| Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Wooden Ships Lyrics | 15 years ago |
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This has definite references to "the Other." The Other is used to describe how 'foreign' groups of people are viewed by eachother. For example, if Aliens landed on earth tomorrow, they would be "the Other." For futher reading on the other see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_other#The_idea_of_the_Other . Wooden Ships uses the other as it relates to a civilized western civilization's encounter with a "savage" people. Europeans arrive on "wooden ships" to the America's, I feel this song attempts to capture the feelings of the European explorers / settlers, the dialogue in the song is two Europeans discussing their place in this new land. Additionally, Wooden Ships is used to represent the Natives own Wooden Ships. 1A. "If you smile at me I will understand 'Cause that is something Everybody everywhere does in the same language" 1B. This phrase which describes a form of non-verbal communication very strongly suggests that the narrator is encountering someone who does not speak his language, however, he wishes to communicate an amiable expression. The European traveler wishes to befriend the Natives he has encountered, perhaps this European is one of the first to arrive in the Americas. 2A. "I can see by your coat, my friend You're from the other side There's just one thing I've got to know Can you tell me please, who won" 2B. In this verse the first explorer meet someone else who has just arrived from Europe. The lyrics "other side" refers to the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Also, in 1492, when European explorers were first landing in the America's, Ferdinand and Isabella were engaged in a war with Grenada which lasted years. When he asks "who won" this may be the war he is talking about. 3A. Say, can I have some of your purple berries Yes, I've been eating them for six or seven weeks now Haven't got sick once Prob'ly keep us both alive 3B. In the context of my interpretation, this verse should be fairly self explanatory. The Natives have introduced them to wild, natural foods that are a perfectly viable source of necessary or needed nutrition. 4A. Wooden ships on the water, very free, and easy Easy, you know the way it's supposed to be Silver people on the shoreline let us be Talk'n 'bout very free, and easy 4B. This verse I believe uses the mirror version of Wooden Ships. These Wooden Ships are those of the Natives, on the water, very free and easy. A way of live derived from Nature, with no stresses of western civilization. The Silver People is a definite reference to Europeans who have begun to inhabit their land. Silver may refer to their armor made from metal or their weapon, both of which would have had a "silver" appearance. If this is indeed the voice of the Europeans, they would be some of the well-documented cases of Europeans assimilated within native society. 5A. Horror grips us as we watch you die All we can do is echo your anguished cries Stare as all human feelings die We are leaving, you don't need us 5B. We know and European explorers essentially executed a Genocide against the Native peoples of America. Civilizations were massacred, women and children killed, diseases used to exploit unadapted immune systems. For more on this see book, "Guns, Germs, and Steel." This segment of the verse captures of the horror of these Europeans as they watch a peaceful, free and easy people succumbing to the monstrosities of Western Civilization. "we are leaving," is perhaps an idealized of what Europeans should have done after initial encounters with the natives. The two in this song certainly realize the Natives would be far better off without western influence. Alternately, This could be the European speaking to their commander, engaging in Mutiny after they see what has happened. "you dont need us" to conquer these people. 6A. Go take a sister, then, by the hand Lead her away from this foreign land Far away, where we might laugh again We are leaving, you don't need us 6B. I believe this verse is one European saying to Another to take a woman from the native society that he loves. Native Civilization is to far gone and subjugated, perhaps they have find a new place to laugh again, and to live "very free and easy." And it's a fair wind Blowin' warm out of the south over my shoulder Guess I'll set a course and go Thanks for Reading WS |
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