Ocean Avenue

"Ocean Avenue" was Yellowcard's breakthrough single. This song is the second single from "Ocean Avenue" and the third track. It is known for bringing them into the mainstream, as it received numerous spins on MTV and increasing radio airplay. Ocean Avenue is a street in Neptune Beach, which is one of the beach suburbs of Jacksonville, the band's stomping grounds, which they left behind when they moved to LA. While the song was not officially released until September 2004, it was played on several radio stations in the US throughout the summer before. On Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009, "Ocean Avenue" was released as a downloadable song for the music/rhythm game "Rockband". According to former guitarist Ben Harper, "Ocean Avenue" is written about Jacksonville. "It’s this place where we used to hang out in Jacksonville. Instead of talking about a girl, it’s talking about a scene and a feeling that we want to get back to: hanging out and writing, before we moved to California."

[Verse 1] There's a place off Ocean Avenue Where I used to sit and talk with you We were both sixteen and it felt so right Sleepin' all day, stayin' up all night Stayin' up all night [Verse 2] There's a place on the corner of Cherry Street We would walk on the beach in our bare feet We were both eighteen and it felt so right Sleepin' all day, stayin' up all night Stayin' up all night [Chorus] If I could find you now things would get better We could leave this town and run forever Let your waves crash down on me and take me away [Verse 3] There's a piece of you that's here with me It's everywhere I go, it's everything I see When I sleep, I dream, and it gets me by I can make-believe that you're here tonight That you're here tonight [Chorus] If I could find you now things would get better We could leave this town and run forever I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together Let your waves crash down on me and take me away [Bridge] I remember the look in your eyes When I told you that this was goodbye You were beggin' me, not tonight Not here, not now We're looking up at the same night sky (Ooh) And keep pretendin' the sun will not rise (Ooh) We'll be together for one more night (Ooh) Somewhere, somehow [Chorus] If I could find you now things would get better We could leave this town and run forever I know somewhere, somehow we'll be together Let your waves crash down on me and take me away