Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a picture of the ocean as an indifferent, overwhelming force. It's presented as something that moves on its own, inherently inspiring fear because of its sheer scale and power. This external vastness seems to mirror an internal state, where the narrator suggests we "drown in our make believe" when the water affects our minds. The initial verses establish a sense of inevitable consumption, hinting that the water, which covers so much of the planet, will ultimately be all that remains.
The central tension arises from the sea's dual nature: it's both life-giving (covering two-thirds of the Earth) and destructive. The lyrics state "It rules but even so / It tears apart around us," highlighting its uncontrollable dominion. This power is further emphasized by its ability to "throw itself high up in the sky," a vivid image of its untamable, chaotic energy. The narrator concludes that this force "never will be able to tame."
The most striking aspect of the writing is the personification of the sea as an entity that "inspires us to fear" and "rules." This anthropomorphism elevates the water from a mere element to an active agent, capable of influencing human emotion and asserting dominance. The repetition of "water, this water" in the second verse grounds the abstract fear in a tangible, inescapable reality, suggesting a profound connection between our internal struggles and the external, elemental world.