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.
I had a woman ship
I took her overseas
She left her hull unlocked
I had to find a dock
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
We didn't use cruel words
To navigate cruel seas
The wind was biting hard
At times I had to scream
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
And when we reached the land
We went aground on the rocks
Became a wreck in the sand
Became a home for a flock
We ventured overland
Fought with the aliens
The young ones used their hands
Pointed the way to a flock
A flock of seagulls!
A flock of seagulls!
Then we retraced our steps
Rebuilt the woman ship
I took her back up north
I lost her in the fog
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
On the sea
On the sea
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
On the sea
I was a toiler
A toiler
A toiler
I took her overseas
She left her hull unlocked
I had to find a dock
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
We didn't use cruel words
To navigate cruel seas
The wind was biting hard
At times I had to scream
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
And when we reached the land
We went aground on the rocks
Became a wreck in the sand
Became a home for a flock
We ventured overland
Fought with the aliens
The young ones used their hands
Pointed the way to a flock
A flock of seagulls!
A flock of seagulls!
Then we retraced our steps
Rebuilt the woman ship
I took her back up north
I lost her in the fog
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler on the sea
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
On the sea
On the sea
I was a toiler
I was a toiler
On the sea
I was a toiler
A toiler
A toiler
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song was loosely based on victor hugo's book "toiler of the sea" it also covers hughs doomed holiday in morocco with his then girlfriend.
Being much younger, and in L.A. when I first was given to repeating the white side over and over. I finally realised he was a "toilet on the sea" over and over and over and over again. Thats what makes this song special, because It jams a "toilet on the sea" when angst is high and everybodys flailing, chicks included. I was a toiler: on the sea! A flock of Seagulls: on the sea! This whole side needs to be in the smithsonian eternalised for sweaty humans everywhere. from TANK to TOILER, its an Opera, pure man bliss.