On the Sea by Beach House Lyrics Meaning – Navigating the Depths of Existential Wonder

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Beach House's On the Sea at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

Out on the sea we’d be forgiven
Our bodies stopped the spirit leaving
Wouldn’t you like to know how far you’ve got left to go

Somebody’s child
Nobody made you
It’s not what you stole, it’s what they gave you
In or out, you go
In your silence, your soul

Would you rather go unwilling?
The heart is full and now it’s spilling
Barreling down the steps
Only a moment left

In hind of sight no peace of mind
Where you begin and I’m defined
Daughter of unconscious fate
Time will tell, in spite of me

In hind of sight no peace of mind
Where it begins and we’ll be fine
Shadows bend and suddenly
The world becomes
And swallows me in, me in

Whistle to a friend
Gentle ’til the end
Any way in a name
She takes shape just the same

Beach House’s ethereal track ‘On the Sea’ from their 2012 album ‘Bloom’ is a mesmerizing voyage into the soul’s deepest questions posed in the form of a serene ballad. Much like the ceaseless waves of the ocean, the song takes listeners on a reflective journey across the mysterious waters of existence and introspection.

The enigmatic duo behind Beach House, Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally, utilize their gift for dreamy, ambient soundscapes to explore the nuances of human spirit and identity within this haunting melody. Crafting lyrics that transcend typical storytelling for something much more profound, the song remains a critical favorite for its layered complexity and emotional weight.

A Siren Call to the Soul: The Overture of Introspection

With the opening line ‘Out on the sea we’d be forgiven,’ listeners are instantly cast away from the shore of certainty into the boundless ocean of contemplation. The imagery evoked suggests a place of absolution, where one’s spirit is no longer anchored to the corporeal realm, teetering on the brink of transcendence and liberation.

This introduction pushes forth the theme of life’s journey—a common metaphor represented by the sea—implying that amidst the chaotic undulations of existence, there comes a point where we seek forgiveness, not from external sources, but from within the cascading tides of our own conscience.

The Existential Enigma: Unraveling the Song’s Hidden Meaning

In the verses ‘Somebody’s child, Nobody made you / It’s not what you stole, it’s what they gave you,’ the songwriters intimate that identity is not entirely of our own making. There is an acknowledgment of the influence of heritage, the gifts and curses passed down, and the notion that each person is an amalgam of many pieces given from sources beyond their control.

The concept of free will versus fate is woven intricately into the fabric of the song. It challenges the listener to consider the line between what is inherent and what is influenced, between the destiny we accept and the choices we believe we make freely.

Heartbeats and Harmonies: The Emotion-infused Melodic Surge

Legrand’s haunting vocals, paired with Scally’s delicately crafted instrumentals, convey a raw sentimentality. This poetic line ‘The heart is full and now it’s spilling’ is emblematic of that emotional crescendo, one that evokes vulnerability and almost overwhelming self-awareness.

The music surges and recedes, mirroring both the lyrics’ emotional weight and the overarching motif of the sea itself, where a heart brimming with silent contemplations and undiscovered territories parallels the next approaching wave, ready to spill its secrets upon the shore.

Through The Looking Glass: Memorable Lines That Reflect Our Inner Journey

‘In hind of sight no peace of mind / Where you begin and I’m defined’ – these lines venture into the haunting realm of retrospection and understanding. They bring forth the idea that only by looking backward do we confront our lack of inner peace and recognize the nebulous boundaries between self and other.

This glimpse ‘through the looking glass’ deftly captures the human experience of defining oneself not in isolation, but through the relationships and experiences that shape us. Thus, each individual is a reflection and a refraction of all that surrounds them, adrift on a sea that both isolates and unites.

Final Whispers: Echoes of Transcendence in Closure

The song culminates in a tranquil assurance with ‘Whistle to a friend / Gentle ’til the end / Any way in a name / She takes shape just the same.’ These final verses encapsulate a profound serenity in identity’s ever-changing form—a theme recurring throughout Beach House’s oeuvre.

The lyrics suggest an understanding that, despite life’s ephemerality and the elusive nature of the self, there is a core essence that remains constant. It’s this unspoken soul-whistling—a call to kindred spirits—that resonates gently but persistently overhead, wrapping the song, and the listener, in a blanket of introspective calm as it fades out to sea.