Walk on the Ocean
"Walk on the Ocean" | ||||
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Single by Toad the Wet Sprocket | ||||
from the album fear | ||||
Released | October 15, 1992 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Glen Phillips, Todd Nichols | |||
Producer(s) | Gavin MacKillop | |||
Toad the Wet Sprocket singles chronology | ||||
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"Walk on the Ocean" is a song by the rock group Toad the Wet Sprocket on their 1991 album Fear. It was also on the compilation album Almost Kinda Acoustic. Two different versions of the song were released: the album version with a cold ending (timed at 3:00), and the single/video version with the chorus repeated until fade (timed at 3:32). Commercially, "Walk on the Ocean" peaked at number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 40 in Canada, New Zealand and Norway.
Composition[]
The song was written after singer Glen Phillips and his wife were vacationing on Orcas Island off the coast of Washington State, and hanging out with some hippies. The lyrics were written as placeholders, but Phillips could not come up with anything better. "I wrote down literally the first thing that came across my mind. The lyric and the chorus, I have no idea what it means, unfortunately. Then I tried rewriting it and nothing ever really worked. I tried to make the chorus mean something, and eventually said, 'Well, it sounds like I know what I'm talking about.' So we just left it as is. It was the least-conscious, least-crafted lyric," he said.[1]
Track listing[]
- "Walk on the Ocean" (Single version) – 3:32
- "All in All" – 4:02
Charts[]
Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
---|---|
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2] | 22 |
Germany (Official German Charts)[3] | 67 |
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[4] | 22 |
Norway (VG-lista)[5] | 10 |
US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 18 |
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[7] | 31 |
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] | 27 |
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[9] | 10 |
Use in media[]
The song appears on the soundtrack of the 2013 American film Jobs.[10] The song appears on the soundtrack of the 2014 American film Adult Beginners.[11] The song appears on the soundtrack of the 2015 American television series Hindsight.[12]
The phrase "this is the place where everything's better and everything's safe" is featured many times in Karen's Cafe in One Tree Hill.
References[]
- ^ "Glen Phillips of Toad the Wet Sprocket : Songwriter Interviews". Songfacts. January 8, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1748." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Toad the Wet Sprocket – Walk on the Ocean" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Toad the Wet Sprocket – Walk on the Ocean". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Toad the Wet Sprocket – Walk on the Ocean". VG-lista. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Toad the Wet Sprocket Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Toad the Wet Sprocket Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Toad the Wet Sprocket Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ "Toad the Wet Sprocket Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
- ^ Jobs Soundtrack
- ^ Adult Beginners Soundtrack
- ^ Hindsight Soundtrack
External links[]
- Toad the Wet Sprocket songs
- 1990s ballads
- 1991 songs
- 1992 singles
- Columbia Records singles
- Rock ballads
- Songs written by Glen Phillips (singer)
- Songs written by Todd Nichols (musician)
- 1990s rock song stubs