liveforlife2494
There's always been a certain type of enhanced color and sheer luminosity about this film. I've always loved The Great Gatsby and just...this solo violin kills me every time.