The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Ocean" by the artist "Velvet Underground"

In the song "Ocean" by the Velvet Underground, Lou Reed uses the image of the ocean as a symbol of permanence, purification, and the overwhelming power of nature, contrasting it with the ephemerality of human life and the vanity of worldly concerns.

The repeating lines "The ocean is before me and the waves / Crashing on the shore" create a sense of an endless cycle, the eternity of natural processes. The ocean remains unchanged, while everything else is subject to change.

The lyrical hero is in a state of existential crisis, as evidenced by the lines "And I think I'm going crazy…", "I am lazy…". He feels lost, insignificant against the backdrop of the ocean's grandeur. The hero's thoughts are full of self-flagellation; he sees no meaning in his existence, believing that even his death will change nothing.

The image of the "wooden statue on the prow of a ship" can be interpreted as a symbol of thoughtless faith, which, like a statue, is subject to the destructive effects of time ("The wind is messing up the hair…"). Perhaps the hero doubts his former convictions, finding no support in them.

However, despite the hero's despair, the ocean continues its eternal work, "Washing all the dirt off the heart of the world". This image carries the idea of purification, renewal. Perhaps the ocean symbolizes for the lyrical hero the hope that even in the chaos of life there is a place for rebirth and harmony.

The second part of the song deepens the existential motifs. The hero compares his negative thoughts to "insects" that "scurry from self-loving people". Perhaps he feels misunderstood, lonely in a world of superficial values.

Despite the pessimistic mood, the final line "The sea at dawn" leaves a glimmer of hope. Dawn is a symbol of a new beginning, an opportunity to start over. Perhaps contemplating the ocean will help the hero find inner peace and find his way.