Undertow
Velvet Belly Lyrics


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music  : Velvet Belly / Marcel Dekker Devos
lyrics : Anne Marie Almedal

They told me night and day was all I could see
And all that I had was five senses
They told me there are no other mysteries
That I had to realize
We are not here to wonder

But I looked at night and day to see what I could see
I had started to feel so incomplete
Only drifting along with the stream
I turned like an undertow
And started my own flow

Like under water I'm holding my breath
It won't be long now, I'm almost there
Like in the dark finding the way with my hands
It won't be long now, I'm almost there

I flowed through night and day wondering
And I saw what they told me not to see
It seemed almost unreal
It had only been in my dreams
I had never felt so free

Like under water I'm holding my breath
It won't be long now, I'm almost there




Like in the dark finding the way with my hands
It won't be long now, I'm almost there

Overall Meaning

Undertow by Velvet Belly is a song about self-discovery, it encourages listeners to question what they have been told about their world and their own existence. The song’s opening lines are a direct challenge to the idea that one’s senses are limited to what is evident in front of them. The song tells a story about a journey of discovery where the singer looks beyond the obvious and discovers something extraordinary.


The first verse of the song introduces the listener to the notion that they are not just limited to their five senses, and that there are mysteries to explore beyond what the world presents. The chorus of the song, “Like under water I’m holding my breath, it won’t be long now, I’m almost there, Like in the dark finding the way with my hands, it won’t be long now, I’m almost there” highlights the sense of anticipation and excitement that comes with discovery, with the singer on the path to a profound personal change.


The second verse reveals that the singer is curious about finding something that they feel is missing, they are “incomplete”. They feel like they are floating in a current without control. Like an undertow, the singer shifts the current, creates a new current, and takes control of their journey, starting to see the things that were previously hidden.


Undertow is a powerful song that calls on listeners to look beyond the obvious, to realize that the world is full of mysteries waiting to be explored, and that one can find a sense of freedom by discovering and following their own path.


Line by Line Meaning

They told me night and day was all I could see
The singer was told that their perception was limited to only what they can see during the day and night


And all that I had was five senses
The singer was told that the only way for them to comprehend the world was through their five senses


They told me there are no other mysteries
The singer was advised that there were no other secrets left to uncover, that everything there is to know has been discovered


That I had to realize
The artist was instructed to realize this as the absolute truth


We are not here to wonder
The artist was advised to not question life's mysteries


But I looked at night and day to see what I could see
The singer questioned their reality and sought to explore beyond the limitations of what they were told


I had started to feel so incomplete
The singer realized that their understanding was lacking and they were not content with what they knew


Only drifting along with the stream
The artist felt as though they were just going with the flow and not actively exploring or seeking new knowledge


I turned like an undertow
The artist changed their direction like an undertow, moving against the flow of what they had been told


And started my own flow
The artist began to create their own path and forge their own understanding of the world


Like under water I'm holding my breath
The singer is enduring the discomfort and uncertainty of exploring new depths, as if they were holding their breath underwater


It won't be long now, I'm almost there
The artist is optimistic and confident that they will soon reach their destination


Like in the dark finding the way with my hands
The singer is navigating a path with little guidance, like trying to find their way in the dark with their hands


I flowed through night and day wondering
The singer continued to question and explore, moving through both day and night


And I saw what they told me not to see
The singer discovered a truth that they were advised did not exist


It seemed almost unreal
The artist was amazed and overwhelmed by what they discovered


It had only been in my dreams
The artist had imagined this truth before but it had never seemed like a real possibility until now


I had never felt so free
The singer had broken free from their limited perception and was now experiencing true freedom




Contributed by Julia S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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