If I could have chosen where God would hide his heaven
I'd wish for it to be the salt and swell of the ocean
Carried by the currents to all continents' shores
Reaching into the depths where the sun's light is never shown
Mixed with algae and coral, breathed in by sharks and dolphins
Sailed by tanker ships, private yachts, swam in by tourists
Working its way up through inlets, lakes, and rivers
Swamps, and estuaries, down through limestone into the aquifer

Purified by the county, pumped through pipes and out faucets
Filled into a glass to meet the thirst of our children

And if I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman
My mother once told me she would have named me Laura
I'd grow up to be strong and beautiful like her
One day, I'd find an honest man to make my husband
We would have two children, build our home on the Gulf of Mexico
Our family would spend hot summer days at the beach together
The sun would kiss our skin as we played in the sand and water
And we would know we loved each other without having to say it

At night, we would sleep with the windows of our house left open
Letting the cool ocean air soothe the sunburned shoulders of our children

There is an ocean in my soul where the waters do not curve
There is an ocean in my soul where the waters do not curve
There is an ocean in my soul where the waters do not curve
There is an ocean in my soul where the waters do not curve!


Lyrics submitted by kokakola

The Ocean Lyrics as written by Thomas James Gabel

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

The Ocean song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

35 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +9
    General Comment

    Wow, this song really was more literal than we all thought. Good for her, so much respect.

    brooks450on May 09, 2012   Link
  • +4
    General Comment

    personally, the ocean is heaven on earth. that's all it is to me.

    sharkswateron October 03, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    Rocktheballs, Tom is married.

    "...New Wave is garbage, and Tom and the rest of Against Me! are sellouts. " It seems like anyone who feels the need to seem cool pastes this at the end of everything they say when referring to Against Me!. The argument is old, man. Just shut up, it has nothing to do with the song.

    abelpriscon June 04, 2009   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I love reading all the comments and seeing just how wrong people were. The bisexual guess wasn't as far off the mark as many replies to that comment suggested! The one guessing the second verse is about George Bush is particularly funny!

    Just goes to show how much our preconceptions shape our beliefs. Where else are we misguided?

    leakegon May 09, 2012   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is absolute poetry, in particular the first section actually about the ocean. :)

    The second section is a topic near and dear to my transsexual heart, and now that Laura has managed to find her way to blossom as well (quite beautifully, I'd add!), the confession of a secret pain is so beautifully done.

    Love you, Laura Jane Grace! :D

    ncc74656mon July 11, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Tom said this song is related to the lyrics of "Searching For a Former Clarity" and "The Disco Before The Breakdown". But he didn't reveal what he meant by the line "If I could have chosen, I would have been born a woman", he said he wanted to leave it up to personal interpretation.

    greenzobon July 17, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is so brilliant ever since Tom Gabel (Laura Jane) comes out as a transsexual. It's funny reading up on the comments before the reveal on how this made people scratch their heads on the meaning of this song but it's so clear now. Love this song, the lyrics are powerful and amazing. Absolutely brave.

    Gawesomeon June 15, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    There is a very powerful song that I think has a very similar message to this song, though from a very different perspective. In their song "Suffer." Bad Religion stated that "the masses of humanity will always, always have to suffer."

    If heaven were in the salt and swell of the ocean, as Tom wishes it were, everyone would have access to it. The masses would not have to suffer! The sad realization in this song is that Tom cannot have his dream. He is one of Bad Religion's suffering masses, stuck in his reality rather than her dream.

    Notice, though, the use of the phrase "do not" in the last line. Tom is not without hope. The line is not "cannot", just 'currently does not'.

    Laura's story does have a happy ending. The point remains, though, that that the masses do still have to suffer: heaven is not in the ocean.

    This is a beautifully sad song that has set the stage for an even more beautiful story. This song has and will make a difference to people; it will, I hope, lessen even a little the suffering in this world. It gives me courage knowing that Laura told such a personal secret in so public a way, and that is has so far turned out very well for her, as far as I know.

    Thank you for making a difference to me and, I'm sure, to many others, Laura.

    Chiralpoidon August 07, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    Fixed version of my last post (I'm new to this):

    There is a very powerful song that I think has a very similar message to this song, though from a very different perspective. In their song "Suffer." Bad Religion stated that "the masses of humanity will always, always have to suffer."

    If heaven were in the salt and swell of the ocean, as Laura wishes it were, everyone would have access to it. The masses would not have to suffer! The sad realization in this song is that Laura cannot have his dream. She is one of Bad Religion's suffering masses, stuck in his reality rather than her dream.

    Notice, though, the use of the phrase "do not" in the last line. Laura is not without hope. The line is not "cannot", just 'currently does not'.

    We don’t know if Laura's story will be a happy one, but the recent news is! The point remains, though, that that the masses do still have to suffer: heaven is not in the ocean.

    This is a beautifully sad song that has set the stage for an even more beautiful story. This song has and will make a difference to people; it will, I hope, lessen even a little the suffering in this world. It gives me courage knowing that Laura told such a personal secret in so public a way, and that is has so far turned out very well for her, as far as I know.

    Thank you for making a difference to me and, I'm sure, to many others, Laura.

    Chiralpoidon August 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Great song, one correction though i believe he is saying Countless shores instead of Continents shores. I think we'll have to wait for the album to come out to be positive

    wyliekyleon July 01, 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!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example: "'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Album art
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.