--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Undertow\" \"I set out one night When the…" description: "\"Undertow\" \"I set out one night When the tide was low There were signs in the sky But I did not know I'd be caught in the grip Of the undertow Ditched o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg" --- # Undertow" "I set out one night When the tide was low There… ![“Undertow" "I set out one night When the tide was low There were signs in the sky But I did not know I'd be caught in the grip Of the undertow Ditched on a beach Where the sea hates to go With a child in my arms And a chill in my soul And my heart the shape Of a begging bowl” quote by Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg) > “Undertow" "I set out one night When the tide was low There were signs in the sky But I did not know I'd be caught in the grip Of the undertow Ditched on a beach Where the sea hates to go With a child in my arms And a chill in my soul And my heart the shape Of a begging bowl” [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Life can pull you into unexpected, overwhelming forces, especially when caring for others. **In simple terms:** Unexpected forces can overwhelm you. Key Takeaway Stay aware of hidden currents in life. Themes vulnerability responsibility unpredictability Mood melancholic introspective Type poetic philosophical When to use this quote - parenting - caregiving - emotional crises - relationship challenges Key Concepts emotional tides parenthood personal struggle Questions to Reflect On - What “undertow” are you currently resisting? - How do you maintain stability amid emotional pull? A Different Perspective The metaphor may oversimplify complex personal issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beach/) [Begging](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/begging/) [Caught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caught/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Chill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chill/) [Ditched Beach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ditched-beach-3951488/) [Grip Undertow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grip-undertow-3951489/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Lows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lows/) [My heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-heart/) [Night](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/night/) [Sea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sea/) [Shapes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shapes/) [Sky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sky/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Tide Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tide-low-2968671/) [Tides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tides/) [Undertow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertow/) [Undertow Ditched](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undertow-ditched-3951486/) ## Related quotes > [In high tide or in low tide, I'll be by your side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/in-high-tide-or-in-low-tide-i-ll-be-by-your-side/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [“In the high tide or low tide, I'm gonna be your friend... I'm gonna be your friend!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/in-the-high-tide-or-low-tide-i-m-gonna-be-your-friend-i-m-gonna-be/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [In high seas or-a low seas, I'm gonna be your friend. And baby high tide or low tide, I'll be by your side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-marley/in-high-seas-or-a-low-seas-i-m-gonna-be-your-friend-and-baby-high/) [Bob Marley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-marley/) > [The feelings we live through in love and in loneliness are simply, for us, what high tide and low tide are to the sea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-feelings-we-live-through-in-love-and-in-loneliness-are-simply-for/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [A man never got a woman back... not by begging on his knees.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/a-man-never-got-a-woman-back-not-by-begging-on-his-knees/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“What mattered more was the feeling, a rich sweet undertow so commanding that in class, on the school bus, lying in bed trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-tartt/what-mattered-more-was-the-feeling-a-rich-sweet-undertow-so/) [Donna Tartt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-tartt/) > [It is madness. And if you don't know who you are, or if your real self has drifted away from you with the undertow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-forrest/it-is-madness-and-if-you-don-t-know-who-you-are-or-if-your-real-self/) [Emma Forrest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-forrest/) > [There comes a time when we realize that our parents cannot save themselves or save us, that everyone who wades through time eventually gets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/there-comes-a-time-when-we-realize-that-our-parents-cannot-save/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“To brave the undertow, we had learned to hold hands.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-brave-the-undertow-we-had-learned-to-hold-hands/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Now I felt like I was drifting, sucked down by an undertow, and too far out to swim back to the shore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/now-i-felt-like-i-was-drifting-sucked-down-by-an-undertow-and-too-far/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Im tried of being what you want me to be. feeling so faithless, lost under the surface. Don't know what you're expecting of me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linkin-park/im-tried-of-being-what-you-want-me-to-be-feeling-so-faithless-lost/) [Linkin Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linkin-park/) > [I love the sea with its impenetrable fathoms, its wash and undertow, and rasp of shingle sucked anew.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-e-barber/i-love-the-sea-with-its-impenetrable-fathoms-its-wash-and-undertow/) [Margaret E. Barber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-e-barber/) > [remember to recognize the small successes that you will have. Don't let the brightness of that big goal blind you to what happens on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/remember-to-recognize-the-small-successes-that-you-will-have-don-t/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [They will tell you tough stories of sharks all over the Cape, which I do not presume to doubt utterly,--how they will sometimes upset…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/they-will-tell-you-tough-stories-of-sharks-all-over-the-cape-which-i/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [“You’ll be okay, Eila. You are stronger than you think,” he said, a tad too serious. I nodded drunkenly. “I am still worried though,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-r-conway/you-ll-be-okay-eila-you-are-stronger-than-you-think-he-said-a-tad-too/) [K.R. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-r-conway/) ## More by Leonard Cohen > [The blizzard of the world has crossed the threshold and it's overturned the order of the soul...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-blizzard-of-the-world-has-crossed-the-threshold-and-it-s/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Don't matter if you're rich and strong Don't matter if you're weak Don't matter if you write a song The nightingales repeat Don't matter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/don-t-matter-if-you-re-rich-and-strong-don-t-matter-if-you-re-weak/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“You don't know me from the wind you never will, you never did I'm the little jew who wrote the Bible. I've seen the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/you-don-t-know-me-from-the-wind-you-never-will-you-never-did-i-m-the/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“This is it I’m not coming after you I’m going to lie down for half an hour This is it I’m not going down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-is-it-i-m-not-coming-after-you-i-m-going-to-lie-down-for-half-an/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [My sense of proprietorship has been so weak that actually I didn't pay attention and I lost the copyrights on a lot of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/my-sense-of-proprietorship-has-been-so-weak-that-actually-i-didn-t/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [This world is full of conflicts and full of things that cannot be reconciled. But there are moments when we can... reconcile and embrace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/this-world-is-full-of-conflicts-and-full-of-things-that-cannot-be/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [ I would say the hummingbird really deserves the royalties on \[some of my songs\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-would-say-the-hummingbird-really-deserves-the-royalties-on-some-of/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [One is given to self-dramatization from time to time. I intend to live forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/one-is-given-to-self-dramatization-from-time-to-time-i-intend-to-live/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [The basic function of popular music is to create an environment for courting, lovemaking, and doing the dishes. It's useful because it addresses the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/the-basic-function-of-popular-music-is-to-create-an-environment-for/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“Blessed are you, embrace of the falling, foundation of the light, master of the human accident.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/blessed-are-you-embrace-of-the-falling-foundation-of-the-light-master/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I continually blacken pages and scribble away, so I always have a number of songs that are half-finished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-continually-blacken-pages-and-scribble-away-so-i-always-have-a/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I have nothing against the Queen of England. Even in my heart I never resented her for not being Jackie Kennedy. She is, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-have-nothing-against-the-queen-of-england-even-in-my-heart-i-never/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [I loved you when you opened like a lily to the heat; you see I’m just another snowman standing in the rain and sleet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-loved-you-when-you-opened-like-a-lily-to-the-heat-you-see-i-m-just/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [It's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/it-s-time-that-we-began-to-laugh-and-cry-and-cry-and-laugh-about-it/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) > [“I followed the course From chaos to art Desire the horse Depression the cart”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/i-followed-the-course-from-chaos-to-art-desire-the-horse-depression/) [Leonard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) [Explore all 543 Leonard Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/) ## More Arms quotes > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/) [Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Are we fighting?" I asked Morelli. "No. Were discussing." "Are you sure?" "Am I yelling?" Morelli asked. "Is my face purple? Are the cords…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/are-we-fighting-i-asked-morelli-no-were-discussing-are-you-sure-am-i/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [A home isn't just a roof over our heads. A home is a place where we feel loved and where we love others. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/a-home-isn-t-just-a-roof-over-our-heads-a-home-is-a-place-where-we/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Comerado, this is no book,Who touches this, touches a man,(Is it night? Are we here alone?)It is I you hold, and who holds you,I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/comerado-this-is-no-book-who-touches-this-touches-a-man-is-it-night/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I separated the joints, the arm joints, the leg joints, and had to do two boilings. I think I used four boxes of Soilex…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-separated-the-joints-the-arm-joints-the-leg-joints-and-had-to-do/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [More courage is required to forgive than is required to take up arms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ramos-horta/more-courage-is-required-to-forgive-than-is-required-to-take-up-arms/) [Jose Ramos-Horta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ramos-horta/) > [It's been a long time since I asked anything of heaven, and my arms still haven't come down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-porchia/it-s-been-a-long-time-since-i-asked-anything-of-heaven-and-my-arms/) [Antonio Porchia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-porchia/) > [With those who are willing to join, let us cooperate to reduce the burden of arms, to strengthen the structure of peace, to lift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-m-nixon/with-those-who-are-willing-to-join-let-us-cooperate-to-reduce-the/) [Richard M. Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-m-nixon/) > [How shall freedom be defended? By arms when it is attacked by arms, by truth when it is attacked by lies, by faith when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-macleish/how-shall-freedom-be-defended-by-arms-when-it-is-attacked-by-arms-by/) [Archibald MacLeish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-macleish/) > [You don't have to say it out loud. I already know why you like me.' 'You do, huh?' 'Yep.' He wrapped his arms around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/you-don-t-have-to-say-it-out-loud-i-already-know-why-you-like-me-you/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [Another step had her backed up against the wall, and he braced his arms on both sides of her. "I'm beginning to look forward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-lindsey/another-step-had-her-backed-up-against-the-wall-and-he-braced-his/) [Johanna Lindsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-lindsey/) [Browse all 4,470 Arms quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Undertow\" \"I set out one night When the tide was low There were signs in the sky But I did not know I'd be caught in the grip Of the undertow Ditched on a beach Where the sea hates to go With a child in my arms And a chill in my soul And my heart the shape Of a begging bowl", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Leonard Cohen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-tide-was-low-there-were-signs/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Arms" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-tide-was-low-there-were-signs/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f7b/leonard-cohen-448_arms_undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-ti_2874759.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Undertow\" \"I set out one night When the tide was low There were signs in the sky But I did not know I'd be…” — Leonard Cohen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Leonard Cohen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-cohen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Undertow\" \"I set out one night...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-tide-was-low-there-were-signs/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-cohen/undertow-i-set-out-one-night-when-the-tide-was-low-there-were-signs/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```