Atlantic

Thrice's song 'Atlantic' delves into the profound emotions of longing and the surreal experience of reunion after a prolonged separation. The opening lines, 'It's been so long, and tin cans and string for years / Is all that we've known, could it be you're really here,' set the stage for a narrative of distance and the rudimentary means of communication that have sustained the connection. The imagery of 'tin cans and string' evokes a sense of nostalgia and simplicity, highlighting the primitive and fragile nature of their bond over time.

As the song progresses, the lyrics 'my eyes are open, and everything still moves in slow-motion, / Breathless and blue, and behind your eyes the sea / Oceans of light envelop me' paint a vivid picture of the overwhelming and almost dreamlike state of finally being in the presence of the loved one. The use of 'slow-motion' and 'breathless and blue' suggests a surreal, almost out-of-body experience, while 'behind your eyes the sea' and 'Oceans of light envelop me' evoke a sense of being submerged in the vastness and depth of emotion, akin to being lost in the ocean.

However, the song also grapples with the uncertainty and disbelief that accompany such a reunion. The lines 'But things can't be as they seem, I'm so far from home / This must be another dream, but my eyes are open' reflect a struggle to reconcile the reality of the moment with the persistent feeling of being adrift and disconnected. This tension between reality and dream underscores the emotional complexity of the experience, capturing the essence of longing, reunion, and the haunting fear that it might all be an illusion.