Wilco – Sunken Treasure

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Sunken Treasure" Ringtone to Cell

There's rows and rows of houses
With windows painted blue
With the light from a TV
Running parallel to you

But there is no sunken treasure
Rumored to be
Wrapped inside my ribs
In a sea black with ink

I am so
Out of tune
With you

I am so out of tune
With you

If I had a mountain
I'd try to fold it over
If I had a boat (probably roll over)
You know I'd probably roll over (leave it on the shore)

And I leave it on the shore (leave it for somebody)
I'd leave it for somebody
Surely there's somebody
Who needs it more than me

I am so
Out of tune
With you

I am so out of tune
With you

For all the leaves will burn
In autumn fires and then return
For all the fires we burn
All will return

Music is my savior
I was maimed by rock and roll
I was maimed by rock and roll
I was tamed by rock and roll
I got my name from rock and roll

Send "Sunken Treasure" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by OwnPersonalDemon

Track duration: 06:51

"Sunken Treasure" as written by Jeffrey Scott Tweedy

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Sunken Treasure song meanings
Add your thoughts

19 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Opinion:I believe it is about a man who still incredibly hurt by his wife leaving him.
    Flag susansston May 17, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Exhaustion from being lonely... very depressing it can be at night seeing all these things going on in let's say your neighborhood. Your by yourself and are just in pain.. so out of tune with where you live. if you could move forward, it seems very contemplative. Until You meet someone else who you can relate to (who may be going through this same thing) who finally sees someone else (you) with it not being as bad, or better. Out of tune? maybe you cannot help it. So your stuck but the benefit of being lonely is that There can be so many people actively social in any place yet there are a few out there So disconnected. Totally a hard song to describe. Beautiful. Seems to be relief, what a transformation. THANK MUSIC.
    Flag Ahourstoryon July 10, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with aimlessinwonder2; however, what if instead of breaking up with a tangible human it had to do with his pill addiction. "i am so out of tune/ with you" i think resembles his final realization that he is not connected with the drugs on any level other than his addiction. he does not necessarily enjoy them he just has to take them, so he is not "in tune" with them.
    Flag crim55on September 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:sunken treasure i love you so much. maybe my favorite song ever
    Flag slightlyalteredon January 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like this song because I think it's about something incredibly sad, be it true or not...My theory is that this song is about a breakup of some sort. He feels as if he basically has nothing left to live for, he does not even care anymore. How in the first verse, everything is picture perfect that he is noticing, yet none of it matters because he cannot find the joy in anything because of his loss of some sort. The second verse, even if he had a way to somewhat try to make himself better/happier, it would not make any difference to him, he is nothing without the possible lover he has lost in some way. The chorus is the saddest part, it's almost as if all he has left to express himself is music and he can't even enjoy that anymore because of the fact that whoever has left his life made such an impact that he can't even appreciate his other one true love. She has impacted him so sadly that he can't take in the joy of music, hence the "I am so out of tune with you" no matter what he does, no matter how perfect the song and chords will be, he will never see the perfection, he'll always see the imperfections because his mind is so preoccupied with the person who has left him. Which leads to the last chorus which sounds like he's convincing the listeners just how deeply affected he is by this because he says "I was mamed by rock and roll, I got my name from rock and roll" it's like he's saying "Hey, music is my life, it means EVERYTHING to, it defines me" and now he lost it because he has lost the person he loves dearly....
    I don't know, I think this everytime I listen to the song, and be it right or not, it still sounds like it fits. Favorite song by Wilco, along with "Either Way" and "Ashes of American Flags"
    Flag aimlessinwonder2on December 02, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is one of my favorite songs ever. To me it is just so heartbreaking. Really brings me back to the fall time.. I can remember exactly how I felt when listening to this.

    For all the leaves will burn
    In autumn fires and then return
    For all the fires we burn
    All will return

    My fucking favorite.
    Flag ohhellloon June 09, 2009   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:The sunken treasure in his ribs is his heart...
    Flag YouKnowStuffon April 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:If you let the world become complex and deep, it can become overwhelming; however when you find something that makes sense perhaps things start to fall into place...Jeff Tweedy is all about translating beautifully and eloquently thought into moods and feelings, most others do the opposite...
    Flag ray_killeenon February 25, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:the person who wrote these lyrics out is an idiot.
    Flag shanalee88on November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:top i've always heard "named" instead of "maimed" as well. and this song is brilliant.
    Flag IMissIEmilyon February 08, 2007   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain