Much of music is filled with beautiful imagery to convey life’s strongest emotions. Many of these songs use bodies of water to express some of life’s deepest sentiments. Since so many artists rely on lakes and rivers to share their feelings, it is only fitting that The Hawk shares some of our favorite water-themed songs.

“the lakes” – Taylor Swift

Featured as a bonus track on her 2020 quarantine album “folklore,” “the lakes” features the mellow indie sound that Taylor Swift tested out in her eighth album. The song, along with many others from this album, is filled with imagery and visuals Swift discovered during her time in isolation. “the lakes” focuses on a simpler story around Windermere, the largest natural lake in England.

“River” – Leon Bridges

Singing about bodies of water knows no bounds, spanning over various decades and musical genres. Leon Bridges uses his neo-soul sound to close out his 2015 album “Coming Home” with “River,” singing about his personal spiritual experience. This song is inspired by Al Green’s “Take Me to the River” and was featured in the HBO television series “Big Little Lies.”

“Lady by the Sea” – Stephen Sanchez

Stephen Sanchez takes a new approach in this song by creating a vision of a woman who possesses all of the qualities of the sea. “Lady by the Sea” has a romantic vibe as it conveys the allure this woman has over Sanchez, all taking place in the seaside’s beauty. Sanchez uses a unique tender pop sound to create another serene song for his listeners to enjoy.

“Waterfalls” – TLC

What better way to end this playlist than by adding one of the most well-known R&B songs from the 1990s? The song uses its catchy melody to inform listeners of more pressing matters. “Waterfalls” uses geographical bodies of water, including rivers and lakes, to create awareness for issues at the time, such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and violence associated with illegal drug trading.