Ergo, the Ogre

This week on Song Lyric Sunday (SLS) Jim has asked us to find a song that features nautical terms, words connected with ships, sailing, sailors, maritime or navigation.

I’ve chosen “Beyond the Sea” by Bobby Darin.

According to Wikipedia, “Beyond the Sea” is the English-language version of the French song “La Mer” by Charles Trenet, popularized by Bobby Darin in 1959. While the French original was an ode to the sea, Jack Lawrence – who composed the English lyrics – turned it into a love song.

The Lyrics

Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailing

Somewhere beyond the sea
She’s there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
Then straight to her arms, I’d go sailing

It’s far beyond a star
It’s near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon

We’ll meet beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again, I’ll go sailing

I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon

We’ll meet, I know we’ll meet beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again, I’ll go sailing

No more sailing
So long, sailing
Bye-bye, sailing
Goodbye, Captain

Songwriters: Jack Lawrence, Charles Trenet, Albert Lasry.

The Meaning

Beyond the Sea, originally titled La Mer, is a timeless song that was originally written in French by Charles Trenet in 1946. Bobby Darin, an American singer, songwriter, and actor, then adapted and popularized the song in English in 1959. Beyond the Sea has since become one of Darin’s signature songs, known for its cheerful melody and romantic lyrics. However, beneath its seemingly light-hearted surface, this beloved tune holds a deeper meaning that resonates with listeners across generations.

The song, rooted in love, speaks of a yearning for a distant lover. This lover isn’t just a person but a symbol of dreams and aspirations. Darin’s words vividly depict a love that transcends physical boundaries, nestled somewhere beyond the vast ocean. He expresses a deep certainty and hope that one day, he will reunite with his one true love. Bobby Darin’s aural voyage is not merely about traversing the ocean’s expanse. It is about the heart’s unwavering belief in the power of love to overcome any barrier, any distance. It embodies the romantic ideal of destiny pulling two souls together, regardless of the space between them.

About Bobby

LOS ANGELES (UPI) Bobby Darin, the brash ambitious teen idol of the 1950s and 1960s who sang “Mack the Knife” and “Splish-Splash” and married Sandra Dee, died today after his second open heart operation He was 37. “He never really came around after the operation,” a spokesman said. “He was just too weak to recover.”

The Video