Swimming in the Shallows

“Swimming in the Shallows” is a heartfelt contemporary country rock ballad that reflects on love misunderstood and loss revealed only in hindsight. With its steady rhythm, soaring chorus, and imagery of water as both struggle and salvation, the song paints the story of two lovers who believed they were drowning in conflict, only to realize after separation that their bond was far deeper and more precious than they knew. The lyrics carry both regret and revelation, moving from the weight of arguments to the clarity of absence, ultimately showing that what felt unbearable was actually love worth holding on to.
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
We said the walls were closin’ in,
Every fight felt like we couldn’t win.
Thought the weight was more than we could bear,
Two hearts tangled, gaspin’ for air.

[Pre-Chorus]
We thought the deep end was draggin’ us down,
But distance showed what we lost when we drowned.

[Chorus]
Now I see, we were swimmin’ in the shallows,
Callin’ it heavy, but it was only shadows.
Love was deeper than we ever knew,
Guess the water’s clearer when I ain’t with you.
We thought we were sinkin’, truth be told,
We were floatin’ on gold.

[Verse 2]
Nights alone cut sharper than the fight,
Silence echoes louder than our cries.
I’d take the storm, the thunder, and rain,
Over this empty, endless pain.

[Pre-Chorus]
We thought the deep end was draggin’ us down,
But baby, look what we’re missin’ now.

[Chorus]
Now I see, we were swimmin’ in the shallows,
Callin’ it heavy, but it was only shadows.
Love was deeper than we ever knew,
Guess the water’s clearer when I ain’t with you.
We thought we were sinkin’, truth be told,
We were floatin’ on gold.

[Bridge]
If I could dive back, I’d never let go,
We had oceans inside us, we just didn’t know.

[Final Chorus]
Now I see, we were swimmin’ in the shallows,
Chasin’ escape from a love that was hallowed.
It cut too soon, and it cost too much,
To learn the depth was in your touch.
We thought we were sinkin’, truth be told,
We were floatin’ on gold.

[Outro]
Yeah, we thought it was hard to stay,
Turns out it’s harder this way.