Incubus: Aqueous Transmission Meaning

Aqueous Transmission Lyrics

I'm floating down a river
Oars freed from their holes long ago
Lying face up on the floor of my vessel
I marvel at the stars
And feel my heart overflow
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the river
Further down the...

1. 1TOP RATED

   #1 top rated interpretation:
   nalnakee

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   May 1st 2008 !⃝

   It's pretty obvious that the "river" in the song is life, and it's all about the journey of life. "I'm floating down a river" Could be intepreted as "Im on a life journey."
   "Oars freed from their holes long ago" Meaning the direction of this journey is unsure, apart from the inevitable fact that it goes on. There is a girl mentioned in the song, but the song isn't centralized around her. Incubus were experimenting with new types of instruments in this one, and the frogs at the end are the frogs outside of where they were recording; if you listen closely you can hear the band talking at the end.

2. 2TOP RATED

   #2 top rated interpretation:
   xxxb

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   Mar 15th 2006 !⃝

   I think this song is about a guy who although loves a girl, can't be with her at the moment for one reason or another, things aren't working out.. but he still loves her, and is open and almost hoping to be with her again, but not by fighting for it, but by coming back together naturally. Then he thinks that by being apart they can share what they experienced once back together as a wisdom that will make them stronger than they were before.
3. anonymous

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   Sep 27th 2017 !⃝

   Is about BUDDHA, about his relation with the river.
4. Dennis213

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   Mar 7th 2016 !⃝

   This is my interpretation:
   
   The first verse explains him floating down a river (river meaning life), oars freed long ago (meaning he has no control, which to me means death where we have no control of anything anymore). Lying face up on the floor of my vessel means to me that he is looking at things from a totally different perspective. We stand upright most of our lives. When we die, we are put to rest lying face up on the floor of a vessel (vessel meaning his body). When this happens and we are dead, we can see the true splendor of life because we are looking at it from a totally different perspective. This is why his heart begins to overflow as he marvels at the stars, because life is so BEAUTIFUL and he is appreciating it fully for the first time.
   
   The second verse, I think, describes the emotional journey associated with "letting go" and leaving the shore and these perceptions of complete control, which in many ways and to many of us, has grown to the point of being our lover.
   
   The final verse to me means that he will find a way to communicate with the living somehow when he says he is building an antenna and that transmissions will be sent when he is through (through to his final destination, which is open to interpretation, maybe heaven, maybe reincarnation). I imagine he aims to communicate through everything, as he was from the earth and now part of the earth, a permanent fixture of existence even though his previous physical form has changed. Maybe we can meet again further down the river means that in death he will reunite with his loved one/s, then they can share what they have discovered together and marvel in the view of existence itself. Such a beautiful picture in my head...
   
   My favorite part of the song is right after the last words, where the instrumental starts playing. THIS STARTS AT 4:33 INTO THE SONG. To me, the song is saying much much more without words. The music is saying, "Goodbye, farewell. We will see each other again. Even though we are apart, we are together. I am with you in all things, in everything you do, in everything you touch, in everything you feel. I am life, as I came from the earth and now I am part of the earth and everything in it." The frogs in the end represent the simplicity of life, the peace when we listen.
5. anonymous

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   May 7th 2010 !⃝

   The song is his way of describing his life after shows, he talked about it in a live interview. He describes riding in the bus after a show as "floating down a river" and how he never has time to be with the one he loves because of his bands fame.
6. youngshiva

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   Apr 26th 2010 !⃝

   lol he has a point about the masturbation..."transmissions will be sent when i am through" he had an orgasm and ejaculation came from masturbating."two weeks without my lover, im in this boat alone" he hasn't had sex in two weeks so he has to masturbate..."further down the river" his journey to reaching orgasm. lolololol lmfao

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
7. anonymous

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   Feb 9th 2010 !⃝

   Dude, your an idiot. This song is not about masturbation. It's about heroin. dumb ass

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
8. Inc115

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   Nov 25th 2009 !⃝

   You're all wrong... The song is about masturbating... Haha yeah think about it.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
9. ironicfate

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   Nov 7th 2009 !⃝

   this song is about heroin, an addict trying to kick the drugs, and going through withdrawls.
   
   VERY DETAILED BREAKDOWN:
   
   
   Im floating down a river- Is the heroin going through the veins...
   
   oars freed from their holes long ago- Is the old needle tracks in his arm...
   
   Lying face up on the floor Of my vessel I marvel at the stars And feel my heart overflow- Is him lying back going on his heroin trip on this boat through his veins. and the next line is further down the river, means the drug is getting deeper...
   
   Two weeks without my lover,I'm in this boat alone- Means two weeks since he shot up last(heroin)and that hes in this boat alone, hes having withdrawls, thus feels lonely...
   
   Floating down a river named emotion, will I make it back to shore? Or drift into the unknown- Means hes going through emotions of the withdrawls, and will i make it back to shore, or drift into the unknown means will he kick the drug or fall back into the heroin...
   
   I'm building an antenna Transmissions will be sent When I am through- means the heroin in the needle, bulding an antenna, also transmissions will be sent through the (Veins)...
   
   Maybe we can meet again Further down the river And share what we both discovered Then revel in the view- Means maybe he will shoot up again in the future, while being apart so long will only make his trip that much better...
10. sudeepS

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    Dec 10th 2008 !⃝

    I think it is inspirational. I also thought "Aqueous Transmission" was the name of band.

    This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
11. caelia8

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    Feb 24th 2006 !⃝

    It's obvious that it's about a guy who misses his lover ("Two weeks without my lover, I'm in this boat alone") but I'm pretty sure he does something about it (I'm building an antenna, transmissions will be sent when I'm through"). It's a sweet song about a guy who's feeling pretty horny and takes care of needs.

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