Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Do something for me, boys
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
Set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
I think about your pale arms waving
When I see the caps upon the green
And the rocking roller-coaster ocean
Think about you every night when I'm fathoms asleep
And in my dreams
We are rocking in a similar motion
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
I think about the salt sea rolling
Down in pearly tears upon your cheeks
Just like the day the harbor pulled away
I think about your warm white sheets unfolding
The more I have to drink
The more that I can think to say
Do something for me, boys
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
And set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
Set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
I think about your pale arms waving
When I see the caps upon the green
And the rocking roller-coaster ocean
Think about you every night when I'm fathoms asleep
And in my dreams
We are rocking in a similar motion
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
I think about the salt sea rolling
Down in pearly tears upon your cheeks
Just like the day the harbor pulled away
I think about your warm white sheets unfolding
The more I have to drink
The more that I can think to say
Do something for me, boys
If I should die at sea, boys
Write a little note, boys
And set it off afloat, saying
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Quiet or witty girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting there for me
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Village and city girls by the quayside
Bless you, bless you, all of you pretty girls
Watching and waiting by the sea
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It's about Andy sending blessings to pretty girls. Ugly ones get curses though.
Basically, it's sung from the viewpoint of a sailor who is asking his comrades to show his appreciation for "all the pretty girls," if he should die at sea.
In the last stanza, the "I think about the salt sea rolling down in pearly tears upon your cheeks" is some gorgeous poetry. More than I'm used to hearing from Andy, anyway.
As to the meaning, I do think it's about an (overly) optimistic sailor thinking that every girl is mourning for his departure and eagerly awaiting the day he will return. I can't tell if they're being serious or facetious, though.
It's a great song, a filthy song. Seriously... think about the line quoted by the poster above, about the salty liquid on the girls face. Yeah... the whole song is like that.
Got to agree with Graviton: This is a brilliant filthy song. "...in my dreams, we are rocking in a similar motion". Lol.
The lust of men without women...in this case sailors. Best XTC song ever, although you may disagree.