Saltwater Heart by Switchfoot

Album: Fading West (2014)

License This Song

lyrics

artistfacts

Songfacts®:

Drummer Chad Butler explained during a Spotify track-by-track: "'Saltwater Heart' came together in the magical island of Bali. We were traveling the world, chasing waves and songs and this song came together on the cliff overlooking the Indian ocean. It was inspired by the surroundings. This song is a reflection of that feeling of being on the edge of the earth."
Switchfoot vocalist Jon Foreman explained the song's meaning during a track-by-track on the Land Of Broken Hearts website: "'Saltwater' is a song about longing. On tour, I often feel brittle and thirsty for substance," he said. "Far from shore, far from home- the ink dries up, and the blood begins to clot. I begin to feel like a sojourner longing for home, wanting to be washed clean of the dust of travel. And yet there is a deeper longing. A spiritual longing that no physical location can give me- not even my hometown. 'Saltwater' is a song that is trying to speak to both of these longings at once: longings of my physical being and the longings of my soul."

Comments: 1

Ashley from UsaI've stood on that same cliff that Jon and the other stood on--physically and figuratively. I've wanted to be home, to have somewhere to even *call* home. Something about Bali makes you feel both far, far away from your usual routine & reality, and at the same time at home with the great conglomeration of other cultures and tourists from countries you've never heard of. The traditional Balinese instruments in the song bring me back to those days when I'd spend the whole day in the ocean, and I believe that I'll find where I belong someday.

see more comments

More Songfacts:

Zoot Suit RiotCherry Poppin' Daddies

"Zoot Suit Riot" isn't just a Cherry Poppin' Daddies song - the Zoot Suit Riots were real riots in Los Angeles that took place in 1943 and inspired the song's lyrics.

Rose MarieSlim Whitman

Country star Slim Whitman's version of the 1920s song "Rose Marie" spent 11 consecutive weeks at #1 in the UK in 1955, a record until 1991 when Bryan Adams’ "(Everything I Do) I Do It For You" spent 16 weeks at the top.

Peter Gunn ThemeHenry Mancini

"Peter Gunn" was the first TV theme to hit the Hot 100.

You're A Friend Of MineClarence Clemons

Clarence Clemons, who played the sax in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, had the biggest solo hit of anyone in the group - aside from Springsteen - when "You're A Friend Of Mine" hit #18 in 1985.

Lust For LifeIggy Pop

Iggy Pop wrote "Lust For Life" with David Bowie, who came up with the music on a ukulele.

Shelter From the StormBob Dylan

Bob Dylan helped popularize the concept of "burnout" in his 1975 song "Shelter From the Storm" when he sang: "I was burned out from exhaustion, buried in the hail." That's how many Americans were feeling at the time as they worked harder for less pay.