How Deep Is the Ocean?

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"How Deep Is the Ocean?" starts in a minor key, which creates a melancholy tone. This sad tone, to me, suggests that the singer (in this case Bing Crosby) or the writer of the song (Irving Berlin) is trying to find the best way to express how much they love the person this song is about. In other words they desperately want that special person to know how much they love them. And it's almost as if they are asking themselves these questions, 'How can I tell you how much I love you? How can I measure just how much I do?'. Then the singer (or writer) responds with more rhetorical questions, such as - 'How deep is the ocean?... How far is the journey from here to a star?' -  which suggest that these distances reflect his love. These questions about distances and the happier tone that is created when the music moves from a minor key to a major key during the bridge helps make the last chorus seem as if the singer (or writer) has found the answers they were looking for to their original questions. In other words they now know that they love that special person 'from here to a star'.

Comments

  1. Chase DeanFebruary 3, 2021 at 12:03 PM

    Your analysis of the song is so in-depth and personal it moves me almost as much as the song. After listening for myself I have to agree entirely on your interpretation of the song. I absolutely enjoyed listening to it, your thoughts really brought a deeper meaning to the song, making the experience even more enjoyable.

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