Driftwood
a-ha Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stranded on this love
Here I lie like driftwood, honey
Is this what I've become?
I go high over
Down under
At a lady's will
At a lady's will
I'm drifting still
I'm drifting still
So I ask in fading innocence
And all my youthful rage
Will your hands still touch me
When my face has fallen in with age?
And I go high over
Down under
At a lady's will
Under you
High over
Down under
At a lady's will
Under you
At a lady's will
I'm drifting still
I'm drifting still
High over
Down under
At a lady's will
High over
Down under
At a lady's will
The song "Driftwood" by a-ha tells the story of a sailor who feels he is stranded in love, like a piece of driftwood. He is at the mercy of a woman's will, and feels like he is drifting aimlessly in their relationship. The sailor knows that his youth and beauty will fade with time, and wonders if his partner will still love him when he is old and wrinkled. Despite these fears, he remains subject to the woman's wishes; he is at her mercy and powerless to resist her pull.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of ambiguity about the nature of the sailor's relationship with the woman. It is unclear whether he is describing a romantic partner, a muse or a spirit, but the sense of powerlessness and vulnerability he feels is palpable. The unchanging melody and driving rhythm of the song reflect the sense of being trapped that the sailor experiences, while the repetitive lyrics ("high over, down under, at a lady's will") emphasize the endless cycle of his emotions and his inability to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, come pity me, a poor mad sailor
As a sailor alone at sea, I feel lost and hopeless without the guidance of love.
Stranded on this love
I am trapped and stranded by my own feelings of love that I cannot escape.
Here I lie like driftwood, honey
I feel stagnant and hopeless in my love life as if I am washed up and useless like driftwood on a shore.
Is this what I've become?
I feel confusion and sadness as I contemplate the state of my love life and the person I have become as a result.
I go high over
I experience moments of bliss and ecstasy in love that take me to great heights.
Down under
But I also experience low moments of pain and despair in love that drag me down.
At a lady's will
All of these experiences are at the mercy and control of the woman I am in love with.
Under you
I am surrendering my will and my emotions to this woman and allowing her to have complete power over me in love.
So I ask in fading innocence
As I age and lose my innocence, I am left questioning whether my lover's feelings towards me will remain the same or will eventually fade away.
And all my youthful rage
I remember feeling anger and frustration when I was younger, and now I feel more vulnerable and helpless in my love life.
Will your hands still touch me
I am asking if there will be physical and emotional intimacy between us as we both age and change.
When my face has fallen in with age?
I am acknowledging that ageing is inevitable, and I am afraid of losing the love and affection I have from my partner as I grow older.
At a lady's will
I am still subjected to the whims and desires of the woman I love, and I am powerless to resist them.
I'm drifting still
I am still aimlessly and uncontrollably drifting in my love life, unsure of where to go or what to do.
High over
I still experience moments of elation and ecstasy in my love life that bring me great joy.
Down under
But I am still faced with moments of pain and despair that drag me down and make life difficult.
At a lady's will
All of these experiences are determined and controlled by the woman I love, and I am left at her mercy.
High over
I am still experiencing moments of great joy and ecstasy in my love life that keep me going.
Down under
But I am still struggling through difficult and challenging moments that test me emotionally and mentally.
At a lady's will
All of these experiences are dictated and influenced by the woman I am in love with, and I cannot escape her power over me.
Contributed by Nathaniel W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
steve
on Take On Me
ahhh the old days