“Atlantis” is a heartfelt song performed by the British music duo Seafret, consisting of Jack Sedman as the lead vocalist and Harry Draper as the guitarist.
The lyrics explore the complexities of a failing relationship, using the metaphor of the legendary island to depict a love that’s unstable and destined to crumble. Sedman’s heartfelt vocals, along with contributions from Roy Stride and Steve Robson, enrich the song.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
Table of Contents
“Atlantis” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
“The birds have left their trees
The light pours onto me
I can feel you lying there all on your own”
In the opening verse, the lyrics paint a picture of desolation and emptiness. The imagery of birds leaving their trees signifies a loss of tranquility and harmony.
The line “The light pours onto me” suggests a harsh reality and exposure to vulnerability. The reference to someone lying alone evokes a sense of isolation and abandonment.
“We got here the hard way
All those words that we exchange
Is it any wonder things get broke?”
This verse alludes to a turbulent journey leading to the present situation. The phrase “we got here the hard way” implies that the relationship faced numerous challenges and hardships.
The lyrics highlight the impact of words exchanged between the individuals involved, suggesting that communication played a significant role in the relationship’s breakdown. It hints at the fragility of relationships and how words can have lasting consequences.
Chorus
“‘Cause in my heart and in my head
I’ll never take back the things I said
So high above, I feel it coming down
She said, in my heart and in my head
Tell me why this has to end
Oh, no, oh, no
I can’t save us, my Atlantis, we fall
We built this town on shaky ground”
The chorus expresses the weight of regret and the inability to reverse past actions. The repetition of “in my heart and in my head” emphasizes the lasting impact of the hurtful words spoken.
The refusal to retract those words signifies a sense of honesty and conviction. The line “So high above, I feel it coming down” suggests a looming sense of impending doom or the consequences of unresolved conflict.
The metaphor of “Atlantis” is introduced, symbolizing the relationship itself. Atlantis, a mythical city that sank into the sea, represents the foundation of their love, built on unstable ground.
The lyrics convey a sense of inevitability, acknowledging that their relationship is collapsing due to its shaky foundation.
Verse 2
“Now all the birds have fled
The hurt just leaves me scared
Losing everything I’ve ever known”
The second verse echoes the emptiness and loss mentioned in the earlier verses. The departure of the birds reinforces the absence of peace and serenity.
The lyrics depict the pain experienced, leaving the narrator feeling frightened and vulnerable.
The phrase “losing everything I’ve ever known” suggests a profound sense of disorientation and a fear of losing one’s identity in the process.
“It’s all become too much
Maybe I’m not built for love
If I knew that I could reach you, I would go”
This part of the verse conveys a sense of emotional overwhelm. The lyrics imply that the weight of the situation has become unbearable.
The narrator questions their ability to handle love and intimates a lack of self-belief.
The final line shows a desire to reconcile, to bridge the distance between them, but also hints at the possibility of giving up due to the uncertainty of success.
Bridge
“Yeah, we build it up and we build it up
Yeah, we build it up to pull it down
And we build it up and we build it up
And we build it up to pull it down”
The bridge highlights a recurring pattern of behavior within the relationship. The repetition of “build it up” signifies the cyclical nature of their actions.
They invest effort and energy to construct their love, only to tear it down once again. This pattern suggests a lack of stability and an inability to break free from destructive tendencies.
Final Verse
“I can’t save us, my Atlantis, we fall
We built this town on shaky ground
I can’t save us, my Atlantis, oh, no
We built it up to pull it down”
The concluding lines of the song encapsulate the underlying themes and emotions conveyed throughout. The repetition of “I can’t save us” emphasizes the narrator’s helplessness in salvaging the relationship.
The reference to “Atlantis” reinforces the imagery of a love built upon an unstable foundation. The lyrics express remorse and acknowledge the self-destructive tendencies that led to their downfall.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Atlantis”
Seafret, the indie-pop duo from Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire, tells a touching story with their song “Atlantis.” It’s the main track from their debut album, “Tell Me It’s Real,” and it delves into the fragile nature of a failing romance.
In the lyrics, the singers liken their unstable relationships with their loved ones to the doomed island of Atlantis, which was once powerful but sank into the sea.
In the chorus, Sedman resigns himself to the situation, admitting, “I can’t save us, my Atlantis, we fall. We built this town on shaky ground.” The lyrics convey a sense of inevitability, suggesting that his romantic relationship was doomed from the start. By comparing his love to Atlantis, he emphasizes how fragile and unstable their bond is, mirroring the doomed fate of the mythical island.
Sedman continues to express his frustration and disillusionment in the second part of the chorus, singing, “We built it up to pull it down.” This line highlights the bitter irony of their efforts. They invest time and energy in strengthening their relationship, only to see it crumble before their eyes.
We can relate to the lyrics’ frustrations and regrets, reminding us that love, like Atlantis, can be beautiful but fleeting, and sometimes, despite our best efforts, we can’t save what was once dear to us.
Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.