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.
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
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
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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
@thestaggerlee couldn't have put it better myself, big sox<br />
@thestaggerlee <br /> <br /> It´s a beautiful song the world owes you for it!
@thestaggerlee <br /> Thanks for the song Nick...and for elaborating on it's meaning. <br /> I was with a person that 'unleashed the dogs upon me' way too many times. I stood by hoping she would come around. She couldn't 'burn the bridges down'...it ended after 36 years...so I could keep my sanity. Now she does have to grow her wings after fearing for so long that I would stand my ground.<br /> Today, I stand my ground.
@thestaggerlee Nick - thank you for your commentary- from the horses mouth as such. Beautiful - leash your dogs upon me - yes a character flaw!
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.
I love this song. Giving yourself entirely to another person. That's all. Come what may, ships, dogs.
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.
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.
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??
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?
when you love someone you give this person wings (often used expression)<br /> so when you let this person go, you remove their wings...
yes, and to "try to fly" means find someone and move on.
"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...
@Vertigo22 Not really? It opens with the chorus, which uses medieval / early modern l war imagery (sail your ships, burn bridges, loose your dogs). So this more explicitly describing an argument that yields to lovemaking pulls it all together. It's great. And it fits Cave's own description of the song beautifully. "The first verse contemplates arguing all night long until one gives in and they embrace each other and start over."
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.
@edamspector couldn't agree more
very good interpretation. i agree with you. after reading it i realized i was misinterpreting the song myself. btw i like it better now ;)