This song is pretty straight forward in its interpretation. It is from the POV of an admiral in the English royal navy. He had been sailing the world since he was boy in 1853 and became captain around the time the ships changed from wood to steel. He became admiral at the turn of the century just after Queen Victoria died. He watched as Germany's power grew in the early 1900s, but by the time WWI broke out he was too old serve in the Navy during the War. "Oh call me back" is referring to him asking to serve during the war arguing that he is old but wiser and more experienced than the younger ship captains. But he never fought in the war. The narrator is telling the story sometime after WWI but before WWII. By then he's a retired grandfather who misses the sea.
@drakus1173 :\r\nI agree with your interpretation 100% but it also has overtones to me of the elderly gentlemen in smart blue blazers who promenade the seafronts of England with a saucy eye for any passing young man : "Old admirals who feel the wind, and never put to sea" :-)
@drakus1173 :\r\nI agree with your interpretation 100% but it also has overtones to me of the elderly gentlemen in smart blue blazers who promenade the seafronts of England with a saucy eye for any passing young man : "Old admirals who feel the wind, and never put to sea" :-)
This song is pretty straight forward in its interpretation. It is from the POV of an admiral in the English royal navy. He had been sailing the world since he was boy in 1853 and became captain around the time the ships changed from wood to steel. He became admiral at the turn of the century just after Queen Victoria died. He watched as Germany's power grew in the early 1900s, but by the time WWI broke out he was too old serve in the Navy during the War. "Oh call me back" is referring to him asking to serve during the war arguing that he is old but wiser and more experienced than the younger ship captains. But he never fought in the war. The narrator is telling the story sometime after WWI but before WWII. By then he's a retired grandfather who misses the sea.
@drakus1173 :\r\nI agree with your interpretation 100% but it also has overtones to me of the elderly gentlemen in smart blue blazers who promenade the seafronts of England with a saucy eye for any passing young man : "Old admirals who feel the wind, and never put to sea" :-)
@drakus1173 :\r\nI agree with your interpretation 100% but it also has overtones to me of the elderly gentlemen in smart blue blazers who promenade the seafronts of England with a saucy eye for any passing young man : "Old admirals who feel the wind, and never put to sea" :-)