“Oceanic Feeling” is the twelfth track on Lorde’s 2021 album ‘Solar Power.’ This song is a homage to all things New Zealand. But, it captures the essence of human connection with this world, the sense of purpose in each of us, and what our time on this planet means.
Lorde announced her upcoming third studio album ‘Solar Power‘ to be released on August 20, 2021. Ahead of the new single, Lorde released singles such as “Solar Power” and “Stoned at the Nail Salon.” The album is produced by Jack Antonoff alongside Lorde. Lorde spoke about the inspiration behind her new album in an interview; “Obviously when making this album I did a deep-dive into ’60s, Flower Child culture. I wanted to understand the commune life, dropping out from society and trying to start again.”
On Apple Music, Lorde explained the meaning behind this song; “I really wanted it to sound like when I get up in the morning at home and go outside and think about what the day’s going to hold. Am I going to go to the beach? Am I going to go fishing? What’s going to happen? I wanted to make something that people from New Zealand would hear and would feel like, ‘Oh, I’m this. That’s where I’m from.'”
Listen to “Oceanic Feeling” by Lorde
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Lorde “Oceanic Feeling” Lyrics Meaning and Song Review
In this song, Lorde really dives into the New Zealand way of life. She talks about all the adventures that await her in her motherland and the freedom that it comes with. If she wanted to enjoy life on a specific day, she has a handful of options that New Zealand has to offer and she takes comfort in the fact that generations that came before her have enjoyed and cherished these same things.
Throughout the song, Lorde sings about all the things New Zealand has to offer her; going fishing, soaking under the Sun, jumping into a lake from the infamous Bulli Point, getting a tan in the summer, fall in love raise a family, and on and on.
Lorde also mentions his little brother Angelo who seems to be scared about everything changing in his life. Lorde comes to his rescue and assures him that so was she in his age and it will all be okay. She also appreciates her little brother’s kickflipping skills on a skateboard (another classic New Zealander thing?).
Brain so hot, it’s a summer body
Every day is blue and never cloudy
Lorde also bears hopeful dreams about becoming a mother someday. She wonders if she has a baby daughter and what traits of hers will the baby inherit. We would think Lorde will be proud if the baby inherits her “dreamer’s disposition” over her “wicked streak.”
Lorde also drops a hint that her cherry-black lipstick is gathering dust in a drawer somewhere. This cherry-black lipstick is a throwback to her ‘Pure Heroine’ album era where she painted herself in a ‘darker’ light. In a few years, she has completely flipped the script. Now she is a devotee of the Sun and all its power. Sun is the source of light and life in everything we see around us. Her new album ‘Solar Power’ is a dedication to the glory and majesty of the Sun.
However, Lorde does not want herself painted in the light of some awoke saint;
Oh, was enlightenment found?
No, but I’m tryin’, takin’ it one year at a time
Enlightenment is the state of all-knowing. Lorde does not suggest this at all. On the contrary, she is more and more humbled by the forces at play that humans have no understanding or control about.
Let us hear what you think about the song in the comments below. Check out the complete lyrics on Genius.