The gutter may profess its love
Then follow it with hesitation
For there are just so many of
You out there for rent

A stronger girl would shake this off in flight
And never give it more than a frowning hour
But you have let your heart decide
Loss has conquered you

You've won one too many fights
Wearing many hats every time
But you won't win here tonight

You made it through the direst of straits alright
Can you help it if plain love now seems less interesting?
You haven't changed an ounce in my eyes
And I cannot lecture you

And does anything I say seem relevant at all?
You've been at the helm since you were just five
While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger

But, you've won one too many fights
Wearing all of your clothes at the same time
Let the good times in tonight
Oh girl sailor don't sink her
This time

Just a moment or two from now
Not a mind will retain even a trace
Of the thoughts that I struggle to tell
And how our stack of cards just fell

So settle this once and for all
The light no longer shows the cracks around my door
And I have no lantern to light your way home tonight

You are not some saint who's above
Giving someone a stroll through the flowers
You've got so much more to dream of
Oh girl sailor, don't sink her
This time
This time
This time


Lyrics submitted by heyheyhey111

Girl Sailor Lyrics as written by James Mercer

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Girl Sailor song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    Our boy is reflecting on what he had with the girl in the albums story, and he realizes that she has taken quite a fall, like he has. The song is not just discussing the loneliness of a lost love, but also the existential realities of which the boy tried to convince the girl.

    "For there are just so many of, you out there for rent."

    Before the girl was able to get over these things easily, but this has stricken a deeper chord, and like the album, it leaves a much more lasting effect if you have actually understoof what is being discussed. The boy tries to take some of the guilt off himself, claiming to have only been a passenger and that she is the one truly in command. In reality he learned something heart wrenching from this affair as well, and he can no longer show her back to where they were, because neither of them has the power to go back. He does hope however, that she is able to float on, "sail her don't sink her, this time." Perhaps referring to future relationships or just hoping that she doesn't give up on life. ---One may find this excessive, but not if you take the meaning out of the entire album. The songs really can't be split up.

    But our 'protagonist' is awakening, "Just a mokent or two from now, not a mind will retain even a trace, of the thoughts that i struggled to tell." The next song, 'a comet appears,' is the storyteller waking up and reflecting on what he has learned.

    ladybug87on November 03, 2006   Link

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