Music Video
The Swimming Song Lyrics - London Wainwright III
Soundtrack: Night Swim
The Swimming Song Lyrics
The Swimming Song Song Lyrics
This summer I went swimming
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
And I moved my arms around
Moved my arms around
This summer I swam in the ocean
And I swam in a swimming pool
Salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes
I'm a self-destructive fool
I'm a self-destructive fool
This summer I did the backstroke
And you know that that's not all
I did the breaststroke and the butterfly
And the old Australian crawl
The old Australian crawl
This summer I swam in a public place
And a reservoir to boot
At the latter I was informal
At the former I wore my suit
I wore my swimming suit, yeah
This summer I did swan dives
And jackknives for you all
And once when you weren't looking
I did a cannonball
Did a cannonball
This summer I went swimming
This summer I might have drowned
But I held my breath and I kicked my feet
And I moved my arms around
Moved my arms around
February, 05th 2024
"The Swimming Song" by Loudon Wainwright III is a light-hearted and semingly simple song that uses the act of swimming as a metaphor to explore themes of life, perseverance, and self-reflection. The song's repetitive structure and casual tone belie its deeper meaning, encapsulating the essence of life’s experiences and personal growth.The opening lines, "This sumer I went swimming, This summer I might have drowned, But I held my breath and I kicked my feet, And I moved my arms around," set a tone of resilience. The act of swimming, with the potential risk of drowning, symbolizes life's challenges and the determination to overcome them. The phrase "I might have drowned" suggests moments of difficulty or danger, yet the subsequent lines show the singer's efforts to navigate through these challenges.
Wainwright's various swimming experiences, from the ocean to a swimming pool, indicate diverse life experiences. The line "Salt my wounds, chlorine my eyes, I'm a self-destructive fool," metaphorically speaks to the painful or harsh realities of life and the singer's acknowledgment of his own flaws and vulnerabilities.
The song continues with a playful recounting of different swimming styles, "I did the backstroke, and you know that that's not all, I did the breaststroke and the butterfly, And the old Australian crawl." This variety represents adaptability and trying different approaches in life. The mention of swimming in both a public place and a reservoir, where he was informal in one and wore a suit in another, further illustrates the adaptation to different social environments and roles.
The playful antics of doing "swan dives, And jackknives for you all, And once when you weren't looking, I did a cannonball," suggest a desire to impress or entertain others, but also moments of personal joy and freedom when unobserved.
In essence, "The Swimming Song" is a metaphorical journey through life’s varied experiences, blending light-heartedness with introspection. It captures the spirit of embracing life’s adventures, adapting to its different phases, and finding joy in both the public and private moments.
A-Z Lyrics Universe
Tracklisting
Under The Sea
Classic Disney Part Of Your World
Classic Disney Colors Of The Wind
Classic Disney Kiss The Girl
Classic Disney I'll Make a Man Out of You
Mulan We're All in This Together
High School Musical Somewhere Over The Rainbow
The Wizard Of Oz Pure Imagination
Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory Still Hurting
The Last 5 Years Almost There
Princess and the Frog
Classic Disney Part Of Your World
Classic Disney Colors Of The Wind
Classic Disney Kiss The Girl
Classic Disney I'll Make a Man Out of You
Mulan We're All in This Together
High School Musical Somewhere Over The Rainbow
The Wizard Of Oz Pure Imagination
Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory Still Hurting
The Last 5 Years Almost There
Princess and the Frog
Lyrics / song texts are property and copyright of their owners and provided for educational purposes.