Rollin'

Current Swell's song 'Rollin'' paints a vivid picture of a man who lives life on the edge, embracing a reckless and unrestrained lifestyle. The lyrics describe a character who is 'doing alright when his ear is on the ground,' suggesting that he is grounded and in control when he is cautious. However, once he starts 'rollin',' there's no stopping him. This duality highlights the tension between caution and recklessness, a common theme in the human experience.

The song delves into the consequences of this unbridled lifestyle. The protagonist is 'too young to listen, too late for wishing,' indicating a sense of lost opportunities and irreversible decisions. His journey through the suburbs and countryside, where he speeds past screaming people and laughs at the cliff where he might die, symbolizes a life lived without regard for the future. The note in the bottle and the ambiguous fate of his body swallowed by the sea add a layer of mystery and tragedy, emphasizing the unpredictability and peril of such a lifestyle.

In the final verses, the song shifts to a more reflective tone. The man is remembered as 'a good man, but stuck in his way,' someone who was strong-willed and unyielding. The imagery of people 'crying over a picture, not a body in the ground' suggests that his physical presence is gone, but his memory and the impact of his actions linger. The repeated line 'It's fine all the splendid time that he had' juxtaposes the joy and madness of his life, leaving listeners to ponder the fine line between living fully and living recklessly.