Contents
- Introduction
- What Ben Howard Has Said About Oats in the Water
- Interpretations: What Others Think the Song Means
- Deep Dive Into the Lyrics: Themes, Symbolism, and Reflection
- How Oats in the Water Relates to My Song The Mountain
- Other Songs That Share a Similar Vibe
- Personal Anecdote: The First Time I Heard Old Pine
- Conclusion
Introduction
Some songs don’t just pass through your ears; they settle deep in your bones. Oats in the Water by Ben Howard is one of those songs. Dark, brooding, and hauntingly beautiful, it carries an air of mystery that invites listeners to sit with their own emotions, fears, and reflections.
The song, featured on Howard’s Burgh Island EP (2012), has resonated deeply with fans over the years, appearing in The Walking Dead and other places where raw, atmospheric music is needed. But what is Oats in the Water actually about? Howard himself remains enigmatic, leaving space for interpretation—something that makes the track even more powerful.
In this deep dive, we’ll explore what Ben Howard has (and hasn’t) said about the song, analyze its lyrics line by line, look at fan interpretations, and draw connections to my own song, The Mountain. Along the way, I’ll also reflect on how Howard’s music has influenced my journey as a songwriter.
What Ben Howard Has Said About Oats in the Water
Ben Howard is known for being elusive when it comes to explaining his lyrics. He once mentioned in an interview that he writes in a stream-of-consciousness style, often weaving together imagery and emotions rather than crafting a literal story.
While Howard hasn’t publicly broken down Oats in the Water, its placement in Burgh Island EP—a darker, moodier departure from his debut album Every Kingdom—suggests that it was a time of artistic exploration and emotional depth for him. The song’s atmosphere, filled with ominous chords and lyrical despair, hints at themes of regret, solitude, and existential reckoning.
Interpretations: What Others Think the Song Means
Over the years, fans have passionately debated the meaning of Oats in the Water. Here are some of the most common interpretations:
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A Song About War and Its Aftermath – Some listeners believe that the song could be about a soldier dealing with trauma. Lines like “Go your way, I'll take the long way 'round” could symbolize a soldier parting ways with comrades, while “There’ll be oats in the water” evokes images of survival and scarcity.
- A Personal Reflection on Regret and Isolation – Others interpret the song as a deeply personal meditation on loss and the passage of time. The phrase “There’ll be things you never asked her, oh how they tear at you now” suggests lingering regrets and things left unsaid.
- An Exploration of Inner Turmoil – Given Howard’s poetic style, the song can also be seen as an exploration of internal struggle, self-destruction, and the weight of past decisions. The recurring imagery of rust, water, and birds contributes to a sense of decay and inevitability.
For more perspectives, check out this Reddit discussion where fans break down their own thoughts on the song.
Deep Dive Into the Lyrics: Themes, Symbolism, and Reflection
The lyrics of Oats in the Water read like fragments of a story—vivid, cryptic, and emotionally charged. Let’s break them down:
"Go your way, I'll take the long way 'round"
"Oh, I'll find my own way down"
"Oh, as I should"
These opening lines establish a sense of separation. There’s a farewell happening, a divergence in paths. The phrase “I’ll take the long way ‘round” suggests either a conscious decision to take a harder path or an inevitable journey through struggle. It could symbolize walking away from something—or someone—that once felt familiar.
"And hold your gaze"
"There's coke in the Midas touch"
"A joke in the way that we rust"
"And breathe again"
The imagery here is particularly striking. “Coke in the Midas touch” could represent the idea that wealth or power is tainted, referring to the fabled King Midas who turned everything to gold. In this case, the reference to “coke” (short for coal or cocaine) suggests decay rather than prosperity—perhaps even addiction, greed, or self-destruction.
"And you'll find loss"
"And you'll fear what you found"
"When the weather comes, oh"
"Tearing down"
This part of the song carries an ominous tone. It speaks to the realization of loss—perhaps not just in a physical sense but an emotional or existential one. The phrase “you’ll fear what you found” suggests that discovering something doesn’t always bring peace; sometimes, the truth is unsettling.
"There'll be oats in the water"
"There'll be birds on the ground"
"There'll be things you never asked her"
"Oh, how they tear at you now"
The title phrase finally appears here, and it’s one of the most debated lines. “Oats in the water” conjures up an image of something misplaced, something unnatural. Oats belong on land, yet here they are in the water—a sign of waste, disorder, or even survival.
The line “There’ll be things you never asked her” is perhaps the most emotionally cutting. It speaks of regret, of unspoken words and missed opportunities that now haunt the narrator. These unasked questions "tear at you now," reinforcing the weight of hindsight and unresolved emotions.
The repetition in the song’s structure only amplifies its weight. It leaves the listener in a cycle of unease, reinforcing the themes of regret and uncertainty.
How Oats in the Water Relates to My Song The Mountain
My song, The Mountain, captures the innocence and adventure of childhood, contrasting the heavy introspection of Oats in the Water. Yet, both songs share a common thread: the passing of time and the emotions tied to it.
Where Howard sings about regret and decay, I reflect on childhood memories and a longing for simpler times. The feeling of something slipping away, never to return in the same form, exists in both songs.
“Journey back over the mountain, ‘cause I know that this is where I belong”
This lyric from The Mountain echoes the idea of searching for something lost—a theme that runs deep in Oats in the Water as well. While Howard’s song is steeped in ominous uncertainty, The Mountain offers a nostalgic look at the past, almost as if trying to reclaim what has faded.
“There’ll be oats in the water / There’ll be birds on the ground”
Howard’s lyrics, in contrast, paint a picture of things being out of place—of nature disrupted. Both songs use vivid imagery to pull the listener into a feeling rather than telling a direct story.
If Oats in the Water is about unresolved emotions and regret, The Mountain is about honoring the past and the simpler joys that once defined us. The contrast between these two perspectives makes them interesting to compare, showing different ways music can process time and memory.
You can listen to The Mountain here: Logan Ransley - The Mountain
Other Songs That Share a Similar Vibe
If Oats in the Water resonates with you, here are some other songs that carry a similar emotional weight and atmospheric depth:
1. Bon Iver – Holocene
A song that captures the fleeting nature of time and self-reflection, Holocene shares the same haunting, introspective mood as Oats in the Water.
2. Nick Drake – River Man
Nick Drake’s music is often melancholic and poetic, and River Man contains the same ethereal quality, with lyrics that leave plenty of room for interpretation.
3. S. Carey – In the Dirt
A song that blends folk with ambient elements, In the Dirt mirrors Oats in the Water in its atmospheric build-up and layered instrumentation.
4. Ben Howard – End of the Affair
Another masterpiece from Howard, End of the Affair shares the same slow-burning, emotionally charged structure that makes Oats in the Water so powerful.
Here’s a live performance of Oats in the Water for those who want to experience the song in its rawest form:
Personal Anecdote: The First Time I Heard Old Pine
I first discovered Ben Howard’s music through a family friend, Ryan. He was at university at the time, learning Oats in the Water on guitar. I remember watching him play, mesmerized by the deep, moody atmosphere of the song. The open tuning, the way the notes rang out—it felt different from anything I’d heard before.
That moment was the start of my love for indie folk acoustic music, especially alternate tunings like DADGAD and Open D. Howard’s music made me realize that a guitar could be more than just an instrument—it could be a world of sound, feeling, and storytelling.
That discovery ultimately influenced the way I write music today. The textures, the emotion, the way a song can transport you—I owe a lot of that to stumbling upon Oats in the Water through Ryan.
Conclusion
Oats in the Water remains one of Ben Howard’s most enigmatic and powerful songs. Its cryptic lyrics, haunting guitar work, and emotional weight have left listeners contemplating its meaning for over a decade. Whether it’s about regret, loss, war, or personal demons, the beauty of the song lies in its ability to let the listener project their own experiences onto it.
For me, it was a gateway into a different world of music—one where emotion is conveyed not just through words, but through atmosphere, phrasing, and open tunings. This song, and Howard’s work in general, pushed me to explore deeper themes in my own songwriting, leading to songs like The Mountain.
What do you think Oats in the Water is about? Do you hear loss in it? A journey? A warning? Let me know your thoughts below.
And if you want to hear how these themes play out in my own music, you can listen to The Mountain here: Logan Ransley - The Mountain
