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The Atlantic was born today, and I'll tell you how
The clouds above opened up and let it out
I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean
Making islands where no islands should go (oh no)
Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your
Door have been silenced forevermore
And the distance is quite simply much to far for me to row;
It seems farther than ever before (oh no)
I need you so much closer
So come on; come on
The clouds above opened up and let it out
I was standing on the surface of a perforated sphere
When the water filled every hole
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean
Making islands where no islands should go (oh no)
Most people were overjoyed; they took to their boats
I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat
The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your
Door have been silenced forevermore
And the distance is quite simply much to far for me to row;
It seems farther than ever before (oh no)
I need you so much closer
So come on; come on
Lyrics submitted by heartattack
Track duration: 07:55
"Transatlanticism" as written by Benjamin Gibbard, Christopher Walla
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It reminds me of Tennyson's In Memoriam
Perhaps the couple were really close before, but as time went by they distanced apart from one another. The author probably still feels strongly for his lover, but he may no longer be of a thing to her anymore. Confused as to how the relationship has turned sour just like that, he describes the incredulous description of the formation of the entire Atlantic Ocean with just a mere rainstorm.
'I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat'. A body of water, but when defined as a moat, there is a clear indication that this imagined 'body of water' (of which the whole song revolves around) is installed as an intended preventive measure to stop the author from advancing, and most likely, advancing towards her.
And finally, towards the end of the song, we hear the author giving in; 'And the distance is quite simply much to far for me to row;
It seems farther than ever before (oh no)' This gap, be it physical or imagined, may represent how relationships turn awkward after series of trauma and negligence. And sometimes, the distance truly becomes 'farther than ever before', so much so that it really is 'simply much to far for me to row', too much for me to overcome.
Yes, the author may have admitted defeat. Yes, the author may know that there wouldn't be a future where the both of them are together. But still, he needs her. He yearns for her. Both the repetitive guitar riff and Ben's repetition of "i need you so much closer" highlights how much he still desires for her to be by his side, and yet, ironically, he is entirely aware that they will not be together anymore.
The clouds above opened up and let it out
And thousands upon thousands made an ocean"
does anyone else feel this was a metaphor for crying?
basically, hes saying he cried enough to fill the atlantic, since he finally let it all out, and thousands upon thousands of tears made an ocean
"I thought it less like a lake and more like a moat." Instead of feeling that their friendship is a blessing, it just makes you upset and sad.
"The rhythm of my footsteps crossing flatlands to your
Door have been silenced forevermore.
And the distance is quite simply much too far for me to row;
It seems farther than ever before." As time goes on, your friendship fades: you start visiting them less and talking and being with them less just as a way of trying to avoid the terrible feeling you get when you're around them, because as time went on your negative feelings leaked into the friendship, and the distance between you just seemed to grow.
I know that's not how everyone will feel about the song, but this is just my interpretation based off of my own personal experiences. It's a beautiful and heartbreaking song that I can relate to due to some stuff that's been going on with me lately.