While the song was not officially released until September 2004, it was played on several radio stations in the US throughout the summer before.
On Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009, "Ocean Avenue" was released as a downloadable song for the music/rhythm game "Rockband".
According to former guitarist Ben Harper, "Ocean Avenue" is written about Jacksonville. "It’s this place where we used to hang out in Jacksonville. Instead of talking about a girl, it’s talking about a scene and a feeling that we want to get back to: hanging out and writing, before we moved to California."
Ocean Avenue
Yellowcard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our barefeet
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah yeah
There's a piece of you that's here with me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight
That you're here tonight
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah
I remember the look in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
You were begging me not tonight
Not here, not now
We're looking up at the same night sky
We keep pretending the sun will not rise
We'll be together for one more night
Somewhere, somehow
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me
And take me away, yeah yeah
The song "Ocean Avenue" by Yellowcard talks about a nostalgic reminiscence of the past, the moments of love, friendship, and life shared with a person in a particular place. The lyrics are divided into two parts, with the first section taking place when the singers were sixteen years old, and the second section taking place when they were eighteen. It's all about their adventures of staying up all night, sleeping during the daytime, and walking on the beach.
Throughout the song, the singer wishes to find that person again so that they could escape their current town and start a new life together. The lyrics are emotional, taking the singer through their dreams and desperate need to be with that person again. Each verse also repeats the line, "if I could find you now, things would get better." This longing expresses the need to go back to a simpler, more carefree time in their life.
Overall, the song "Ocean Avenue" captures the feeling of endless summer, freedom, and youthful love. It is the perfect anthem for anyone that longs for the simplicity of young love and the freedom of youth.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
There's a location near Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
I had conversations with someone at that location
We were both sixteen and it felt so right
Both parties were sixteen years old and content with the situation
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Was awake at night and slept during the day
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
A location is situated on the intersection of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our barefeet
Both parties walked barefoot on the beach
We were both eighteen and it felt so right
Both parties were eighteen years old and happy with their actions
If I could find you now things would get better
If I found you presently, our circumstances would improve
We could leave this town and run forever
We could evacuate this region and leave permanently
Let your waves crash down on me
Let the sea waves strike me
And take me away, yeah yeah
And take me away to a better situation
There's a piece of you that's here with me
A part of you still exists within me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
I detect your presence everywhere I travel and everything I observe
When I sleep I dream and it gets me by
In my slumber, I dream, helping me cope
I can make believe that you're here tonight
I'm able to imagine you being with me this evening
I remember the look in your eyes
I'm able to recall particular emotions that existed in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
When I informed you that it was time to bid farewell
You were begging me not tonight
You pleaded with me to not leave at that time
Not here, not now
You did not want me to abandon you where we were or at that moment
We're looking up at the same night sky
We both gaze at the same nighttime sky
We keep pretending the sun will not rise
We're continuing to act like the sun won't come up
We'll be together for one more night
We'll stay together for another evening
Somewhere, somehow
In some capacity, in some place
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
I'm positive that we'll be together at some point in the future
Let your waves crash down on me
Let the waves of water collapse onto me
And take me away, yeah yeah
And take me away to another place
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin Eric Harper, William Ryan Key, Peter Michael Mosely, Longineu Warren Parsons III, Sean Michael Wellman-Mackin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Steven Ortiz
There's a place off Ocean Avenue
Where I used to sit and talk with you
We were both 16 and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street
We would walk on the beach in our bare feet
We were both 18 and it felt so right
Sleeping all day, staying up all night
Staying up all night
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
There's a piece of you that's here with me
It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see
When I sleep, I dream and it gets me by
I can make believe that you're here tonight
That you're here tonight
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
I remember the look in your eyes
When I told you that this was goodbye
You were begging me not tonight
Not here, not now
We're looking up at the same night sky
And keep pretending the sun will not rise
Be together for one more night
Somewhere, somehow
If I could find you now things would get better
We could leave this town and run forever
I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together
Let your waves crash down on me and take me away
Nextraker
I love Yellowcard’s music!!!!
Man of culture
Yeah
Chino de Magico
Griffin White go out here,we discuss this great group,but not your juice
ItsSkyy Clone
@Chino de Magico yep :)
Psycho Gamer
Me too
Jessi
Now I know how my Dad feels when he constantly talks about how he misses the 60s and 70s when he was growing up. I really miss the 90s and early 2000s. This song really takes me back
Sean O'reiley
I was watching Len’s don’t steal my sunshine, The thing I notice most watching these older music videos....no cell phones. Even if it’s a music video people are just interacting with each other even the background people. I really think it’s not just nostalgia people were happier back then.
Pedro Pimentel
i was thinking the same, everything changed so much, i miss the 90s early 00s
macewbee
Same here
Simon B89
100%. I was born in ‘89 and really miss 1997-2004.