The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
We're setting sail to the place on the map
From which no one has ever returned
Drawn by the promise of the joker and the fool
By the light of the crosses that burned
Drawn by the promise of the women and the lace
And the gold and the cotton and pearls
It's the place where they keep all the darkness you need
You sail away from the light of the world on this trip, baby
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You will pay tomorrow
Oh, oh, oh
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no
Oh, save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no
I want to run and hide right now
Avarice and greed are gonna drive you over the endless sea
They will leave you drifting in the shallows
Or drowning in the oceans of history
Traveling the world, you're in search of no good
But I'm sure you'll build your Sodom like you knew you would
Using all the good people for your galley slaves
As you're little boat struggles through the warning waves, but you don't pay
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow, yeah
You're gonna pay tomorrow
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no, no
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Where's it comin' from?
Oh, where's it goin' to?
It's just a, it's just a ship of fools
All abord now
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo...
From which no one has ever returned
Drawn by the promise of the joker and the fool
By the light of the crosses that burned
Drawn by the promise of the women and the lace
And the gold and the cotton and pearls
It's the place where they keep all the darkness you need
You sail away from the light of the world on this trip, baby
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow
You will pay tomorrow
Oh, oh, oh
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no
Oh, save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no
I want to run and hide right now
Avarice and greed are gonna drive you over the endless sea
They will leave you drifting in the shallows
Or drowning in the oceans of history
Traveling the world, you're in search of no good
But I'm sure you'll build your Sodom like you knew you would
Using all the good people for your galley slaves
As you're little boat struggles through the warning waves, but you don't pay
You will pay tomorrow
You're gonna pay tomorrow, yeah
You're gonna pay tomorrow
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools, no, no, no
Save me, save me from tomorrow
I don't want to sail with this ship of fools
Where's it comin' from?
Oh, where's it goin' to?
It's just a, it's just a ship of fools
All abord now
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo
Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-doo...
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More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
The songs meaning is quite simple, its about the curse of capitalism and greed. How, for some reason we never seem to be content. It tells us that on our journey to gather as much as we can, we will ultimately never reach our goal, and we only hurt others in our attempt. Only the foolish chase wealth beyond their means, only the foolish think that chasing it will bring them happiness. We are all sold this "dream" and pushed into its virtual reality, but I for one, just like Karl, want to get off the boat!
Essentially he is not wanting to get caught in the rat race with all of the other fools and lose sight of what is really important. And for those who don't get out of it are in the ship thinking that they are on the correct path ("torn by the promise of women/lace/gold/cotton/pearls"), but will pay for it a later time, perhaps post mortem. In addition, the ship isn't even going to the right destination ("You sail AWAY from the light of the world...")
Yo Das, look deeper, but you got the Light of the World right, Jesus
@Finepearl Ugh
i think this song is painfully underrated.
it's incredible songwriting and composing for a one-hit wonder.. some call it a prophecy, that sadly is ringing true..
something for kate did a gorgeous cover of this song on their live at the corner album.
I agree, now look at how weird it is that they leave the mention of sodom out of the lyrics written above. Line 5 after the verse that starts with avarice and greed. It really goes, "but I'm sure you'll fill your sodom like I knew you would." Save me from bunk so called interpret lyrics when they don't give you the whole song to interpret. Kind of makes it hard to get to the bottom of the meaning...a?
"one hit wonder" ??? karl wallinger ?<br /> thou showest thy ignorance ...
@meg; I agree with nita97232, this guy is no “one hit wonder”.
The "Ship of Fools" written by Jerry Garcia and Robert Hunter is a different song, performed by The Grateful Dead. This song was written by Karl Wallinger, who is the sole member of World Party. I wonder if they got it wrong for "Ship of Fools" by Erasure, too.
I love this song, but after reading the lyrics again, it reminds me of how I feel about our current leadership under "W".
Current? CH 1, it's been going on since long before this song was composed a? Skull and cross bones, oh ya, all the W's have been in that little secret group. Did any of you all know who george sr.'s dad was? Oh ya, huge banker baby, look it up...google and go from there. Who just bought out wa mu? Chase baby....rock er feller, ship of fools...us? Ya, if we don't stop avarice people like the W's and the O's that want to socialIZE us.
Great song, meg is right thats its underrated, definitely underplayed. Cdhound1 makes a perfect point about it too, its contemporary 20 + yrs after it came out...
Ok, I'll start to interpret by saying these guys saw tomorrow big time, and I bet they're all in good shape these days, if they weren't fools that is. They start with saying the ship is going to a place where no one has ever returned, that would be death...true? Drawn by the joker...etc. and who would that be? Sounds like the serpant of old to me, the place where they keep all the darkness you need and leave the Light of the World, a name for Jesus. Then repeats, "you will pay, you will pay and again..tomorrow." Yes, we can pay and will pay, but Jesus by the Word and Blood says....He paid. Then the call for salvation, they don't want to be on a boat with fools, why? Cause like the Titanic it sinks eventually. Look at the words, the avarice and greed and the endless sea, leave you in the shallows. Revelation describes the masses as an ocean or "sea" so the whole world is wrapped up in greed and about to hit the rocks of destruction in the weak shallow economy, see? "Traveling the world in search of no good," well, that can describe all kinds of deception, but this one has sodom in it which isn't in the lyrics above for whatever reason but helps in understanding what they are trying to relate in the song. "Using all the people," sounds like the government and elite, no....that is world wide the situation. Now, the pay tomorrow, don't know what the time frame for these guys is but I do know Jesus paid for all of man kind, today...yesterday, and forever and who so ever will, can receive that salvation and stay off of this ship of fools!