You're on a wide open ocean
No one around you for miles
You're thinkin' of drinkin' on water
While you're sailing the Nile

No one to stop you on your way
Flyin' by goes a stork
You decide to bring your oars in now
But accidentally knock out the cork

Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking

And not knowin' your sinkin'
You take out a bottle of rum, yum
Swiggin' a drink to the bottom
The label reads 'Van Monchinghum'

Oars back into the water
You think you'll sail on
But you can't, 'cause your boat contains
Three and a half gallons

Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking

Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well, I hope that you don't drink no more

Row your boat to shore
It is leaking, you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking

Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well, I hope that you don't drink no more

Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well, I hope that you don't drink no more

Row, row, row your boat
Sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
I hope that you won't drink no more


Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by bk322

Sinking Lyrics as written by Eric Matthew Stefani

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Sinking song meanings
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    General Comment

    Anyone notice the inconsistencies with the song??

    I understand the sinking ship is an analogy, but they go from a "wide open ocean" to the "Nile", which is a river, in the first verse.

    They are "sailing" in parts of the song and then "rowing" in others ... I understand that a boat can have both, but the song sorts of suggests they are one and the same.

    Overall I agree with @cellophanegirl that the message is using the sinking boat as an analogy to their actual life (that is, alcohol hinders their ability to actual deal with troubles in life and they aren't actually living their life ... just blindly sinking).

    sokornyon May 08, 2017   Link

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