As a non-native English speaker, I heard this song first when I was at 18. And my thought was ‘hmm, A song of life and death. Too Mundane’, I understood Nothing. And now I’m at age 30. I tried to find a job at 27, While my Ex-GF and my ex-best friend both betrayed and leave me. I tried to begin again and every struggling of mine failed. All I was thinking is ‘My life sucks from the start and never be paid off’. and I’ve always thinking about putting an end of myself by 2 years. All of a sudden I reminded this song and played again. And I finally relized what this song’s true meaning ‘why don’t you love your life while you still can?’. I decided to get a grip and got a counseling. Now I found a new job abroad, Started a new hobbies, and my collegues are relying on me. Everything changed and I’m a little bit more happier man now. Thanks Modest Mouse. And thank you for reading this boring story of mine. May you can find peace of mind by this song like myself.

RIP Jeremiah Green. Always went above and beyond with his drumming.

I love the lyrics, but god, the instrumentals always make you feel the raw emotion, it’s crazy that just the plucking of a guitar can carry so much meaning.

I played this song one night in a tiny little bar in my hometown on their internet jukebox. I expected the older regulars to hate it. One of them came up and asked who the band was, they all seemed to really enjoy it. Never gonna hesitate to play a song I'm unsure about again.

You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye. Arguably my favorite lyric of all time

The scene where the boy wakes up to see Isaac, alive and healthy, reminds me of the last time I saw my dad. He was in the hospital, dying from a terminal illness. We drove out of state to see him. In the hospital, He told me that one day, I’ll see him again. I was too young to know what was going on, so I didn’t think much of it. That night, I had a dream that played out just like this. My dad was standing there, healthy as can be. He held out his arms and smiled at me. We ran, we jumped, we did everything we could possibly do. I was the happiest boy in the world. Everything was perfect. I woke up the next day and realized it was all a dream. I found out that my dad passed away in his sleep not long after I left. I still think about that dream. I love you dad. One day, I will see you again.

This song helped me cope with the grief of the loss my brother 22 years ago. The pain doesn’t go away you just learn to live with it and somehow keep going.

“You wasted life. Why wouldn’t you waste death?” Those lyrics still get to me years after I first heard this song, it still brings tears to my eyes.

meet a guy in rehab. we werent aloud to listen to music so we sang this over and over together. passed away a month later from an overdose.

How does this band make me feel so alive yet dead inside at the same time. Love them.

My heart goes out to the band, fans, and family who lost an amazing person today, Rest in Peace Jeremiah🤍

Coming from an abusive home I never understood the connection between a child and their father so when I had my kid I was constantly spending my time with him thinking that I don't matter to him and that he'd be better off without me. One night my depression got really bad and I was going to end everything when I came across this music video and I saw the smile he gave the crow when he dreamed it was better and recognized it from when my son looks at me. The quote "you wasted life why wouldn't you waste death" hit me hard after that because that's what I was doing. I was wasting my life thinking my family would be better off without me and that my death was going to be wasted because of it. That it wouldn't accomplish anything and that my son needs me.

This song and band beckons a lonely grieving soul but in the comment section you find out your not the only one. Hope anyone reading this has a wonderful life

Not gonna lie, everyone who listened to this and commented are amazing. When I saw no negative comments and everyone supporting each other on this page I was thrilled. This band is genius and in tune with reality. Float on.

I'm 62. These lyrics touch the soul of a certain, special kind of people. It reached back in time when I first heard it years ago, back to my own childhood black and white as it may have been. How many of us are the crow? How many are the little boy? Or are we all both? I played the whole DVD this song was from over and over again.

My first modest mouse album was the moon & Antarctica. My little brother and I would hang out and just sit in silence playing on our gameboys listening to the album. When good news for people who love bad news came out we ran to the store and bought it and listened to it over and over like the other one lol. We especially loved this song. When my brother had a traumatic brain injury and almost died and was in a coma for 3 weeks those two albums were the only things I could listen to that would bring me any comfort because it reminded me of the good times we had together. I would listen to them on my car CD player to and from the hospital every day when I went to visit him. Thank god he made it. I hope someday we can go see a modest mouse concert together. That would be awesome.

It took me 11 years but I think I finally figured out this reference is (very sad) reference to Vincent VanGogh, who painted a painting with a wheat field with crows over them before killing himself. Famous for painting sunflowers which also appear in the video.

"You wasted life why wouldn't you waste the afterlife" is probably one of my most favourite MM lyrics. It's good food for thought!

One of my favorite videoclips. I love the bitter weirdness of the kid hallucinating dying animals are his friends. Friendship be like that, sometimes.

RIP Jeremiah Green (MM Drummer). Thank you for all of the Beautiful music you gave us -- that was the perfect accompaniment to long solo road trips; random Saturday mornings in bed. You are a genius for forming one of the Greatest and most under-rated Bands of all time. - One of your biggest Fans from TX

It was a helpful piece of art that helped me deal with the pain of losing my little sister. I should explain also that she and I were battling Multiple sclerosis and we both were in pain, I just could not leave and need to keep positive for my kids. Now my kids are grown, the pain in worse, but I am determined to keep the world filled with positive energy and enjoy what is left of my life.

This is one of the most polite comment sections I've ever seen. Scrolled through three threads and so far have not witnessed hate.

This takes me back to the fall of 2006. Winter break was starting at school, and my friend introduced me to this song and I would listen to it each afternoon leading into the summer of 07. Good times...

Modest Mouse was my friend's favorite band. He had the hot air balloon album art tattooed on his arm. He killed himself around 3 years ago. I always think of him when I listen to MM. R.I.P Ryan, all your friends and family love and miss you everyday. PS: Anyone reading this, tell your friends and loved ones that you love them.

A kid playing catch with a scarecrow is some powerful imagery.

I was in elementary listening to this band it’s 2020 now I’m holding my 4 month old daughter while she sleeps appreciating all has life has given me. Hope you find happiness in yours ✊🏾

My best friend is the one who introduced me to Modest Mouse with this song in particular. He shot himself on December 29, 2014, resulting in his untimely death. My heart always sinks and tears always come to my eyes whenever I hear the words "You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?" R.I.P. Kyle Thomas

This song makes me think of my younger brother, passed away a few years ago at the age of 45. He loved to fish, esp. ocean fishing. Always shared his catch with me; I'm not a fisherman. So this song hits hard: The ocean breathes salty. RIP Jeff.

at 2:28 when he opens the box and Isaac waves i laughed so hard but then remembered how sad this song was

I just find it amusing that their best known song, Float On, is so optimistic; all about how even though bad things happen, but the good things happen to balance out the bad and everything will work out okay. Then the rest of their discography talks about how the world is a cold, unfeeling place that doesn't give two shits about your happiness.

Lyrics [Verse 1] Your body may be gone, I'm gonna carry you in In my head, in my heart, in my soul And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both live again Well, I don't know, I don't know I don't know, don't think so [Chorus 1] Well, that is that and this is this You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get You get away from me, you get away from me Collected my belongings and I left the jail Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell I had to think awhile, I had to think awhile [Verse 2] The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in? In your head, in your mouth, in your soul And maybe we'll get lucky and we'll both grow old Well I don't know, I don't know I don't know, I hope so [Chorus 1] Well, that is that and this is this You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get You get away from me, you get away from me Collected my belongings and I left the jail Well, thanks for the time, I needed to think a spell I had to think awhile, I had to think awhile [Bridge] Well, that is that and this is this Will you tell me what you saw, and I'll tell you what you missed When the ocean met the sky (You missed) You missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye (You missed) When the Earth folded in on itself (You missed) And said "Good luck, for your sake I hope Heaven and Hell (You missed, you missed) Are really there, but I wouldn't hold my breath" (You missed, you missed) You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death? (You missed, you missed) You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death? [Verse 3] The ocean breathes salty, won't you carry it in? In your head, in your mouth, in your soul The more we move ahead the more we're stuck in rewind Well, I don't mind, I don't mind How the hell could I mind? [Chorus 2] Well, that is that and this is this You tell me what you want and I'll tell you what you get You get away from me, you get away from me Well, that is that and this is this Will you tell me what you saw and I'll tell you what you missed When the ocean met the sky (You missed) You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste the afterlife?

This is one of the only songs and videos that can make me cry when I watch it. I know what I’m about to say isn’t the what the song or video was trying to say. But the moment that he wakes up and the crow is alive and opens its arms to him, that plus the music kicking in makes me think about what it would be like if when you did die - you actually did get to be reunited with the people and animals you loved who had died in your life. But then, moments later in the video it shows him waking up and the crow is still dead. And then that has always brought me the feeling that it also might be that everybody you see go is actually gone. And we should treat each other as such.

Modest Mouse is to blame for my philosophical journey's beginning. let's face it, a highly artistic band.

This song got me through a VERY hard time in my life.

this brings me back to completely being in the moment with this song blasting in my teenager bedroom, with the windows open and fresh air flowing in..hearing and feeling every part of the song move through my soul. i could tear up from the nostalgia, and i still get the same feeling..

Modest Mouse = One of top ten most underrated rock bands of alltime!

Modest Mouse is a great Indie rock band. I love just about everything they have done. :)

the analogies are amazing. the lyrics are spectacular. I wish more people had talent like this. true use of a gifting here

You know the feeling when something speaks to your soul? I'm feeling that.

I remember back in the day "float on" would get played multiple times during the day on MTV and fuse, but this one only tended to pop up really late at night. I don't think I'd like this song nearly as much without those nights of having to see this video multiple times to assure myself it wasn't a weird dream.

This masterpiece only has 7.5 million views and other shit has 100M... UNDERRATED SONG BY MODEST MOUSE

whoever doesn't bang their head and start singing "WELL THAT IS THAT AND THIS IS THIS..." with so many emotions, i don't even know

Once I realized that boy lost his dad (and presumptive his only friend) and is trying to make friends with animals who keep dying...made this grown ass man cry 😢

Now this song reminds me of my guinea pig, who I witnessed pass away right in front of me. It wasn't easy, and a lot of everyday life still reminds me of her. It hurts a lot, and I doubt it will get to a point where it won't hurt anymore. But there's a tiny bit of closure in listening to this song over and over.

This song reminds of the childhood I never got to have and then makes me miss it... Like those people that are heartbroken because they've never been in a relationship m.

I miss you, Dad ❤️

Modest Mouse: Always a downer in an uplifting way, somehow...

been listening to this band and especially this song and "dramamine" since I was young. they hold a special place in my heart. this band had a sound like no other.

_you wasted life why wouldn't you waste death_

Beautiful songwriting.

RIP Jeremiah Green. I just heard of his passing, and had to give another listen to some of my favorite songs by these guys.

most beautiful song at the right moment...keep going you wonderful people.

These guys have become one of my favorite bands!

I feel bad for this kid, I've done the same before many times like him where you help a hurt animal and it dies anyway.

My favorite band of all time. My best friend Tommy introduce me to Modest Mouse. He took his life back in early 2008. I cry everytime I listen to Dramamine & The world at large bkuz those were his favorite songs. Float On Gets to me also bkuz I feel like if he could have just held on longer, he would have been able to just Float On.... Rest In Peace Tommy.. I Love You Bro..

I always thought the instrumentals of this song had a magical quality to it- it captures the essence of the ocean and it intoxicates me from start to finish every time.

Still love this song!

Strong feelings build up when i watch this

Still my favorite band after all these years.

My friend died of cervical cancer back in May. She would have been 34 as of June 17th. This song really makes me think of her.

This song is fucking beautiful

This song always speaks directly to my soul. I have no idea why, but I'm not arguing with it.

“When the earth folded in on itself and said "good luck, for your sake I hope heaven and hell are really there But I wouldn't hold my breath" You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?” Good lord man who comes up with lyrics like that..

This song always gives my consciousness.......one great big breath of fresh air.......and life is always.....complicated....

Always thought this song was superior to Float On

you missed when time and life shook hands and said goodbye i went through a period where i had this song perpetually stuck in my head

Sometimes you just have to feel your way through things

such a gorgeous song

nope, i cant watch it without tears

This video makes me so sad.

I can't stop crying after listening and watching this video

Rest In Peace the amazing and inspiring Jeremiah Greene, you did not waste life, and you will not waste death. Our hearts go out to all and we love you 3:49

This song makes me miss my grandfather.

This song is so touching and sad... the first sentences make my eyes watery :,-/ What a tragedy it is, living and knowing time passes by, we won´t get to live again, we´ll loose those who we love and they will some day loose us.

Me and you Nick cruising to this with a fresh j and a fresh outlook on life. You passed on too soon my friend. Its been 17 years now and you still bring a tear to my eyes friend. Thanks for making the good ol days the good ol days. Until the day we meet again on the other side.

R.I.P Jeremiah green you will be missed!

This song was part of my childhood. I used to hate it. Now I love it. It takes me to a better place, sort of like a Pink Floyd song, but not quite as trippy. Still kind of trippy though. More people need to make music like this.

This is just my childhood. A boy alone with your imaginarie friends. So sad but so real.

This song holds a place in my heart that can't exactly explsin why. Kinda of feel how the little boys life plays out like much how mine did growing up. Not having a father figure an really no faith to put into anything.

Rest In Peace Jeremiah Green, you were taken from us too soon. ❤

The Moral of the video is basically there are ups and downs in life, the sad boy finds a bird and heals it. (Putting effort into a risk.) then it becomes healthy again and makes him happy. (A bad thing then good.) he goes to show his mother proudly.... But she doesn't care. (People don't always appreciate you in life.) the boy is now sad again, and wakes up after awhile to find the bird appreciates him. (Happy again disputed what people think.) and yet again, sadness strikes again when the bird dies. (So much effort then failure and sadness.) he eventually moves on and burys the bird, then it comes back to show happiness. (Happiness finds its way slowly back into your life.). Read all those parenthesis sentences and tell me that doesn't sound like life....

I was jamming out to this in 6th grade along with franz ferdinand. Now what band do you think I stuck with.

Best band to ever grace this planet

one of the many songs that can evoke specific kinds of emotions from each different song from different bands and different genres..this song is one of it 🙂

I was introduced to modest mouse when my dad bought me a big screen t v for my birthday shortly after being let go from rehab, man,...... ocean breaths salty was a banger!!!

This was the song that made me love Modest Mouse as a band. Float On was ok but this was what made me buy the album and then buy every single else about that they made up to this point in 2004. I'm glad they did this as a single as I probably wouldn't have given the album any time of day to listen to.

RIP Jeremy (Jeremiah) Green. my friend and i got to see them live at the filmore in NC. my buddy had bought a Modest Mouse skateboard deck off of Jermy (as isaac called him) 's brother, and hooked us up with meeting him before the show. we met him, awesome dude, very down to earth. after chatting for a while of chatting he went back to get ready for the show. talked with isaac for a good bit that night, talked to him about how we met Jermy and he asked why he didnt invite us back with him, i spoke up and said "cuz we didnt ask". isaac looked at me and with an agreeing tone said "yeah that sounds about right. all you had to do was say suomethin" and just like that we coulda had a friend. the news hurts.

I heard this on the radio today and wondered if there was a music video for it. I'm glad there is. This one really tugs at the heartstrings. I wish MTV Classic would play this one more often, but the only thing of Modest Mouse that ever plays on there is "Float On"

IMO, one of the best songs/videos ever made. That disc had many great songs!

"time and life shook hands and said goodbye" i love this line quite a bit.

This song really helped me contextualise my feelings when my partner killed herself. GG, Modest Mouse. I owe ya one.

I saw them last night - they were AMAZING!!!! I can't wait to see them live again - I had no idea they rocked so hard! They didn't play any popular songs - but I loved them all. Now, listening to this - crying so much - such a beautiful song

This music video will never not make me cry

When I hit a rough patch in my life I would listen to this song over and over again... I tried to kill myself during one of these "sessions". Today I listened to this song 7 years after that day, and realized that I never got full closure, the wounds are still there and I'm feeling exactly the same. I now have more reasons to live but boy, it's pretty hard to listen to this song without sobbing like a kid. I hope God can hear my cry for help.

dang. my dad used to blast this all the time when i was younger. good times.

this album is litterally a gem i love it it just feel so real

"You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death?" -Now that's lyrics.

I have been a fan of modest mouse for well over 15 years and still open people up too the awesomeness that is modest mouse, truly one or the most underrated bands of the last 20 years

My parents used to listen to this song all the time when I was young and I never liked it that much. The month I turned 18 my father decided to leave our family in the middle of the night. I know our family wasn't perfect, but I hate the way it fell apart. It's been almost 9 months and I still don't know how to feel about all of it. This song brings back memories of joy and youth that i'll never forget, I love you mom and dad.

this is the most slept on song of all time