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 call 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 call around

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history baby
Every time you come around


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by trillium8, sara102081

Ship Song Lyrics as written by Roland Wolf Blixa Bargeld

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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The Ship Song song meanings
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36 Comments

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  • +13
    General Comment

    I wrote the song because Anita and i would argue at a constant pace and I would always tell her to unleash the dogs and burn the bridges as a way of saying you can say what you feel but forget the past and let's move forward. in an argument one always has to stand down until the other quits. this cleans off the slate. the first verse contemplates arguing all night long until one gives in and they embrace each other and start over. this was not one of my "dark" songs. I write what I feel and I was not feeling "dark". if you want "dark" then immerse yourself into murder ballads. thank you

    Nicholas Edward Cave

    thestaggerleeon October 20, 2010   Link
  • +6
    General Comment

    I think that is a fair interpretation, however, I think it could also be about forbidden love, an affair, not just old lovers. It's clear that they are old lovers with a history. Burning bridges, makes me guess that she is married. Finding myself in a similare situation in my life, I find the line "We make a little history, baby/Every time you come around" especially beautiful. Inside of a relationship that can have no future, I found myself telling my lover that I will remember him when I am an old woman. Sometimes life is complicated, like a good song.

    funnysmartnameon March 20, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I love this song. Giving yourself entirely to another person. That's all. Come what may, ships, dogs.

    melodic_trashon July 06, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think "come sail your ships" means a battle is about to begin: he sees courtship as a war, but in a playful sense, it's not a sad song. I suppose "and let your hair hang down" refers to war too: the woman is seen as a warrior goddess. These lyrics are really haunting, it's one of my favourite Nick Cave songs.

    Gummitchon August 28, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about two ex-lovers that continually go back to each other.

    The two lovers have a history of each time they meet they make love. But this time when they meet again, they don’t want to let this happen because they are both very guarded and hurt during their on and off again relationship. When they talk about their moral ground, I feel that it is they are agreeing to not make love. However, when they are in each other embrace “everything comes tumbling down” and they can no long resist the urge to make love.

    edamspectoron January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    it really surprises me that no one has commented on this song before...it's just beautiful. i'm not too sure whether i understand all the lyrics, but i love it. i would b glad if someone could tell me what is meant by Come sail your ships around me

    is it referring to his want to have her near him? or could it be interpreted as sexual??

    *Lady_Elvenhair*on August 14, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with Lady Evelnhair, this is a beautiful song. I love it. I have only heard the version with Concrete Blonde and it is so good.
    My favorite lines are:

    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

    It is about letting someone you love go. It may be sad, but it is the right thing to do. Although, I have always wondered why the songs speaks of "removing wings" when it is hard to fly without them? Perhaps that is the irony in it?

    ELS24on August 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "We talk about it all night long We define our moral ground But when I crawl into your arms Everything comes tumbling down"

    Talk about a weird verse...

    Vertigo22on June 03, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about two ex-lovers that continually go back to each other.

    The two lovers have a history of each time they meet they make love. But this time when they meet again, they don’t want to let this happen because they are both very guarded and hurt during their on and off again relationship. When they talk about their moral ground, I feel that it is they are agreeing to not make love. However, when they are in each other embrace “everything comes tumbling down” and they can no long resist the urge to make love.

    edamspectoron January 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    very good interpretation. i agree with you. after reading it i realized i was misinterpreting the song myself. btw i like it better now ;)

    PiKueloon January 30, 2006   Link

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