Album: The Glass Messenger (2009)
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  • 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
    Swim when it hurts
    The whole world is watching
    You haven't come this far
    To fall off the earth

    The currents will pull you
    Away from your love
    Just keep your head above

    I found a tidal wave
    Begging to tear down the door
    Memories like bullets
    They fired at me from a gun
    Cracking me open now
    I swim to brighter days
    Despite the absence of sun
    Choking on salt water
    I'm not giving in
    You gotta swim

    You gotta swim
    For nights that won't end
    Swim for your family
    Your lovers your sisters
    Your brothers your friends
    You gotta swim
    For wars without cause
    Swim for these lost politicians
    Who don't see their greed is a flaw

    The currents will pull us
    Away from our love
    Just keep your head above

    I found a tidal wave
    Begging to tear down the door
    Memories like bullets
    They fired at me from a gun
    Cracking me open now
    I swim to brighter days
    In spite of the absence of sun
    Choking on salt water
    I'm not giving in
    I'm not giving in
    Swim

    You gotta swim
    Swim in the dark
    There's an ocean to drift in
    Feel the tide shifting away from this war
    Yeah you gotta swim
    Don't let yourself sink
    Just follow the horizon
    I promise you it's not as far as you think

    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
    Just keep your head above
    Swim Writer/s: ANDREW ROSS MCMAHON
    Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Jim from Ocean Grove, NjAndrew McMahon WAS Jack's Mannequin. He played keyboards and wrote all their songs. In 2005, Andrew was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and he received stem cell transplant from his sister Katie. This album was dedicated to her.
    These guys were from Southern California, so the SWIM metaphor came naturally. He is saying that it would be easy to give up and drown/die. But, what keeps him fighting to live is all the things (music) and people (lovers, family, friends) he loves. Sometimes it might seem like you are getting nowhere and the waves/problems are overwhelming, but just keep your head above and swim.
  • Allison from Albany, Nyi love this song. it helps me when i don't have any hope left.
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