Meaning of "Coastline" by America

The lyrics of "Coastline" by America explore the narrator's search for beauty and liberation in the natural world, specifically the coastline. The desire to escape to the ocean signifies a yearning for a sense of freedom and peace away from the constraints of everyday life. The mention of living in a prison without warm winds represents a metaphor for choosing to live a restricted life with comforts, but ultimately acknowledging the beauty and experiences missed out on by doing so. The repetition of the line "And how some do it I'll never know" emphasizes the narrator's attempt to understand those who willingly choose a confined life. Despite the allure of a simpler existence, the narrator acknowledges that every waterway leads back to a specific individual, suggesting that true happiness and fulfillment are found in personal connections rather than material comforts.