Lyrics
This summer I went swimming
Engaging in swimming activities during the summer season.
This summer I might have drowned
Reflecting on the potential danger or risk of drowning during the summer.
But I held my breath, I kicked my feet
Describing the effort to stay afloat by holding breath and kicking feet.
Moved my arms around
Engaging in basic swimming motions by moving arms around.
I moved my arms around
Reiteration of performing arm movements while swimming.
This summer I swam in the ocean
Extended description of summer activities, swimming both in the ocean and a pool.
And I swam in a swimming pool
Expressing the contrasting environments of saltwater and chlorinated pools.
Salt my wounds, chlorine'd my eyes
Describing discomfort caused by saltwater and chlorine, metaphorically labeling oneself as self-destructive.
I'm a self-destructive fool
Acknowledging self-destructive behavior while swimming.
Self-destructive fool
Reiteration of being a self-destructive individual.
This summer I did the back stroke
Mentioning the specific swimming style, the backstroke, as part of summer activities.
And you know that that's not all
Indicating that there is more to the summer experience than just the backstroke.
I did the breast stroke, the butterfly
List of various swimming strokes performed during the summer, including the breaststroke and butterfly.
And the old Australian crawl
Highlighting another swimming style, the old Australian crawl.
The old Australian crawl
Repetition of the old Australian crawl as part of the swimming repertoire.
This summer I swam in a public place
Detailing swimming in different locations, a public place, and a reservoir.
And a reservoir to boot
Emphasizing swimming in a reservoir and using "to boot" to add to the list of locations.
At the latter I was informal
Describing informal behavior at the reservoir.
At the former I wore my suit
Contrasting with line 21, mentioning wearing a swimming suit at a public place.
I wore my swimming suit
Reiteration of wearing a swimming suit at the public place.
Oh, this summer I did swan dives
Introducing the performance of swan dives and jack-knives during the summer.
And jack-knives for you all
Continuation of describing acrobatic swimming maneuvers for others.
And once when you weren't looking
Secretly performing a cannonball when others were not paying attention.
I did a cannon-ball
Reiteration of doing a cannonball, a playful and spontaneous swimming action.
I did a cannon-ball
Emphasizing the playful and unobserved nature of the cannonball.
This summer I went swimming
Recalling another instance of going swimming during the summer.
This summer I might have drowned
Revisiting the potential danger of drowning but overcoming it with breath-holding and swimming motions.
But I held my breath, I kicked my feet
Similar to lines 3 and 34, emphasizing the effort to stay afloat during swimming.
And moved my arms around
Reiteration of the physical actions taken to prevent drowning.
I moved my arms around
Repetition of moving arms around during swimming.
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