The Dolphin's Cry
by Live

Album: The Distance to Here (1999)
Charted: 62 78
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk explained: "It's about things getting real quiet enough so that one maybe hears something like the dolphin's cry."
  • "The Dolphin's Cry" was the lead single from Live's 1999 album The Distance To Here. By this time, the four band members, who were good friends growing up together in York, Pennsylvania, were starting to break ranks. Early on, they split the songwriting credits among the whole band, but by this point, lead singer Ed Kowalczyk was claiming most of them for himself; he's the only credited writer on the song. Live were still a top draw, but in the 2000s their popularity waned, and in 2009 they broke up (on email!).

    After their band The Gracious Few (with Kevin Martin of Candlebox on lead vocals) petered out, the three non-Kowalczyk members rebooted Live without him, replacing him with Chris Shinn, son of billionaire George Shinn. Kowalczyk returned in 2016, but in 2022 he cleaned house, touring as Live with a new set of musicians. Along the way, there were various lawsuits and some Byzantine business deals that went down among the various members.
  • Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison, who previously produced Live's albums Mental Jewelry and Throwing Copper, also produced The Distance To Here. The band made a conscious effort to go back to the intensity of their earlier work.
  • Ed Kowalczyk described the album as "an explosion of light in my life." He explained in a 2004 interview how it differed from the band's previous albums: "It represented a time in my life of tremendous rebirth and clarity and coming out of the darkness of what Secret Samadhi represented and the upheaval that our lives went through after Throwing Copper. The Distance To Here is really, to use an old metaphor, the phoenix coming out of the ashes. From the sort of darkness and weirdness and the black cover of Secret Samadhi came this amazing record."
  • This features backing vocals from Adam Duritz of Counting Crows.
  • "The Dolphin's Cry" peaked at #2 on the Mainstream Rock chart and #3 on the Alternative Airplay chart.
  • In the music video, directed by Martin Weisz ("Run To The Water"), the band plays in an alley as mounting waves of water come rushing towards them. Said Kowalczyk: "It really communicated the vibe of the song, which was this rock and roll baptism of feeling and the water was perfect."
  • This was used in the 2000 horror film Urban Legends: Final Cut.
  • This was used on season 3 of The Sopranos in the episode "University."

Comments: 22

  • Dayna from Tn25 yrs later and this song still stirs my soul every time I hear it.
    Like so many others have commented...I also don't think this song has anything to do with a love affair, not at least in the way most would see one. I think its much deeper than that. Its about seeing perfection...he's being more aware of it and feels so blessed. He knows that moment or time in his life most likely will never come again.
  • Fernie from PennsylvaniaIt's about two people that had made love before, found each other again somehow and they really like each other. He thinks love can help them work things out, he doesn't know how, but love will somehow guide them. They should try, because if you don't try things out in life what's the point of living (if you only run for cover). Simple, beautiful, powerful.
  • Samantha from Missouri I think its about testing water's or a person someone falls in love and someone gets hurt. Then realize what you had and you think "oh s--t" what was I thinking. I love him or I love her but will you take me back? If its meant to be it will be. I also think it means two people together for so long years and realize they don't belong together that the lies caught up and they go their separate ways
  • Nexus from FloridaTrust me. The song isn't about anything as petty as a love affair. But believe what you want. But Jay - Eugene, OR is correct. IDK about RHCP but I know there is prophecy in this... I would beware of RHCP being one though.
  • Christopher J. Cunningham from UsaThe song has nothing to do with sex. He found the "one" and they were separated either by a war or he went off to war. When he came back to her he was a changed man. Her love gave him hope. If everyone in the world shared the same love as these two wars would finally end and the healing between mankind can begin. The phoenix rising is the represented as the most powerful force which is love rising from the ashes of despair to give hope. Humans are stupid and brutal and when we disagree death always follow and it is getting old quick. Just a simple anti-war song being expressed.
  • Tim from Louisville, KyThis song is about two people who fell deeply in love ("god laid me down into your rose garden of trust") early in life, but were separated as they pursued life while growing up. Then, years later, they reunite ("oh yeah, we meet again"), quickly picking up where they left off ("it's like we never left, time in between was just a dream, did we leave this place?"). These two are once again so deeply in love ("this crazy fog surrounds me, you wrap your legs around me, all I can do to try and breathe") that everything around them seems to go right, giving way to their happiness ("see the road rise up to meet us, it's in the air we breathe tonight, love will lead us, she will lead us"). There is not doubt this is about first-love, true-love, between two people for whom destiny has given another chance at real happiness, now and ...
  • Brooke from Tuscaloosa, AlI dunno but you know how it says "she" will lead us... Well did u notice all the lesbians in the video? Hmmm... It's killing me to understand this song.
  • Yana from Ariel, -Although the song does deal and vaguely mentions sex, it is really not that important point in the song - I think it's more about the whole emotion that always there and behind it, at least in real relationship.
    To me , the lyrics are about love someone constantly, finding the things that makes you fall in love at him again and again and the whole sex is more about intimacy and climax of feelings between two people.
  • Jay from Eugene, OrThis song along with all Live songs, and the new "Can't stop" by Red Hot Chili Peppers are actually prophetic either divine or self-fulfilling, I am not sure yet which...they are talking about the spiritual movement that the Illuminati are trying their hardest to stop. "It's in the air we breathe tonight"...this alludes to the active war in our skys deemed Chemtrails...."the dolphin's cry" relates to China's ongoing massacre of the world's dolphins (have you ever heard the ringing out of nowhere??)...Live's song "Run to the Water" is about the Hydrogen and Oxygen revolution nearly on our doorsteps. I could interpret till the cows come home...However, something HUGE is happening, and certain people in Hollywood have been dropping hints. Watch "The Last Mimzy", or "Children of Men", or "Lady in The Water"...many, many cryptic messages being shown to us now....we must acknowledge something is wrong in our world...and we must take steps to fix it. Otherwise, we shall be the only one's to point the finger at.
  • Jules from Myrtle Beach, ScI think this song is about making love to the woman he's in love with and having an orgasm together-- at the same time. "God laid me down into your rose garden of trust" is about the very first time they made love. "and I was swept away- with nothin' left to say- some helpless fool" is talking about how surreal the experience was. "oh yeah, we meet again it's like we never left- time in between was just a dream- did we leave this place?" is showing how exciting it is to be intimately together again- as if they never left each other. "you wrap your legs around me" is obvious- and "let me breathe so that I- so we can go together!" is talking about having an orgasm at the same time.
  • Nick from Melbourneyeah i also think this song has nothing to do with horny dolphins...as Ed Kowalczyk is quoted as saying "Its about things getting real quiet enough so that one maybe hears something like the dolphin's cry".....i think that it is talking about how no-one stands still long enuff to listen to their own heart, feelings and emotions.
  • George from Jackson, Njits about war,the only thing that can cure hate is love. he sings mostly about love, but its an anti war song, i heard them say something like that live.
  • Beau from Phoenix, AzStraight from Ed: "This song isn't actually about dolphins... unless the dolphins are f***ing".
  • EsbjÃ?rn from Viborg, DenmarkThe quietness so renound that an artist can emerge and deliver his gift.

    Thanks EsbjÃ?rn.
  • Keith Mckenna from Santafe Queens Earth, NmI think all of you are right.Love will lead US
    I love that this song came out 6 years ago and I'm just really getting into it now. came across intl' acoustic version. feeling it!
  • Liza from Craiova, Romaniahave any of you people ever seen the video to this song? the song has a double meaning: the first one is about tantric sex, as edward kowalczyk himself says in an interview, and the other one is the one illustrated in the video - life is like a shooting star, it don't matter who you are, if you only run for cover it's just a waste of time. c'mon, it's so obvious once you've seen the video. and the correlation with the fact that dolphins have sex for pleasure... for crying out loud, that is really ridiculous, if you dont mind me saying.
  • Alan from Toronto, CanadaMan,
    Its not about any of that, youre all reading to much into it. It's about two people who had a very brief relationship in the past, and they meet again and are ready to try an make it work despite all odds...
    "The way youre bathed in light, reminds me of that night..."
    "So yeah, we meet again, its like we never left, time in between was just a dream- did we leave this place."
  • Asha from Vacaville, CaI have sensed a different vibe from the song. If you are into metaphysics and new age spirituality this may make sense; otherwise not:
    Right now we are in the birthing stages of a universal energy change. It is going to get worse before it gets better on this planet. Dolphins are very spiritual animals who, in a sense, cry for the oceans and planet that are being destroyed. Dolphins will eventually be destroyed themselves unless this catastrophe is diverted. "Love will lead us, she will lead us" Love is the most powerful thing in the universe. Some will need to be lead through these hard times. Others will escape all together. "See the road rise up to meet us." Being of higher spirituality, and love raises our vibration, the dense earth would need to rise to us.
    "Life is like a shooting star, it don't matter who you are if you only run for cover, it's just a waste of time. We are lost 'til we are found, this phoenix rises up from the ground and all these wars are over." Phoenix rises from the ashes... and so will our planet when the wars are over. You can't run from life or life lessons. It is a waste of time. Sometimes you are simply lost, (could be spiritually) til you are found.
  • Heather from Mead, Ne"the way your bathed in light, reminds me of that night, god led me down into your rose garden of trust and i was swept away with nothing left to say." is my favotite part. it makes me think about how beautiful my boyfriend is, inside and out. and how i;m still breathless because of him.
  • Live Freak from Beirut, OtherFinally figured out the meaning of this song
    It starts out with two people having sex on the beach ("rose garden of trust....You wrap your legs around me ".... and while theyre at it they cant help but hear "The Dolphins Cry" (as mentioned dolphins enjoy sex too)
    This is the mesaage Ed is tryin to convey
    UNIVERSAL LOVE....stars out small and then spreads out to all
    The only solution to all our problems
    Spiritual Love
  • Live Freak from Beirut, OtherDolphins are the only animals other than humans who "enjoy sex"
  • Live Freak from Beirut, OtherAppears in the Movie "The Beach" starring Leonardo Di Caprio
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Tony Joe White

Tony Joe WhiteSongwriter Interviews

The writer of "Rainy Night in Georgia" and "Polk Salad Annie" explains how he cooks up his Louisiana swamp rock.

Sam Hollander

Sam HollanderSongwriter Interviews

The hitmaking songwriter/producer Sam Hollander with stories about songs for Weezer, Panic! At The Disco, Train, Pentatonix, and Fitz And The Tantrums.

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.