October Swimmer Lyrics
i awoke, my insides shuddered
the greycoats of the infantry
victims looking for sympathy
and splash of october swimmers
the cheers of helsinki winners
my barbed bones of futility
leeking marrow of ability
and you don't need anyone
this means that you must employ my lies
when i want you
i want to be a happy boy
this means that you must employ my lies
and you don't need anyone
this means that you must employ my lies
when i want you
and i don't need anyone
and i don't need anyone
and i don't need anyone
Fantastic song. Reminds me so much of someone I know, too afraid to be themselves. That's the way I see this song - the emotions described in the first verse are perceived as weaknesses, so he lives a lie to avoid facing up to life. Anyone got a sensible outlook on it? Haven't a scooby about the significance of the title, though.
i thought it was about leaving a relationship "i dont need anyone". He wants to be happy but finds himself cheating (employ my lies). I dunno. But as for the title, i thought that if someone was swimming in October then they would be all alone - not many people swim at that time of the year? Thats my interpretation anyhow. Why are there no comments on this brilliant song?
how i love this song!!!! this is a sad song....
This is an amazing song from an amazing album, I was convinced JJ72 would be massive.
The haunting song has a number of possible clues in the lyrics and I've often pondered the connections. Bizarrely, I keep coming back to the 1940's and Adolf Keifer in particular.
Keifer was an American Olympic record holding swimmer who was set to shine at the 1940 Olympics in October in Japan, these games never happened and were changed to Helsinki in August which in turn failed to take place because of the war. During the war, Keifer served in the navy as a trainer and was seemingly haunted by the amount of GI's killed on sunken carriers due to being unable to swim. His campaign to teach swimming techniques is recognised as saving many lives. During the war years his own abilities lessoned and he never competed again although he was deemed a national hero. The dreams of dying mothers is an odd one but again he was very vocal in support of mothers and there overwhelming contribution to family life plus many mothers would have nightmares about there serving sons... Adolf went on to invent/create swim wear and equipment and his name his synonymous with the world of swimming.
Off course, I'm probably a mile off, but pleased to get that theory of my chest...
The first song I heard after finding out my friend had killed himself. A very powerful song. RIP Shandy.