Mutual Feeling.

I wrote that song [The Ocean] after a very uncomfortable incident with a girl I was dating. I had been chasing her for two years and when she finally agreed to date me there was a relief but also a new level of intensity and fear and awkwardness. I was trying to remain calm. I was trying to “be the boy” (advice Sara had given me) and so every once and awhile my emotions would spill over and I would have a fit. A crazy, dramatic, cinematic style fit. The Ocean was in response to one of those fits. I realized that a lot of the fire and love and fun had been left behind. Even though we had just started dating, we were already two years into a relationship. The chorus “Its been so long since you said, well I know what I want and what I wants right here with you” is silly. I mean..we were dating, of course she wanted to be with me. Why did she have to say it? Well when you start dating you say things like that. You reassure the person you’re with. But we had been “together” for two years as friends…all that romance had been said. It was confusing. My inner child who had issues with commitment, divorce, trust etc was really visible at that time. I’m afraid you don’t want me, even though you fought with me to have me. That was what the song really was trying to say.