Ocean Breathes Salty

Album: Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)
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  • Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in
    In my head, in my heart, in my soul
    And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again
    Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, don't think so

    Well, that is that and this is this
    You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
    You get away from me, you get away from me
    Collected my belongings and I left the jail
    Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
    I had to think awhile, I had to think awhile

    The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
    In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
    And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old
    Well, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I hope so

    Well, that is that and this is this
    You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
    You get away from me (you get away from me)
    You get away from me
    Collected my belongings and I left the jail
    Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell
    I had to think awhile (I had to think awhile)
    I had to think awhile

    Well, that is that and this is this
    Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
    When the ocean met the sky (you missed)
    You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye (you missed)
    When the earth folded in on itself (you missed)
    And said "good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell
    (You missed, you missed) are really there
    But I wouldn't hold my breath" (you missed, you missed)
    You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death? (You missed, you missed)
    You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?

    The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in?
    In your head, in your mouth, in your soul
    The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind
    Well, I don't mind I don't mind
    How the hell could I mind? Huh

    Well, that is that and this is this
    You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get
    You get away from me (you get away from me), you get away from me

    Well, that is that and this is this
    Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed
    When the ocean met the sky (you missed, you missed)
    You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife? Writer/s: Dann Gallucci, Eric Judy, Isaac Brock
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Wixen Music Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 16

  • Vee from Pasadena,caThis song got me through the worst pain I have ever lived up until now...my soulmate died tragically and suddenly after 8 plus years and we were huge modest mouse fans as kids back in late 90's. he died in 2006, this song came on music video channel and it helped soothe the pain I was in, whenever I feel mopey or sad about that time I listen to this and helps me process life/death/why are here kinda s--t. thank you for this f--king song from the bottom of my soppy heart.
  • Jess from Kannapolis, NcI don't give half a sh*t what anyone says about this song... I would have NEVER been able to cope with my father's sudden death 3 years ago... if it weren't for this song. Even just reading the lyrics I want to break down and cry. This is the single most intense song by Modest Mouse I've ever heard, at least for me anyway. That's saying a lot, I haven't found a Modest Mouse song I didn't like.
  • D-money from Vancouver, BcI read in an interview that Isaac wrote this song trying to deal with a couple of random deaths of some of his close friends. I believe one of them was Elliott Smith. It's a sad song from the view of a living person trying to look at the perspective from the dead person's view, if there is even one.
  • Jessica from Royse City, TxOk, I thought it was about a time he got falsely arrested for rape...could've sworn I read it in an interview but I could be way off base
  • Jessica from Royse City, TxOk, I thought it was about a time he got falsely arrested for rape...could've sworn I read it in an interview but I could be way off base
  • Kevin from Seattle, WaI feel like the song is about someone who has died, and he finds it hard to be sad about it.
  • Nathan from St Petersburg, FlIsaac Brock went to jail for injuring a girlfriend while they were drinking--he broke her finger. In Oregon, any injury involving alcohol is attempted murder, so he spent a few months in prison. There aren't that many details, because he doesn't just talk about his personal life all the time, but from what I gather from interviews, things were contentious for a while between him and the girl, but things are OK now.

    Not sure the whole song is about this one relationship, but that's definitely where the jail reference comes from.
  • Alekx from Colorado Springs, CoThis song is so beautiful!
    I do agree it has a lot to do with death.

    I've always thought that this song would
    be perfect for this book I've read...
  • Adam from Peterborough, CanadaThis song always makes me think of my father. it talks about wasting life, which is exactly what he did. But i still carry him in my head and my heart and my soul.
  • Jimm from Cleveland, Tnto chaya, I think the line "when the earth folded in on itself, and said good luck, for your sake..." refers to when they buried brock's brother/friend/whatever, and the rest is self-explanatory.
  • Jake from San Fran, CaNo, Daniel true modest mouse songs should listen to the songs they LIKE. This is one of my favorites. I thought the video went brillantly with it. It ended in true Modest Mouse style
  • Chaya from Pittsburgh, Pahere, i'll explain this song line by line..

    'your body may be gone but i'm gonna carry you in, in my head and in my heart and my soul' refers to that someone died and he's never gonna forget them.

    'and maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again, well i dont know i dont know i dont know, don't think so' refers to how maybe there is a heaven where they'll both live again, but he doesnt really think so.

    "the ocean breathes salty won't you carry it in, in your head and in your mouth and your soul" refers to how he doesnt want his friend to forget life on earth with him, like at the beach and stuff.

    "and maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old, well i dont know i dont know i dont know, i hope so" refers to how maybe when he dies, he hopes they'll both grow old together in heaven.

    "when the earth folded in on itsself and said good luck for your sake, i hope heaven and hell are really there, but i wouldnt hold my breath..you wasted life, why wouldnt you waste death? you wasted life, why wouldnt you waste the afterlife?" refers to how since the guy wasted so much time in jail, he'd probably waste death too, and he hopes heaven and hell are there, just so that the guy will be able to find his friend to make his life better..BUT there might not be heaven and hell, so the guy would waste his afterlife too.

    "the more we move ahead, the more we're stuck in rewind, but i dont mind i dont mind, how the hell could i mind" refers to how since his friend died, no one's been there to help him, and he keeps thinking back to the past, and he really doesnt mind.
  • Janine from Weaubleau, MoI believe it is about a relationship. You don't want them but at the same time you don't want to be alone.
  • Izzie from Lala, Hii dont know what this song is trying to say but i like the sound!
  • Daniel from Danielsville, GaDudes, this song is overrated for sure! if u like modest mouse you definetely should be listening to something more like Third Planet -or- something that the radio doesnt over-play.. you arent a true modest mouse fan if you dont enJoi all of there true talent, like bukowski or satin in a coffin! Brian , btw i heard that show was sweet! you are so lucky!
  • Brian from St. Cloud, MnI saw Modest Mouse live last night at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. If you're looking for one kick ass show, this is it.
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