Mayer, John - Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 Lyrics






Walt Grace, desperately hating his old place
Dreamed to discover a new space and buried himself alive
Inside his basement
The tongue on the side of his face meant
He's working away on displacement
And what it would take to survive

'Cause when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you

And his wife told his kids he was crazy
And his friends said he'd fail if he tried
But with the will to work hard and a library card
He took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride

That morning the sea was mad and I mean it
Waves as big as he'd seen it deep in his dreams at home
From dry land, he rolled it over to wet sand
Closed the hatch up with one hand
And pedaled off alone

'Cause when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you

And for once in his life, it was quiet
As he learned how to turn in the tide
And the sky was aflare when he came up for air
In his homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride

One evening, when weeks had passed since his leaving
The call she planned on receiving finally made it home
She accepted the news she never expected
The operator connected the call from Tokyo
'Cause when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you

Now his friends bring him up when they're drinking
At the bar with his name on the side
And they smile when they can, as they speak of the man
Who took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride





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Mayer, John Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 Comments
  1. J.... M....

    Hands down one of the best songs ever written.

  2. �.... �....

    Now I’m speechless over the edge and just breathless I never thought that I’d get hit by this love bug againnn

  3. L.... S....

    Such an amazing song, flawless storytelling ability. This song means so much to me both as an inspiration and just for the story. Ties with Slow Dancing In A Burning Room for my favorite Mayer song💓💓💓💓💓💓💓

  4. M.... H....

    I LOVE YOU. SOMEWHERE OUT THERE, I DO.

  5. S.... F....

    Who is walt grace anyway?

    S.... F....

    Each of us and our journey through life

  6. A.... B....

    Gives me goosebumps every time I listen to this song, one of his best

  7. C.... N....

    this song is about actualizing your creative potential

  8. S.... H....

    I feel like this song could be adapted into a movie directed by Wes Anderson. Don’t ask why, just the way it makes me feel.

    S.... H....

    Exactly what I was thinking, probably due to the constant symmetry, use of projector-style lyrical fonts and amazing lyricism

  9. J.... ....

    No the Disnsey manlets didnt get me here.

  10. S.... B....

    It's a great song but the chorus is exactly the same as lovebug

    S.... B....

    This song is better than anything the Jonas brothers could ever accomplish

    S.... B....

    @Harris No way
    The Jonas Brothers are way better

    S.... B....

    Since when did they own this chord pregression? Lmao

    S.... B....

    @Sara Belarbi u kidding me?

  11. M.... C....

    oh my god why do people care so much that it's close to lovebug, there are no legal issues with the song and the jonas brothers themselves said they love the song

  12. S.... ....

    This makes me feel that one emotion that you can never place or name - it’s simultaneously happy but somber. It’s almost like nostalgia but not quite? If there’s a name for this lemme know lmfao.

  13. N.... F....

    The song is so beautiful it gives me a lovebug

  14. M.... ....

    0:48 doing this for myself xx

  15. H.... S....

    uaaaaaaa

  16. I.... V....

    Way better than Lovebug tho!, this is like top notch songwriting and story telling, such a underrated masterpiece of a song

  17. J.... M....

    Música perfeita.

  18. T.... ....

    The chorus is similar to Lovebug, but this song is better so 🤷‍♂️

  19. B.... K....

    Jonas Brothers are just mad that John's song is better.

  20. c.... c....

    Fuck the Jonas Brothers and Lovebug

  21. I.... C....

    This song feels like a Wes Anderson movie

  22. S.... L....

    😢😢😢😢😢✌️✌️✌️👍👍✨✨✨🎶🎶🎶⭐️🌹🌖

  23. B.... S....

    just 1 tiny part is the same (only the melody not even the chords) and everybody is loosing it. Just watch the top charts all the songs sound like each other..

    B.... S....

    Bram Slootmans It kinda blows me anyway that more people are noticing that

  24. N.... L....

    This song was soooo fucking good live.

  25. J.... M....

    For all the people saying it sounds like "Love Bug" I agree.
    But man look and the lyrics and how deep this song actually is compared to Love Bug.
    That's all I have to say.

  26. T.... B....

    No no what Nick means is the same beat. However john does not go into rock mode like lovebug does

  27. P.... D....

    Welcome to real music, Jonas fans.

  28. M.... c....

    Now I’m speechless over the edge I’m just breathless I never thought that I’d catch this LOVEBUG again

    M.... c....

    Stupid childish lyrics

  29. K.... N....

    came here to make sure lovebug was the better song

    K.... N....

    Walt grace by a mile

  30. R.... M....

    Jonas brother

  31. R.... M....

    Who tf are Jonas brothers?
    John’s awesome music brought me here.

  32. T.... ....

    But this was released before lovebug, I’m confused

    T.... ....

    Tara4Reel lovebug was released in 2008

  33. I.... 1....

    “Now I’m speechless just over the edge breathless...” wait wrong song

  34. L.... ....

    Me: it doesn't sound /that/ simi--
    *john starts singing*
    Me: w h a t i n t h e l o v e b u g

    L.... ....

    Leslee litteraly same I was like wut how 😂😂

    L.... ....

    The chorus has the same beat count but that’s not something you can claim as your own

    L.... ....

    yeeeessss, Jonas Brother. lol

  35. S.... B....

    Cause when you are done with this world , You know next is up to you .

    Lyrical master piece 😍😍😍😍😍 ...

  36. A.... R....

    Wow I did not expect it to be SO similar to Lovebug lol

    A.... R....

    I'm also quite shocked

    A.... R....

    Way better than Lovebug tho

    A.... R....

    It’s not that similar just a few notes from love bugs chorus don’t disrespect John Mayer like that

  37. B.... ....

    Hot ones, anyone???

  38. M.... V....

    Jaw dropped when the chorus hit. Love bug... #NickJonas

  39. b.... ....

    Lol at the Jonas brothers thinking John copied Lovebug. At least it’s bringing attention to his song and now everyone can listen to this storytelling masterpiece :)

    b.... ....

    alyssa45678 the Jonas brothers KNOWING John Mayer copied love bug lol. The melody is the EXACT same just different lyrics. Not discrediting the song, it’s amazing and way better than anything I could ever do but give credit where credit is due.

    b.... ....

    Autumn Rose 👏

    b.... ....

    Don’t get me wrong I’m a huge Jonas brothers fan but for them for to go after John over a “similar” chord progression?? When first of all there is no such thing as 100% originality and second they’ve copied multiple artist in their own music? Petty shit. Respect your opinion and views but I completely disagree

    b.... ....

    broccoligurl69 They never even went after John in any way whatsoever. They legitimately called it a compliment. Sean asked about how many pop songs today are very similar and mentioned John Mayer so it wasn’t like they brought it up out of nowhere because they were bitter. I’m not going to argue about if the song is a copy or not because I know that there is no way I could convince you otherwise. I don’t have anything against John and I think it’s possible that he didn’t even realize his chorus was so similar to Lovebug. I’m just pointing out that the brothers were not attempting to “expose him” or call him out at all.

    b.... ....

    They didn’t answer the question and instead made that unnecessary comment. I mean it’s not that big of a deal lol, my whole point originally was how i was glad people were checking out this song. Not really trying to get into a debate over something so dumb. But thanks for sharing your perspective

  40. E.... C....

    NICK WAS RIGHT, THE CHORUS IS LEGIT LOVEBUG

    E.... C....

    It's actually quite shocking

    E.... C....

    lol
    what a compliment
    *face palm

  41. M.... T....

    Who's here from the jonas brothers hot ones video?

    M.... T....

    yup lol

  42. A.... P....

    John's music makes me want to be a better man, there is no greater compliment I can pay him.

  43. E.... ....

    Hot Ones sent me here

  44. A.... B....

    This i literally lovebug with different lyrics. The Jonas brothers better be getting some money from this song

    A.... B....

    Pretty sure this was released prior to that.

    A.... B....

    @Adam Powell lovebug is from 2008

    A.... B....

    @Adam Powell Pretty sure 😜 you're wrong.

  45. D.... ....

    Who’s here cuz of Jonas Brothers Hot Ones Challenge?

    D.... ....

    What that sounds so wrong

    D.... ....

    Get out of here you squibb

    D.... ....

    What's that?

    D.... ....

    For me this song fells like Jonas Brother's Love bug

    D.... ....

    They’re really not similar at all.

  46. B.... D....

    *Folksy Songwriting with John Mayer & Steve Zissou*

  47. L.... L....

    The way John Mayer sings in Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 is kinda similar to Lovebug by Jonas Brothers

  48. v.... o....

    I wish if i could to read John mayer’s mind so that i would know all the real stories behind his song writing. Such a genius.

  49. j.... ....

    John Mayer acts like his voice is limited, but if you listen to how he sings this particular song, anyone can hear that he is way more talented than he lets on.

  50. C.... L....

    Where was the video footage made?

  51. C.... ....

    Ik he borrowed a melody from the Jonas Brothers but he used it better

  52. s.... b....

    "lovebug" by the Jonas brothers sounds a bit Like the beginning

    s.... b....

    aka this sounds a bit like Lovebug since it came out first

    s.... b....

    Hannah Hawkins You’re actually right because a YouTube channel called “first we feast” just posted a video with the Jonas Brothers about an hour ago and they just talked about those songs it’s so weirddd

  53. W.... S....

    sounds like lovebug - jonas brother

  54. L.... ....

    I love singing this song to my newborn :)

  55. R.... H....

    A beautiful tale, from a beautiful mind.

  56. T.... F....

    what was he doing, testing the words to the music?

  57. a.... k....

    sounds like love bug from the jonas brothers

    a.... k....

    acacia kenny the jonas brothers said that he told him he loved their song and then two years later he put out this

  58. s.... a....

    My teacher played this song in Class for a short Humanities Project.
    I was the only kid in all the grade 7 classes that understood this song in a deeper meaning then the obvious one.

  59. F.... B....

    There are those who do not like this song.. let that sink in..

  60. A.... U....

    What surprises me is the fact that this song doesn't even have half a million views ! 🏳️‍🌈 World needs his music but people are ignorant...

  61. H.... M....

    Such an underrated song.

  62. S.... G....

    it sounds a lot like lovebug by jonas brothers

  63. C.... G....

    At first I liked the tune but now I understand the lyrics

  64. t.... ....

    Sorry John, I didn't get any ticket for your concert in Indonesia. Now you're just a dream.

  65. D.... P....

    Great jam

  66. j.... ....

    What a song. And what a guy.

  67. B.... C....

    oh yeah yeah

  68. T.... M....

    Lindo !!! Adoro como tudo vira linda musica com John Mayer. Sua voz treme lindamente com tom de humanidade que me arrepia.

  69. T.... L....

    The layers to this song.....

  70. m.... ....

    Amazing, inspirational lyrics. Take note kiddies making your dreams come true 'is up to you'. Gotta love John Mayer for telling you how it is!

  71. j.... ....

    Must be done: SpeAker: "Let me tell you about the 41. " Responders: "Oh. That explains a lot".

  72. R.... R....

    this man can write

  73. A.... A....

    I love John but he totally ripped of Bowies Space Oddity by just changing names and swapping Space for the sea

  74. G.... F....

    This song... is so fucking brilliant <3.<3... thanks John!

  75. j.... ....

    1967
    1997

  76. G.... H....

    Min 1:31. Boy were they wrong. It's good to know when to drown out their advice and, instead, listen to your guardian angel (aka gut feeling).

  77. S.... G....

    I feel like Walt Grace so much these days. I feel so done with this world

  78. S.... ....

    His voice and all he made is a part of me.

  79. S.... M....

    I absolutely love this song. Makes me emotional everytime I hear it.
    Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do anything. I live this song

  80. b.... l....

    Brasil 2018

  81. j.... ....

    I L❤VE This Song.

  82. j.... ....

    My favorite Mayer song.

  83. S.... J....

    this song makes me cry

  84. f.... ....

    Sweet Home Montana..

  85. D.... Z....

    Underrated song. I love the ambiguous ending.

  86. K.... B....

    This sure sounds like Love Bug by the Jonas Brothers. . .

  87. R.... G....

    This could be a really good wes Anderson movie

  88. J.... S....

    So heres my theory. In ww2 the Japanese made submarines that were effectively kamakazie torpedos called kaiten. Once the pilot was inside, there was no way of getting them out. The story of walt grace is one of a man looking for a new life, a new world. And when he spends his life building his submarine, his escape from life, he chose one of those instead of a normal submarine. He never planned on leaving. He never planned on coming home. In all his planning and his building in that escape he never put in a door to get out. It makes it so fitting that the call came from Tokyo when those submarines were japanese. Bear in mind this is 1967, an odd detail with no place in the story except that 1967 isnt long after ww2, and old plans of that kind of submarine were still relatively available. Its an interesting thought but it adds a deeper meaning to the song in general. I like to think it speaks about a battle with addiction, in that walt grace was building his life seeking an escape In the same way a junkie does. And finally completing this he dies, like an overdose

  89. B.... D....

    Wish the guitar were more present in the mix

  90. C.... K....

    Listening to this on the beach in OCMD at the moment. I'll say I'm content for the first time in awhile. Thank you Mr. Mayer for meaningful music.

  91. S.... K....

    inspiring era I think so.

  92. A.... G....

    Love Bug ?

  93. Y.... R....

    What about where the video was taken?

  94. B.... V....

    and they say this is under-rated...

  95. B.... L....

    It sounds like love bug

  96. P.... A....

    Is there any songs similar to this??

  97. L.... K....

    If you have the right baratone ukulele and a harmonica @ the same time, this is a very cool ukulele song to cover.

  98. n.... p....

    This is JM's best song

    n.... p....

    Edge of desire is great too, my personal fav

  99. M.... S....

    The video 👌😍

  100. W.... ....

    Imagine the road trip