My lover's arms
Well they beg me to stay
I know the stars
They will sweep me away
My daughter's eyes
They are two tiny seas
Whose water will rise
And they will run down her cheeks

[Chorus:]
Father where do you go?
So far out upon the sea
when are you coming home to me?
Darling, why do you leave?
The north wind begins to blow
Will you be coming home to me?

The boat and the plank
They are all that I know
The sea calls my name
And so I must go
While they still sleep
I slip out the door
How can I leave when my anchor's ashore

[Chorus]



Lyrics submitted by WinterKiss

Track duration: 04:09

"The Whaler" as written by Edward Carrington Breckenridge, James Riley Breckenridge, Dustin Michael Kensrue, Teppei Teranishi

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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The Whaler song meanings
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32 Comments

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  • 0
    Song Meaning:This is definitely one of my favorite songs by them. It is so personal, beautiful, and chilling.

    It is definitely a metaphor about Dustin having to leave and be away from his family a lot.

    It gives me chills every time I listen to the song when I hear the contrast between the wife and the daughter speaking to him. The naive daughter asks "When are you coming home" but the wife asks "Will you be coming home" because she knows there is always a chance he might not. So beautiful yet cold and hair raising.
    Flag SaraJeanon July 25, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:When I heard this song I was moved. I view this song as slightly darker. I think it is a widowed man who lost his daughter and his wife, and now when he leaves he thinks of them. I think this because he said "Darling, why do you leave?
    The north wind begins to blow
    Will you be coming home to me?"
    he is asking his daughter the same thing. why did she have to leave him alone in this world?
    Flag Jon911025on July 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:My daughter's eyes
    They are two tiny seas
    Whose water will rise
    And they will run down her cheeks

    Best. Lyrics. Ever.
    Simply amazing. What else can be said?
    Flag onlibertyon March 04, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:DubbaEww, I completely agree with you. The first time I heard this song was shortly after I deployed to Afghanistan, leaving my 2 month old baby girl and my wife, and ever since I've thought of this as my song.
    Flag Kalgoreon August 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I totally agree that this song is about family, having to go off, and missing them.
    It also has a personal connection for me being in the military. There's nothing more heartbreaking then having to leave my family for months on end.
    I love the way BrittleWings put it...my daughter is naive to the facts of life, while my wife knows the possibilities of being away at war.

    How can I leave, when my anchors ashore?

    Beautiful song.
    Flag notoncebuthriceon December 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:this song made me bawl when i first heard it... i think it's the "ohh"s at the end that get me. it's like pure emotion coming through there, like his heart is breaking... so gorgeous.

    the timing is interesting too, and i think it adds a lot to the song, as inconsequential as it really is. it's just something a little different.
    Flag predicateon March 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:song rings true with my father. such a sad song! but amazingly beautiful.
    Flag myexit_on November 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:beautiful, beautiful metaphor
    Flag A7XWakingTheFallenon November 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i honestly think the song is about a soldier being sent off to war...the lyrics seem to fit perfectly
    Flag nyc10998on June 22, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I swear when I first heard this song I fell in love, I could listen to it nonstop.... I love to sing along with this song...
    Flag subconon May 16, 2008   Link

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