The song "Swimming Upstream" by Josef Salvat is about a failed romantic relationship and the protagonist's realization that they were never truly understood by their partner. The lyrics convey feelings of being misunderstood and constantly compared to the partner's past lovers. The song begins with the protagonist expressing how they initially felt comfortable and open with their partner. However, as the relationship progressed, their partner started confusing them with someone from their past and treating them as if they were similar to their previous partners. The protagonist asserts that they are nothing like the previous people their partner has been with. The lyrics suggest that the couple tried to go against the flow and overcome obstacles together, symbolized by swimming upstream in a river. The partner claimed to know where the river went, implying a sense of direction and purpose. However, as time went on, the protagonist realized that they were changing while their partner continued to make the same mistakes as before. The chorus highlights the protagonist's frustration, asking their partner not to blame their past experiences on them. They express how their partner had built a dream around them but eventually worked to break them down. In the second verse, the protagonist acknowledges their own state of confusion and vulnerability. They were lost in love and trying to find their way, but the more they asked for clarity, the more their partner distanced themselves and withheld love. The lyrics also include a French phrase, "T'étais à côté de la plaque," which translates to "You were off base" in English, emphasizing the partner's act of misunderstanding. The chorus is repeated, emphasizing the protagonist's realization that their partner is still attached to their past and is making the same mistakes despite claiming to be changing. The bridge of the song highlights the danger of the situation, but instead of it being external factors, it focuses on the dangers that the partner brings to the relationship. The protagonist concludes that the only danger the partner needs to worry about is themselves because they are just repeating patterns from their past experiences. In summary, "Swimming Upstream" is a song about the protagonist's realization that their partner has misunderstood them, compared them to their past lovers, and failed to make positive changes in their relationship. It conveys a sense of frustration and disappointment in the partner's inability to truly see and understand the protagonist.
