The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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!
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!
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
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Wow, this song really was more literal than we all thought. Good for her, so much respect.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one to think, this given the news.
the writing was on the wall
personally, the ocean is heaven on earth. that's all it is to me.
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.
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?
I got quite a kick out of reading all of them too.
I got quite a kick out of reading all of them too.
Same here. I love how everyone had their minds made up as if it was just impossible.
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
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.
But now we know!
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.
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.
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.
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