Andrew McMahon has done it again. This is the most defiantly courageous and inspirational song I’ve heard in years. It is indescribably good. You must buy it from iTunes.
You gotta swim, swim for your life
Swim for the music that saves you when you’re not so sure you’ll survive
You gotta swim, and swim when it hurts
The whole world is watching, you haven’t come this far to fall off the EarthThe currents will pull you away from your love
Just keep your head aboveI found a tidal wave begging to tear down the dawn
Memories like bullets they fired at me from a gun… cracking me up again
I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun… choking on salt water
I’m not giving in
You gotta swimYou gotta swim through nights that won’t end
Swim for your families, your lovers, your sisters and brothers and friends
Yeah, you gotta swim through wars without cause
Swim for the lost politicians who don’t see their greed as a flawThe currents will pull us away from our love
Just keep your head aboveI found a tidal wave begging to tear down the dawn
Memories like bullets they fired at me from a gun… cracking me up again
I swim for brighter days despite the absence of sun… choking on salt water
I’m not giving in… I’m not giving in
I swimYou gotta swim, swim in the dark
There’s an ocean to drift in, feel the tide shifting and wait for the spark
Yeah, you gotta swim, don’t let yourself sink
Just follow the horizon, I promise you it’s not as far as you thinkThe currents will drag us away from our love
Just keep your head above
Just keep your head above… swim
Just keep your head above… swim, swim
Just keep your head above… swim
After about half an hour and eight consecutive plays, I realized why I like the song so much: it’s strongly reminiscent of a song by Andrew’s old band, Something Corporate. “Watch the Sky,” off of the UK import of 2003′s North, uses similar water imagery (the sea and floating, compared to swimming, tidal waves, and currents in “Swim”) and expresses a similar defiance in the face of adversity.
Compare “Swim” with the lyrics to “Watch the Sky”:
I’m lost at sea, the radio is jammed
I bet they won’t find me, I swear it’s for the best
And then your frequency is pulling me in closer till I’m home
And I’ve been up for days, I finally lost my mind and then I lost my way
I’m blistered but I’m better, and I’m homeI will crawl, there’s things that aren’t worth giving up, I know
But I won’t let this get me, I will fight
You live the life you’re given
With the storms outside, somedays all I do is watch the skyThis room’s too small, it’s only getting smaller
I’m against the wall and slowly getting taller
Here in wonderland, this guilt feels so familiar
And I’m homeI will crawl, there’s things that aren’t worth giving up, I know
But I won’t let this get me, I will fight
You live the life you’re given
With the storms outside, somedays all I do is watch the skyI think I, I could use a little break, today was a good day
I think I, I could use a little break, but today was a good day
And it’s a deep sea, in which I’m floating
Still, I sink to think that I must crawlI will crawl, there’s things that aren’t worth giving up, I know
When you can’t bear to carry me, I will fight
You live the life you’re given
With the storms outside, somedays all I do is watch the skyToday was a good day… today was a good day
The lyrics of “Watch the Sky” show the same defiant spirit and desire to persevere as the lyrics of “Swim”—but the tone of “Swim” is more mature and nuanced. Andrew is more acutely aware of the challenges one can face in life, since he himself has lived through them. In “Swim,” he speaks with a newfound authority. He’s commanding, not just advising or recounting his personal experience.
And he’s no longer losing his way. Instead, he’s focused and “follow[ing] the horizon.” He has seen the way and wants to lead us to our own better days, as well.
He’s fine-tuned his language. He’s no longer fighting or crawling. He’s done with the blunt instruments of defiance, as well as his lowly attachment to the ground. Instead, he’s swimming: making coordinated movements through a fluid medium, without connotations of violence or pain… just strength and fitness and endurance. This is a man who’s seen the end and now has the wisdom to take on life’s challenges without needlessly stressing himself or letting himself get low.
“Swim” describes an attitude that is more realistic. McMahon now realizes that there’s little use in not “let[ting] this get [him].” He realizes that “the currents will drag us away from our love”—that the inevitable ups and downs of life will inevitably affect us; but, through the application of a classically defined stoicism, we can decide how those ups and downs affect us. We can swim to the horizon, riding the crests of the very waves that disturb us, and the tide will eventually lead us in the direction of our brighter future. Or, instead, we could allow the tidal waves to wipe out our dawn.
The choice is stark and universal. The wave was meant for you. There is no use in fighting. You will only go under.
Thus, McMahon has learned that the real test of strength is not whether one can prevent change but, rather, whether one can adapt to it, work through it, and come out the better for it. “Just keep your head above,” he writes. “Just keep your head above… swim.”
In this overwhelming senior year, in which I’m already feeling overburdened after just two weeks of classes, that’s advice that I’m going to keep close to my heart.
3 Comments
Man. That feels like such a good way to think about it.
Enjoyed reading this very much. Love both songs and love your interperatation of the lyrics. Very deep. Nice work.
I must say, writings like this is why I always appreciated the English language and the abilities of writers. Fantastic writing and visual descriptions…