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Toad The Wet Sprocket — Walk on the Ocean
Album: Fear
Avg rating:
7.4

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3553









Released: 1991
Length: 2:53
Plays (last 30 days): 3
We spotted the ocean
At the head of the trail
Where are we going
So far away

And somebody told me
This is the place
Where every thing's better
And every thing's safe

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

And half and hour later
We packed up our things
We said we'd send letters
And all those little things

They knew we were lying
They smiled just the same
And it seemed they'd already
Forgotten we'd came

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

Walk on the ocean
Step on the stones
Flesh becomes water
Wood becomes bone

Back at the homestead
Where the air makes you choke
People don't know you
And trust is a joke

Don't even have pictures
Just memories to hold
Grow sweeter each season
As we slowly grow old
Comments (357)add comment
The tone of his voice when he sings “Back at the homestead..”.. Love this song 
 Euskadita wrote:

That interlude simply kills me, one of the top climaxes ever!



Are we still talking about music here?
I'm having a great morning, and this song is the cherry on my sundae. Would give it an 11 if I could. 

I can still sing this album from beginning to end. It holds up amazingly well.
Just bloody great.. 
nice following nada surf. 
Almost an "America" song. 
funny this would come on while I'm converting my bass to a fretless bass
Happy New Year!  I was thinking of this tune 5 minutes before it came on.  Wonderful synchronicity.   May 2023 bring you comfort and wellness!
I hear this and I gotta get my dance on!
They have so many great songs that people haven't heard. 
please don't play this one here
kbs initially wrote:
A somewhat tuneless trend here alas with Goldfish followed by a somewhat 'squeezed' Toad. Being blessed with a perfect pitch ear is unfortunately a curse at times, making anything with baroque tuning unpleasant as well...

tinypriest wrote:
Neil Young must also be a challenge for you.
No - I fully appreciate Neil! Having just heard again without the preconditioning of Goldfish which I fortunately missed, I find it sounded better. I mentally likened it to Squeeze (not in itself a great recommendation in my book, though).
Re-reading my original post I'd now put 'a challenge' instead of 'unpleasant'.

This song is gorgeous and I bloody love it..!!
I always thought of Toad the Wet Sprocket and Radio Paradise has helped me to realize that they actually had a number of frequently great songs that I was already familiar with... I just didn't realise it was the same band!

They sounded at home on the radio, but they really did rise above the dross.
Gotta love how they got their name. Look on Bright Side of Life
Back in September 1992, this song was constantly on the radio, which I used to have on all the time.  I also happened to be reading Kon Tiki, the song about sailing across the South Pacific.  It became the theme song for that book as the song must have played once or twice during every chapter.
 nostradamuszen wrote:

Hey, c'mon guys, surely you can't be comparing this to Triad The Weird Bucket's performance of 'Wink at the Asian'?!

The subtle 17-tone scales, the imperceptible shifts between sub-harmony and accelerated retro-blues chords alone make it worthy of listing as an all-time post-Freudian crypto-classic, certainly among the Masonic and Jehovah's Witness community?

And that's got to be better than Coldplay, or even Turin Brakes. Hasn't it?



I've no idea what "all-time post-Freudian crypto-classic" music is, but you sure make it sound good!
 Edweirdo wrote:

Maybe you need to listen to some bands like Slade, Mud, Darts, Sweet, Bay City Rollers, Wizzard, ELO to find out just how wrong you are.


You had me until ELO. Mr. Blue Sky is a masterpiece.
 tinypriest wrote:

Neil Young must also be a challenge for you.

He is for me. And I like this song!
 pumpkins3 wrote:

Quite possibly the worst song ever composed. Just terrible.


Maybe you need to listen to some bands like Slade, Mud, Darts, Sweet, Bay City Rollers, Wizzard, ELO to find out just how wrong you are.
Moonwalk Away --> Walk on the Ocean.

I see what you did there, Bill.
 kbs wrote:

A somewhat tuneless trend here alas with Goldfish followed by a somewhat 'squeezed' Toad. Being blessed with a perfect pitch ear is unfortunately a curse at times, making anything with baroque tuning unpleasant as well...




Neil Young must also be a challenge for you.
God, these guys were good!
This is what our local FM radio station plays.  No iHeart for me please.
 markpeachey wrote:

These guys remind me of Crowded House



I was thinking the same thing.    
 boober wrote:
On_The_Beach wrote:From Wiki:
Toad the Wet Sprocket took its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes" in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report:
Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle. "Fell off the back of a motorcyclist, most likely," quipped ace drummer Jumbo McClooney upon hearing of the accident. Plans are now afoot for a major tour of Iceland.
As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious". Vocalist Glen Phillips later called it "a joke that went on too long", and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time".
Eric Idle, the sketch's original performer, reflected on the band's name in a 1999 performance:
I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket". And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in L.A., and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket", and I nearly drove off the freeway.




One of the Many reasons I like RP, facts like this ...





I think you may want to thank Jimmy Wales for facts like these.
 kbs wrote:

A somewhat tuneless trend here alas with Goldfish followed by a somewhat 'squeezed' Toad. Being blessed with a perfect pitch ear is unfortunately a curse at times, making anything with baroque tuning unpleasant as well...



It's amazing you've survived this long. Stay strong.
Reminds me of Block Island. Every time I hear this song I'm right back there on Black Rock Point. 
 curious.engineer327 wrote:

Why hasn't this ever been worked into a movie?

You mean you missed "Toad the Wet Sprocket vs. Godzilla"...?-)

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



Still marvelous.
A somewhat tuneless trend here alas with Goldfish followed by a somewhat 'squeezed' Toad. Being blessed with a perfect pitch ear is unfortunately a curse at times, making anything with baroque tuning unpleasant as well...
 pumpkins3 wrote:
Quite possibly the worst song ever composed. Just terrible.
 
yeah, not very good. 
Why hasn't this ever been worked into a movie?
Beautiful song Always love it
Yay! The album mix, not the sucky radio mix with the fade out ending, heavy metal kick drum sound and inaudible lead vocal in the chorus!! 
This song, this whole album takes me back to a time and a place when music started to matter to me.  Every time I hear this song I can see myself sitting on the beach waves washing up around me as  protect my CD walkman from getting wet lol.... 
My interpretation: the melancholy of having to return to your mundane everyday isolation after an emotional gathering and reunion with special people.
Saw them on 8/18/18 at the Park West Chicago.  They were pretty darn good.  
{#Stop}  Not again please. 
beautiful summer music.
This song makes me think of my first love.  The power of music and memory.
{#Motor} {#Motor} {#Motor}
 mamahoneymeow wrote:
This song is everything wonderful from my adolescence...

 
The same here... :)
 NeuroGeek wrote:
RP
needs
more
TOAD

 
Yes, just yes. Especially the new stuff and Glen's solo work. I'm really surprised more isn't on here. The entirety of Acoustic Dance Party should be on here...
{#Drunk}and this is the moment PSD won't work...
 pumpkins3 wrote:
Garbage.

 
Nope, sounds nothing like Garbage to me.

This is Garbage for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypr18UmxOas
 mamahoneymeow wrote:
This song is everything wonderful from my adolescence...

 

Ditto
Hey, c'mon guys, surely you can't be comparing this to Triad The Weird Bucket's performance of 'Wink at the Asian'?!

The subtle 17-tone scales, the imperceptible shifts between sub-harmony and accelerated retro-blues chords alone make it worthy of listing as an all-time post-Freudian crypto-classic, certainly among the Masonic and Jehovah's Witness community?

And that's got to be better than Coldplay, or even Turin Brakes. Hasn't it?
This song is everything wonderful from my adolescence...
 melzabutch wrote:
Toadies
 

 


Great Song !!! 

 ppopp wrote:
Sounds like a poor man's Crowded House - which is about as bad as insults get.

 
That was a bad insult. Or more accurately a poor one.
 akdavey wrote:
Ugggh.
I'm mostly dissatisfied with the segue to this song.
You went from Beatles-The End to this and it just highlights how mediocre TTWS was.
blech. buzz completely harshed.

 
Ouch. Just stay tuned. What B&R do is surely art.
 ppopp wrote:
Sounds like a poor man's Crowded House - which is about as bad as insults get.

 
what the?
These guys remind me of Crowded House
 Stingray wrote:
Why nothing from their new (and good) "NEW CONSTELLATIONS" album...?

 
Yea, what's up with that?  There are some great songs on that album.
 akdavey wrote:
Ugggh.
I'm mostly dissatisfied with the segue to this song.
You went from Beatles-The End to this and it just highlights how mediocre TTWS was.
blech. buzz completely harshed.

 
Yes, because there should be a committee put together that decides what songs are dared to be book-ended against a Beatle's song.
That way the song, nor anyone else is offended.......... 
 IndyDoug wrote:
Unfortunately this song is likely their one and only shot at brilliance. Not really a fan of their other stuff. 

 
Completely disagree.  I also think their new album is some of their best work.
still a mediocre song. it can't get better or worse.
 boober wrote:

One of the many reasons I listen to RP....facts like this.

 

{#Yes}
Unfortunately this song is likely their one and only shot at brilliance. Not really a fan of their other stuff. 
Sounds like a poor man's Crowded House - which is about as bad as insults get.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
From Wiki:
Toad the Wet Sprocket took its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes" in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report:
Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle. "Fell off the back of a motorcyclist, most likely," quipped ace drummer Jumbo McClooney upon hearing of the accident. Plans are now afoot for a major tour of Iceland.
As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious". Vocalist Glen Phillips later called it "a joke that went on too long", and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time".
Eric Idle, the sketch's original performer, reflected on the band's name in a 1999 performance:
I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket". And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in L.A., and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket", and I nearly drove off the freeway.

 
One of the many reasons I listen to RP....facts like this.
This song, this. album, this band...there are no words, and no number high enough. 
Ugggh.
I'm mostly dissatisfied with the segue to this song.
You went from Beatles-The End to this and it just highlights how mediocre TTWS was.
blech. buzz completely harshed.
 coloradojohn wrote:
I myself think that the lyrics are amazing...how you can get sucked into going somewhere everyone raves about, but on arrival, your own baggage might color it negative, and you may wonder what the fuss was about, and quickly make a lame exit, hurrying back to where reality hurts a lot more than you remembered, and it all leaves you with the feeling that even the clipped memories of a Paradise you only half-glimpsed should have been appreciated a whole lot more, and are, in fact, ever more precious as you get older - which is a lot like Life!

 
Half-Glimpsed Paradise...
So true.  It's hard to forget our personal baggage and find peace of mind moment to moment.
 bam23 wrote:
 You really need to get out more



 
I agree with bam23. Happy my taste isn't the same as your's pumpkins3
 pumpkins3 wrote:
Quite possibly the worst song ever composed. Just terrible.

  You really need to get out more


Sounds like the love child of Squeeze and Crowded House. 
This after The Mamas & The Papas — California DreamingOh, please no. {#Naughty}
Love it.
I play it out for friends.
They love it.
Tender ending.
I myself think that the lyrics are amazing...how you can get sucked into going somewhere everyone raves about, but on arrival, your own baggage might color it negative, and you may wonder what the fuss was about, and quickly make a lame exit, hurrying back to where reality hurts a lot more than you remembered, and it all leaves you with the feeling that even the clipped memories of a Paradise you only half-glimpsed should have been appreciated a whole lot more, and are, in fact, ever more precious as you get older - which is a lot like Life!

the beauty of this can still pull me across the room..thanks, RP.


Quite possibly the worst song ever composed. Just terrible.
 heeb wrote:

There's something slightly off, musically, with this song… Somehow the harmonies on the one hand, and the melody on the other hand, don't quite fit together. Anybody with good, musical ears around here hear this as well?

 

You seem to have a lot of agreement, so I'll be the dissenting voice. I'm not going to claim to have "good, musical ears"--and I've spent a lot of my life trying to figure out just what they are for who those who claim to have them--but I can tell a dissonant harmony from one that is appropriate. IMHO they nailed this one. Toad can be a troublesome band to be sure, but not on this song.
 heeb wrote:

There's something slightly off, musically, with this song… Somehow the harmonies on the one hand, and the melody on the other hand, don't quite fit together. Anybody with good, musical ears around here hear this as well?



  Yep. This song always bothered me also. I think it is just poorly written. Uninteresting vocals. Sounds dated.


Garbage.
 On_The_Beach wrote:
From Wiki:
Toad the Wet Sprocket took its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes" in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report:
Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle. "Fell off the back of a motorcyclist, most likely," quipped ace drummer Jumbo McClooney upon hearing of the accident. Plans are now afoot for a major tour of Iceland.
As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious". Vocalist Glen Phillips later called it "a joke that went on too long", and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time".
Eric Idle, the sketch's original performer, reflected on the band's name in a 1999 performance:
I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket". And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in L.A., and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket", and I nearly drove off the freeway.

 
very funny, thanks for sharing
RP
needs
more
TOAD
Why nothing from their new (and good) "NEW CONSTELLATIONS" album...?
From Wiki:
Toad the Wet Sprocket took its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes" in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report:
Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle. "Fell off the back of a motorcyclist, most likely," quipped ace drummer Jumbo McClooney upon hearing of the accident. Plans are now afoot for a major tour of Iceland.
As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious". Vocalist Glen Phillips later called it "a joke that went on too long", and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time".
Eric Idle, the sketch's original performer, reflected on the band's name in a 1999 performance:
I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket". And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in L.A., and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket", and I nearly drove off the freeway.
 heeb wrote:

There's something slightly off, musically, with this song… Somehow the harmonies on the one hand, and the melody on the other hand, don't quite fit together. Anybody with good, musical ears around here hear this as well?



 
That mono has obvious drawbacks as you have discovered. Or use both ear buds..:-)
 heeb wrote:

There's something slightly off, musically, with this song… Somehow the harmonies on the one hand, and the melody on the other hand, don't quite fit together. Anybody with good, musical ears around here hear this as well?



 
I find it quite sublime -- one of relatively few songs I'm above the mean on.  I'm sure there's a musical reason for what you're noticing, but maybe someone with more music theory can voice what it is.

There's something slightly off, musically, with this song… Somehow the harmonies on the one hand, and the melody on the other hand, don't quite fit together. Anybody with good, musical ears around here hear this as well?


this was a staple of my college radio days, so it gets an 8.5!
Hahaha! "You are listening to KISS-FM 98.8 Oldies, ((Your city here)) " {#Cheers}
So good to be reminded of how vital this band was in the early to mid 90's...fantastic! Forever ties me to some really great, groovy times...
 lexica wrote:
Have I already ranted about how rhyming "things" with "things" is cheating? Because it's totally cheating. {#Hand}

 
It's not so much "cheating" as it is "poor form" - but perhaps it was deliberate.  It's not so distracting for me in this tune, though - certainly not as bad as this line from a Top 40 hit from 1978: "You don't have to read my mind, to know what I have in mind".
How this mediocre hit became a staple on the great rp I will never understand.
Miss the Toad!
Always loved this one.
I play it out live, solo, and people love me for it.
Special.
Poignant final lines.
 chatelainedc wrote:
So I met these guys in the late 80's, when I was attending UCSB in Santa Barbara, CA. My boyfriend's brother's band, Tao Jonz, was my connection. Years later, in 1993 when President Clinton was about to be inaugurated, Toad played the "Reunion on the Mall" Hearing that a young Chelsea Clinton was a fan, I asked her dad if it was cool that I introduced her to them. He said yes, and a few secret service issues later, I led her backstage and made that happen. Cool moment. And 20 years later, hearing Toad on here, brings it all back. It was a time, for sure. xo Radio Paradise.
 
 

I too was at UCSB during that time.  Tao Jonz and TTWS were staples of the day in that area!  Haven't thought about them in years...
thanks for posting and reminding me of those carefree days in paradise. 
No! Bad DJ!
Toadies
 
That interlude simply kills me, one of the top climaxes ever!
 myersei wrote:
great band.  shame they didn't last.  very underrated they were.
 

I am the first to agree - GREAT BAND INDEED!

They tour again - after years of silence and anger - and are back in the studio working on a new album to be out soon(est).

CAN'T WAIT!


great band.  shame they didn't last.  very underrated they were.
I always liked "Frog the Moist Bracket".
 lexica wrote:
Have I already ranted about how rhyming "things" with "things" is cheating? Because it's totally cheating. {#Hand}
 
So what.  Even Lance Armstrong cheats.
Have I already ranted about how rhyming "things" with "things" is cheating? Because it's totally cheating. {#Hand}
 aspicer wrote:
It's SO hard to really take them seriously when they name their band THIS?!!!  And, they are a very good band....I just think I'd respect and like'em even more if they could have had even just a "decent" name!  Their success despite that speaks to their talent...
 

I think the band name just doesn't fit.  Everything I hear from this band has no sense of humor.  With a name like 'Toad the Wet Sprocket', I usually expect a sound similar to Bare Naked Ladies or other bands with comedy in their music. 
I toad them not to use that name.
10!
B  L  I  S  S  M  U  S  I  C
BONSOIR ! C'EST PASCAL DU PAYS BASQUE. QUEL SUPER SOUVENIR. MERCI
Dig that bass line!
 tuttle99 wrote: 

Nice.  Best part of that entry is Eric Idle's story of hearing their name while driving down the freeway.
 tuttle99 wrote: 
I thought everyone knew that.  Kids these days....
Waiting for the new album!
 james_of_tucson wrote:


You might facepalm if you learn the origin of their name. 

 

That was amazing!  I had no idea!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toad_the_Wet_Sprocket#Name_origin
 aspicer wrote:
It's SO hard to really take them seriously when they name their band THIS?!!!  And, they are a very good band....I just think I'd respect and like'em even more if they could have had even just a "decent" name!  Their success despite that speaks to their talent...
 

You might facepalm if you learn the origin of their name. 

Sounds perfect coming after REM like that...
I agree that Dulcinea broke ground maybe not before or since equaled...and would love to hear me some about now!
Day's not starting well when I fire up Radio Paradise and here this song. Yuck.
First heard this song on Radio Paradise about 12 or so years ago! Still sounding great as is RP in general!!
 aspicer wrote:
It's SO hard to really take them seriously when they name their band THIS?!!!  And, they are a very good band....I just think I'd respect and like'em even more if they could have had even just a "decent" name!  Their success despite that speaks to their talent...
 
Interesting point.  You can't judge a band by it's name, but you can tell a lot about what they think of and how seriously they take themselves...  Anyway, the skinny from Wikipedia:

Name origin

Toad the Wet Sprocket took its name from a Monty Python comedy sketch called "Rock Notes" (performed by Eric Idle on Monty Python's Contractual Obligation Album), in which a journalist delivers a nonsensical music news report:

Rex Stardust, lead electric triangle with Toad the Wet Sprocket, has had to have an elbow removed following their recent successful worldwide tour of Finland. Flamboyant ambidextrous Rex apparently fell off the back of a motorcycle.

As their first gig approached, the band still had not chosen a name. The members facetiously adopted "Toad the Wet Sprocket" because they thought it would be "hilarious". Vocalist Glen Philips later called it "a joke that went on too long", and, according to their website, "it was probably meant to be temporary at the time".

At the 1999 performance Eric Idle Sings Monty Python, Idle reflected on the name's usage:

I once wrote a sketch about rock musicians and I was trying to think of a name that would be so silly nobody would ever use it, or dream it could ever be used. So I wrote the words "Toad the Wet Sprocket". And a few years later, I was driving along the freeway in L.A., and a song came on the radio, and the DJ said, "that was by Toad the Wet Sprocket", and I nearly drove off the freeway.




 sirdroseph wrote:
RESPECT THE TOAD DAMMIT!!!!!{#Cowboy}
 
heh, yeah I agree (I think)
Ok, I know how to play this on guitar now but my singing sux.  Is it possible to learn how to sing?

 Stingray wrote:
WONDERFUL SONG - SUPER BAND!
"DULCINEA" a top-10 POP album of all times!


By the way:
- they are touring again
- and a new album is planned

 
Top 10?  You're kidding, right?

It's SO hard to really take them seriously when they name their band THIS?!!!  And, they are a very good band....I just think I'd respect and like'em even more if they could have had even just a "decent" name!  Their success despite that speaks to their talent...
It's funny...this is probably my least fav track on this album (though I still like it quite a bit)... you are quite right sir/madam...I still give it an 8.

 fimo wrote:
hearing this reminds me:
i always wanted to make a list of really great albums where the so-called "Single"
was the worst track, in hindsight.

This is one good example...