Yes, John, dreams do definitely have meaning. I, myself, am an adherent to the psychoanalytic school of dream interpretation. That school of thought states that dreams are an expression of desires or fears. I have believed that for many years, until recently when I have learned that dreams can be a reflection or merely a repetition of what we experience during the day.
Let's stick to Dr. Freud, Dr. Jung, or even MrWebster for now, shall we?
Your dream about drowning indicates that either you want to die, or that you have a great fear of dying that way.
See ya, MW