Stockholm

Maybe I'll be wrong here, so I'm up for correction for sure.

Jason Isbell has been public with the fact that he was an alcoholic who fell in love and got clean. He's since gotten married. He may be here referencing Stockholm syndrome where captives defend, sympathize with, and sometimes even fall in love with their captors. Even to the point of willingly staying hostage. All this could metaphorically capture the bondage of addiction. Addicts too fall in love with and defend their addictions irrationally, becoming willing hostages to them. I think this is captured here in lines like:

"Lock me up tight in these shackles I wear, tied up the keys in the folds of your hair" and "Ships in the harbor and birds on the bluff, don't move an inch when their anchor goes up"

Love can profoundly inspire and conquer all though, as noted when Jason sings "the difference with me is I used to not care" and "the difference with me is I'm falling in love." Here I think he's bravely admitting that he's found a poignant reason to desire to live free of bondage to addiction. Though addicts certainly have a strong attachment to what imprisons them, true worthwhile praiseworthy love (as opposed to irrational attachment to what's hurting us) is ultimately stronger, and there is certainly hope! It doesn't even have to be love for a significant other like it was for Jason. It could be love for yourself or God or your family..whatever.

To me, this is a powerful song.

Just read the comment and think your absolutely right. I just heard about stockholm syndrome last night. Met a girl from Poland whom had visited sweden where Stockhom Syndrome was originally started. And loved this song and wondered if thats what he was singing about so went to look at lyrics.

I believe he is using the stoockholm metaphor for his alcohol addiction. He has read the good book but nothing could prepare him for his addiction to alcohol(living with you). I myself have struggled with substance abuse and its crazy how many exscuses you make for it or how you justify the behavior in your head.Life is in a complete standstill, (ships in the harbor birds in the bluff dont move and inch when the anchors goes up)

Hope and love can conquer all. i believe he means when he says he found faith in a girl.

Cant wait to see him in february. Music can change your life sometimes, his has!

I have a slightly different interpretation than the other comments.

I agree the song is referring to Stockholm Syndrome (which is when you fall in love with your captor), but who is the captor in this case? He is not referring to being trapped by his addiction but by a lover.

In many ways, love is like being held hostage. When you are in a relationship you cannot do whatever you want -- you are not free anymore. The singer is saying he has felt trapped in relationships, but now he wants to get Stockholm Syndrome and fall in love with is captor (significant other).

"

Lock me up tight in these shackles I wear 
Tied up the keys in the folds of your hair"

This line is about how he wants to be locked up tightly by his lover and he wants her to hold the keys.

"Stockholm let me go home"

With this line, he is welcoming Stockholm Syndrome so he can fall in love.

"

And the night, so long, I used to pray for the daylight to come"

Here he is saying that he used to want morning to come so he could escape from his lovers' arms. But not anymore.