Song Meaning
The lyrics open with a sharp, almost accusatory contrast: the speaker's natural affinity for "water" against another's destructive habit of "taking things / That don't belong to you." This immediate tension sets up a dynamic of inherent difference and perceived violation. It's a stark introduction to a relationship marked by imbalance.
Despite this clear conflict, a desperate hope emerges. The speaker repeatedly asserts, "I'm convinced / That your alive," suggesting a belief in the other person's core being, even if obscured. This conviction extends to a shared urgency: "Were both in time / To save / [saltwater?] souls." There's a profound yearning for mutual rescue, a belief that despite the damage, salvation is still within reach for both parties.
The imagery of "saltwater souls" is particularly striking, hinting at a shared vulnerability, perhaps born from tears or a deep, primal connection. This poetic ambiguity elevates the plea beyond a simple personal grievance, suggesting a more profound, almost spiritual struggle. It's a powerful, evocative phrase that grounds the desperate hope in a sense of shared, fragile humanity. The very uncertainty of the phrase, marked by "[saltwater?]" in the text, underscores the fragile, almost whispered nature of this hope.
Ultimately, the lyrics land on a note of irreversible personal transformation. The visceral image of something "Shoveled up deep in me" conveys a profound internal excavation or trauma. The repeated declaration, "I don't think that I will ever be / The same," powerfully articulates the lasting impact of this relationship or experience. It's a raw, unvarnished admission that some changes are permanent, even after the struggle for salvation.