Across the Oceans released by Australian rock band New Empire in 2011 is full of lyrics which can be seen as relatable to journeys, with symbolism of an emotional journey and even an imaginative journey

There are relations to all the key aspects of journeys found numerous times throughout the lyrics of this song, some more obvious then others. The main technique applied in this song is symbolism; the composer has used relations to the ocean throughout the whole song with words like ‘sail, seven seas, boat, drift ashore, ropes and oars, bottom of the sea’ to help relate to the aspects of an emotional journey.

I have chosen to analyse a number of verses to help demonstrate the relation to journeys it shows. In the verse ‘We could sail across the seven seas, take you far away from the mysteries that remind you of the loneliness in your heart’ a hyperbole is used as they are not literally going to sail across the seven seas, this is just an exaggeration of the fact that they are going to escape. This is one of the main reasons people tend to go on journeys, to escape something. Not necessarily by travelling but perhaps in their minds. In the verse ‘Search across the oceans for who you are, been lost for too long.’ It also helps display one of the factors which can make people decide to take these emotional journeys, this being the fact that they may have encounter something which has changed them and they need to re discover themselves. Whilst in the verse ‘If my boat were ever to drift ashore would you come find me your ropes and oars are a beacon that’s hidden deep within my soul’ the technique of a metaphor is used, as the ropes and oars are not literally a guiding light hidden deep within the soul and the person is not literally in a boat. This is used to highlight the fact that throughout a journey people aren’t always going to stay on track and they may need help to get back on track. In the verse ‘So I’ll bury my treasure and bury it deep. With all of my footprints I’ve hidden the keys. You can find them at the bottom of this sea’ Once again the composer of this song has used a metaphor which is relatable to journeys. This being the fact that the person is holding on to whatever they have learnt over the period of the journey, shown especially with the use of ‘with all of my footprints’ and ‘I’ll bury my treasure’.

Lastly in the ending verse of the song ‘In coming home we find we have all we need’ it demonstrates what in my opinion is one of the best factors you can encounter on a journey, this being the fact that it can make you appreciate what you already have a lot more.