Ancient Waters
Future Islands Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴Ancient like the water
Dissolves my selfish leanings and all the others
Guide me
You beside me
With conviction
My lost invention
My child is starving
But you keep me
You keep me, I've been locked and you're the key
You keep me
You keep me
You keep me 'til I'm ready to be free

Too many wasted days and nights
Obsessed with the flickering bits of my life
Forgetting what giving and living can be, what it can mean
First forgiving myself and stepping outside of my own apathy
To see, I just want to be

Patient like the forest
Stood through thousands fallen
Watched the changing evening a million times
Or more
Lead me to the water
Take me to the other side
And know how much it means
To me

'Cause you keep me
You keep me, I've been locked and you're the key

Too many wasted days and nights
Obsessed with the flickering bits of my life
I've forgotten what giving and living can be, what it can mean
First step to being better is doing the smallest things

'Cause you keep me
You keep me
You keep me, I've been locked and you're the key

You keep me
You keep me

You keep me 'til I'm strong enough to see
To be free

Overall Meaning

The song "On the Water" by Future Islands is a heartfelt plea for guidance and support in finding a way out of a cycle of selfishness and apathy. The opening line "Ancient like the water" evokes a sense of timeless wisdom and knowledge, suggesting that the singer is seeking guidance from something larger and more enduring than themselves. The image of water as a force of dissolution also suggests an element of surrender, as the singer's "selfish leanings and all the others" are dissolved away.

The second verse explores the singer's sense of being trapped in a cycle of wasted time and self-obsession, forgetting the importance of "giving and living" and the first step to being better is small acts of kindness. Here, the singer acknowledges the importance of forgiving themselves and stepping outside of their own limited perspective in order to find meaning and purpose. They express the desire to be led to the other side, a metaphor for a better, more fulfilling existence.

Throughout the song, the singer's sense of gratitude and reliance on another person is emphasized with the repeated refrain "You keep me". This suggests a deep sense of connection and loyalty, as well as a recognition that their growth and progress is intimately tied to their relationship with this other person.

Overall, "On the Water" is a poignant meditation on the difficult journey of self-discovery and growth, and the importance of seeking and receiving support along the way. Its elegiac melody and yearning lyrics create a mood of melancholy hope, suggesting that even in the darkest moments, there is always the possibility of finding a way forward.

Line by Line Meaning

Ancient like the water
As timeless and significant as water itself

Dissolves my selfish leanings and all the others
Washes away self-centered tendencies and those of others

Guide me
Provide me with direction and purpose

You beside me
Having you by my side gives me strength and support

With conviction
With steadfast belief and determination

My lost invention
The creativity or vision I've misplaced or forgotten

My child is starving
My ideas or artistic expression are neglected and in need of revitalization

But you keep me
You sustain me and give me hope

You keep me, I've been locked and you're the key
You hold the answer for my release from feeling trapped

Too many wasted days and nights
I've spent an excessive amount of time without purpose or meaning

Obsessed with the flickering bits of my life
Preoccupied with superficial or fleeting moments of existence

Forgetting what giving and living can be, what it can mean
Overlooking the potential for charity and fulfillment in life

First forgiving myself and stepping outside of my own apathy
Releasing myself from self-blame and making a conscious effort to engage with the world

To see, I just want to be
I desire to experience and be present in the world

Patient like the forest
Through unwavering stillness and endurance, like that of nature itself

Stood through thousands fallen
Withstood countless challenges and difficulties

Watched the changing evening a million times or more
Observed the beauty and cycle of the sunset countless times

Lead me to the water
Show me the source of vitality and inspiration, like water for life

Take me to the other side
Guide me to a place of understanding or fulfillment

And know how much it means to me
Understand the significance of your support in my life

You keep me 'til I'm strong enough to see
You provide me with security until I can stand on my own

To be free
To break from the chains of apathy and find liberation

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: William Cashion, Samuel Herring, John Welmers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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