In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Grandma loved a sailor
Who sailed the frozen sea
Grandpa was a whaler
And he took me on his knee
He said, son, I'm going crazy
From livin' on the land
Got to find my shipmates
And walk on foreign sands
This old man was graceful
With silver in his smile
He smoked a briar pipe and
He walked four country miles
Singing songs of shady sisters
And old time liberty
Songs of love and songs of death
And songs to set men free
Yea!
I've got three ships and sixteen men
A course for ports unread
I'll stand at mast, let north winds blow
'Till half of us are dead
Land ho!
Well, if I get my hands on a dollar bill
Gonna buy a bottle and drink my fill
If I get my hands on a number five
Gonna skin that little girl alive
If I get my hand on a number two
Come back home and marry you
Marry you
Marry you, alright!
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Well, if I get back home and I feel alright
You know, babe, I'm gonna love you tonight
Love you right
Love you right
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Who sailed the frozen sea
Grandpa was a whaler
And he took me on his knee
He said, son, I'm going crazy
From livin' on the land
Got to find my shipmates
And walk on foreign sands
This old man was graceful
With silver in his smile
He smoked a briar pipe and
He walked four country miles
Singing songs of shady sisters
And old time liberty
Songs of love and songs of death
And songs to set men free
Yea!
I've got three ships and sixteen men
A course for ports unread
I'll stand at mast, let north winds blow
'Till half of us are dead
Land ho!
Well, if I get my hands on a dollar bill
Gonna buy a bottle and drink my fill
If I get my hands on a number five
Gonna skin that little girl alive
If I get my hand on a number two
Come back home and marry you
Marry you
Marry you, alright!
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Well, if I get back home and I feel alright
You know, babe, I'm gonna love you tonight
Love you right
Love you right
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Lyrics submitted by kevin, edited by stevemarvllous
Land Ho! Lyrics as written by John Paul Densmore Jim Morrison
Lyrics © Doors Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Considering its placement on the album I'm tempted to think this song is a continuation of 'ship of fools'
Maybe they were thinking about being sailors or fishermen? Port to port, drinking and women, travelling and whatnot
I love this song, but I love Morrison's talent and I have always had a fettish for the phrase "Land Ho." Something about those two words is sexy. (Just call me weird.) I agree w/ your take but you omitted the line about him returning home to marry his love. He's looking for excitement and freedom, but perhaps knows that it's a temporary state with something better at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. But who really knows...only Morrison, and he's not talkin'