‘The Ship Song’ by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds is a song about a sailor who has to board a ship because he has nowhere else to go. The song is a combination of a ballad and a dirge. The lyrics are very sad and the song is set in the key of G# minor, with a tempo of 80 beats per minute.
This song is about the feelings of guilt and relief when a relationship ends. The person who sings the song is a man who is in a very long term relationship. He is the one who is ending the relationship. The lyrics are about the pain and guilt he feels when he is breaking up with the woman. This song is about what it feels like to be someone who is ending a relationship, as opposed to being the person who is broken up with. The song gets its name from the last line of the song.
The Ship Song Credentials
| Song Title | The Ship Song |
| Release Date | 1990 |
| Artist | Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds |
| Genre | Alternative/Indie, Pop, Rock, Folk |
| Language | English |
| Album | The Good Son |
| Music Label | Mute Records Limited |
The Ship Song Lyrics
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around
We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything, it comes tumbling down
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around
Come sail your ships around me (come sail your ships around me)
And burn your bridges down (and burn your bridges down)
We make a little history, baby (we make a little history, baby)
Every time you come around (every time you come around)
