Meaning of “Bones in the Ocean” by The Longest Johns

“Bones in the Ocean” is a true folk song in a manner of speaking, in that the lyrics actually contain what may be considered a complete narrative. But unlike most traditional pieces, they are also at the same time, to some degree, open-ended. 

But with that being established, the subject appears to be a sailor suffering from survivor’s guilt, if you want to put it that way. That’s to say that the thesis sentiment is based on his desire, most simply put, to be with his dead homeys, who may have also been his underlings, i.e. his “crew”, who apparently perished at sea. 

And it can be taken that he feels guilty for having survived the ordeal, since the narrator seemingly decides to go back to the very spot they all died and take his own life.

“As the souls of the dead fill the space of my mind
I’ll search without sleeping till peace I can find
I fear not the weather, I fear not the sea
I remember the fallen, do they think of me?
When their bones in the ocean forever will be”

But an extra dimension is added to this story in that said character very much comes off as if he is haunted. In other words, as the lyrics read, he can actually perceive his dead crewmates. And the vocalist doesn’t come off sounding as guilty as he does incurably distraught. 

Or let’s liken the subject to someone who, in the blink of an eye, lost all of his associates. And where the haunting aspect further comes into play is him being under the impression that his dead comrades actually want him to kill himself in the name of joining them in the spirit realm or what have you.

The fourth verse does imply that he proceeds to do so only to realize, upon taking the plunge, that killing himself was a mistake.  But the chorus that follows rather paints a picture of the vocalist proceeding to live his life but forever missing his homeys and being convinced they feel the same, especially when he looks out upon the ocean.

So whether or not the vocalist is actually suffering from what we conventionally classify as survivor’s guilt is a matter of debate.  More simply interpreted, the main sentiment Bones in the Ocean is relaying is one of intense bereavement.

When was “Bones in the Ocean” released?

Officially released on May 27 of 2013, “Bones in the Ocean” serves as the third song and title track of The Longest Johns’ 2013 debut EP.

Credits

This song was authored by the group’s founding member Dave Robinson. To note, Robinson departed the group in May of 2023.

The “Bones in the Ocean” EP

This is a self-released project, which contains multiple well-received songs including “The Captain’s Daughter”, which is the first track on the playlist of this EP.