Walk On The Ocean

Toad The Wet Sprocket's song 'Walk On The Ocean' is a poignant exploration of life's transitions and the search for meaning and safety. The opening lines set the scene with a journey towards the ocean, symbolizing a quest for a place where 'everything's better and everything's safe.' This journey can be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking a utopia or a state of inner peace, a common human desire to find a sanctuary away from life's chaos.

The chorus, 'Walk on the ocean, step on the stones, flesh becomes water, wood becomes bone,' is rich with metaphorical imagery. Walking on the ocean suggests an impossible task, hinting at the challenges and uncertainties we face. The transformation of flesh to water and wood to bone could symbolize the inevitable changes and the passage of time, where the physical and emotional aspects of our lives are in constant flux.

As the song progresses, it reflects on the transient nature of relationships and experiences. The lines about packing up and promising to send letters, despite knowing they won't, highlight the often superficial connections we maintain. The return to the 'homestead' where 'the air makes you choke' and 'trust is a joke' paints a picture of disillusionment with familiar surroundings. The absence of pictures and reliance on memories that 'grow sweeter each season' underscores the bittersweet nature of nostalgia and the human tendency to romanticize the past as we age.

'Walk On The Ocean' ultimately captures the essence of human experience—our quests, our fleeting connections, and the way we cope with the passage of time. It resonates with anyone who has ever sought something more, only to find that the journey itself is where the true meaning lies.