This song reminds me of 'fall of 82' from the Port of morrow album. In both songs It sounds like he's speaking to a long time friend who's had a difficult time growing up. He's talking to and about the same person, just about different things and at different times
I always thought this song was about reconciling with his own self image and that the 'girl sailor' in the story was a metaphor for that. He describes how his self image has changed and how he has come to understand its behaviours and quirks by being brutally honest with himself. This self image has ruled his life since he was just five but that is over now, he is finally letting go of the necessity to behave according to his self image. Then during the bridge he describes the moment he realizes he is no longer identified with this image and everything around him collapses. There is truly no way back now, he has finally given up on trying to be a good person and wishes that part of him farewell forever hoping he won't turn into some bad person because of it. Maybe I've read too much into the lyrics, but I really think this is what it is about.
The gutter may profess its love Then follow it with hesitation For there are just so many of You out there for rent A stronger girl would shake this off in flight And never give it more than a frowning hour But you have let your heart decide Loss has conquered you You've won one too many fights Wearing many hats every time But you won't win here tonight You made it through the direst of straits alright Can you help it if plain love now seems less interesting? You haven't changed an ounce in my eyes And I cannot lecture you And does anything I say seem relevant at all? You've been at the helm since you were just five While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger But, you've won one too many fights Wearing all of your clothes at the same time Let the good times in tonight Oh girl sailor don't sink her This time Just a moment or two from now Not a mind will retain even a trace Of the thoughts that I struggle to tell And how our stack of cards just fell So settle this once and for all The light no longer shows the cracks around my door And I have no lantern to light your way home tonight You are not some saint who's above Giving someone a stroll through the flowers You've got so much more to dream of Oh girl sailor, don't sink her This time This time This time
"You've been at the helm since you were just 5..." And I am pretty fucking tired of sailing my own ship- you were gone long before you left me, Mommy, I had to be everything and then some, and I still failed you, I still let you slip through my fingers... Can I help it if EXISTENCE seems less interesting now? Forget about love. The romantic kind, anyway. It's fool's game, and a losing errand. (Not that I don't chase it, pointlessly...) The other love, the love you had, Mommy, the love that was ripped out of my heart when you died, that love is why we are here- I am filling my heart again, Mommy, stay with me, where ever you are. Help me keep it full, help me love even those who don't know the law, help me find the pieces of you that remain in the ether, help me UNDERSTAND- I want only peace here, and to understand- a great many things, this world is baffling stuff, Mommy. I need you now like I needed you when I was 5, putting myself to bed with a bottle (hence my overbite), and you are as far away from me now in death as you were then, lost in a pharmaceutical haze, gripped by mental illness and past traumas I still cannot even fathom, that epic endless pain that eclipsed EVERYTHING else, myself included... I will never need you any less. But I have taken care of myself for a very long time now, I get by, though it never gets any less sad, a burden buried deep in my child heart that hurts like I can't even explain... And one of these days I will stop wasting my time trying to, I will stop trying to find sympathy from the passengers, they cannot know my heart and my long lonely journey; and if there are others like me, they stay as hidden as I try to, making exceptions only to spew sh*t like this to total strangers on the internet. If SOMEONE relates, that's enough... "You can find the others if you are brave- but the bull ran close behind them, and covered their footprints..." So I stand on the shore, and I wait until they are brave enough to come out of the water- I will be here, waiting, the only one who can feel regret. And I thank you for that, too, Mommy...
![The Shins - Girl Sailor [Live at Crystal Ballroom]](/img/n.gif)
my favourite song of all time
Hi I recommend an indie song called 'Looking Into The Mirror' By Robert Nix
I love this song! The lyrics scan so well. "And does anything I say/ Seem relevant at all?"
Well, I really like this song and the shins
*wow
Fuck it, we're going to the obamids
@@bbseal6174 Hm?
Underrated af
girl, sail 'er
don't sink 'er.
This song reminds me of 'fall of 82' from the Port of morrow album. In both songs It sounds like he's speaking to a long time friend who's had a difficult time growing up. He's talking to and about the same person, just about different things and at different times
That and maybe "40 Mark Strasse" too.
I always thought this song was about reconciling with his own self image and that the 'girl sailor' in the story was a metaphor for that. He describes how his self image has changed and how he has come to understand its behaviours and quirks by being brutally honest with himself. This self image has ruled his life since he was just five but that is over now, he is finally letting go of the necessity to behave according to his self image. Then during the bridge he describes the moment he realizes he is no longer identified with this image and everything around him collapses. There is truly no way back now, he has finally given up on trying to be a good person and wishes that part of him farewell forever hoping he won't turn into some bad person because of it.
Maybe I've read too much into the lyrics, but I really think this is what it is about.
The gutter may profess its love
Then follow it with hesitation
For there are just so many of
You out there for rent
A stronger girl would shake this off in flight
And never give it more than a frowning hour
But you have let your heart decide
Loss has conquered you
You've won one too many fights
Wearing many hats every time
But you won't win here tonight
You made it through the direst of straits alright
Can you help it if plain love now seems less interesting?
You haven't changed an ounce in my eyes
And I cannot lecture you
And does anything I say seem relevant at all?
You've been at the helm since you were just five
While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger
But, you've won one too many fights
Wearing all of your clothes at the same time
Let the good times in tonight
Oh girl sailor don't sink her
This time
Just a moment or two from now
Not a mind will retain even a trace
Of the thoughts that I struggle to tell
And how our stack of cards just fell
So settle this once and for all
The light no longer shows the cracks around my door
And I have no lantern to light your way home tonight
You are not some saint who's above
Giving someone a stroll through the flowers
You've got so much more to dream of
Oh girl sailor, don't sink her
This time
This time
This time
coolio
cool legumes,,
Joe dock would be in to this
❤
✅
"You've been at the helm since you were just 5..."
And I am pretty fucking tired of sailing my own ship- you were gone long before you left me, Mommy, I had to be everything and then some, and I still failed you, I still let you slip through my fingers...
Can I help it if EXISTENCE seems less interesting now?
Forget about love.
The romantic kind, anyway.
It's fool's game, and a losing errand.
(Not that I don't chase it, pointlessly...)
The other love, the love you had, Mommy, the love that was ripped out of my heart when you died, that love is why we are here- I am filling my heart again, Mommy, stay with me, where ever you are. Help me keep it full, help me love even those who don't know the law, help me find the pieces of you that remain in the ether, help me UNDERSTAND- I want only peace here, and to understand- a great many things, this world is baffling stuff, Mommy.
I need you now like I needed you when I was 5, putting myself to bed with a bottle (hence my overbite), and you are as far away from me now in death as you were then, lost in a pharmaceutical haze, gripped by mental illness and past traumas I still cannot even fathom, that epic endless pain that eclipsed EVERYTHING else, myself included...
I will never need you any less.
But I have taken care of myself for a very long time now, I get by, though it never gets any less sad, a burden buried deep in my child heart that hurts like I can't even explain...
And one of these days I will stop wasting my time trying to, I will stop trying to find sympathy from the passengers, they cannot know my heart and my long lonely journey; and if there are others like me, they stay as hidden as I try to, making exceptions only to spew sh*t like this to total strangers on the internet.
If SOMEONE relates, that's enough...
"You can find the others if you are brave- but the bull ran close behind them, and covered their footprints..."
So I stand on the shore, and I wait until they are brave enough to come out of the water- I will be here, waiting, the only one who can feel regret. And I thank you for that, too, Mommy...