Released: 2010
“Knee Deep” by Zac Brown Band featuring Jimmy Buffett is all about escaping the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s about finding peace and happiness in simple pleasures like sunshine and the ocean. The song emphasizes letting go of worries and seeking a personal paradise.
The opening lines, “Gonna put the world away for a minute / Pretend I don’t live in it,” set the tone for the entire song. The narrator wants to escape reality and let the sunshine wash away his troubles. He’s experienced love but lost it, which adds to his sense of being lost.
In the chorus, the desire to be “knee deep in the water somewhere” symbolizes a longing for a carefree, simple life. The only worry he wants is whether the tide will reach his chair. This shows his desire to escape complicated worries and enjoy life’s simple moments.
The second verse describes the narrator’s drastic step to achieve this escape. He writes a note, buys a boat, and sails away, emphasizing that the ocean is his only medication. This verse highlights the drastic measures he is willing to take to find peace.
The recurring theme of the chorus underscores the song’s main message. The blue sky breeze, the fire in the sky at sunrise, and the feeling of being high all symbolize the joy and freedom he finds in his personal paradise. The song suggests that anyone can find their own paradise by changing their environment and letting go of worries.
