Across The Sea

Album: Pinkerton (1996)
Play Video
  • You are
    Eighteen year-old girl
    Who live in small city of Japan
    You heard me on the radio
    About one year ago
    And you wanted to know
    All about me
    And my hobbies
    My favorite food
    And my birthday

    Why are you so far away from me?
    I need help
    And you're way across the sea
    I could never touch you
    I think it would be wrong
    I've got your letter
    You've got my song

    They don't make stationery like this where I'm from
    So fragile, so refined
    So I sniff and I lick your envelope
    And fall to little pieces every time
    I wonder what clothes you wear to school
    I wonder how you decorate your room
    I wonder how you touch yourself
    And curse myself for being across the sea

    Why are you so far away from me?
    I need help
    And you're way across the sea
    I could never touch you
    I think it would be wrong
    I've got your letter
    You've got my song

    At 10, I shaved my head
    And tried to be a monk
    I thought the older women would like me if I did
    You see, ma
    I'm a good little boy (good little boy)
    It's all your fault, momma
    It's all your fault!

    Goddamn, this business is really lame
    I gotta live on an island to find the juice
    So you send me your love from all around the world
    As if I could live on
    Words and dreams and a million screams
    Oh, how I need a hand in mine to feel

    Why are you so far away from me?
    Why are you so far away from me?
    I could never touch you
    I think it would be wrong
    I've got your letter
    You've got my song
    I've got your letter
    You've got my song Writer/s: Rivers Cuomo
    Publisher: E O Smith Music
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • Jeff from Austin, TxWhat a great song!!! I swear Pinkerton seems to sound better and better as each year passes.
  • Jessie Ann from Purchase, NyHah, In response to what Chris said below me, I would see how this song could make him turn red years later. Imagine the fan who wrote the letter listening to the album and saying "gross!!" haha
  • Chris from Scranton, PaTo this day, Rivers is embarassed of the extremely personal lyrics he wrote for this album, one of the most notable being "..I wonder how you touch yourself..."
    Wondering about how someone you've never met before masturbates is in no way something I'd want the public to hear. This is easily Weezer's most angst-ridden album. I think it's brilliant anyway.
  • Meg from Worcester, MaRivers has a slight obsession with Japanese people. It's all good.
  • Robert from Berkeley, CaHere's what I've gathered about the whole head-shaving deal. Rivers Cuomo grew up in a hippie Connecticut town called Yogaville. Rivers, his brother Leaves, and his mother and stepfather all lived on an ashram run by the guru Sachia Ananda.

    Here's a quote from the LA Times:

    " Misfit teenager Rivers Cuomo, aimless and depressed, decided to join a Buddhist monastery.

    "I went to my parents' Zen master and I said, 'Life is [expletive], I want to shave my head and do this,' " Cuomo recalls.

    "He's like, 'You know what? Being a monk is [expletive] too, so I can't advise that for you. What you should do is really listen to yourself and see what path would make you the most excited and just go do that, however crazy it seems.'

    "And it took me about five seconds and I was like, 'I want to be a rock star.' "
  • Charlie from Somewhere, Camaybe he thought older women liked bald guys...cuz most older guys are bald.
  • Matthew from New York, Ny I'm still looking for someone to explain the whole section about being 10 years old and shaving his head so older women would like him. When someone can explain that, I'll be satified.
  • Melissa from Buffalo, Nyohhh yea pinkerton is one of weezers best albums
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jon Anderson of Yes

Jon Anderson of YesSongwriter Interviews

From the lake in "Roundabout" to Sister Bluebird in "Starship Trooper," Jon Anderson talks about how nature and spirituality play into his lyrics for Yes.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Billy Joe Shaver

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.

Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues

Justin Hayward of The Moody BluesSongwriter Interviews

Justin wrote the classic "Nights In White Satin," but his fondest musical memories are from a different decade.

Michael Glabicki of Rusted Root

Michael Glabicki of Rusted RootSongwriter Interviews

Michael tells the story of "Send Me On My Way," and explains why some of the words in the song don't have a literal meaning.