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Cover art for Liberty Ship lyrics by The La's

The La's

Liberty Ship

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Liberty Ship Lyrics

i am the toiler the old ship-slave
i stoke the fire that keep you brave
and this i give for all mankind
sail away on an ocean wave

i am the voyager of the ocean grey
i wayfarer see fairway
and this i gave for all mankind
sail away on an ocean wave

i am the sailor - the ocean slave
fill your sail with the breath i gave
and this i give for all mankind
sail away on an ocean wave

i am the captain of the love brigade
with every breath i am your slave
and this i gave for all mankind
sail away on an ocean wave
...sail away on an ocean wave
...sail away on the airwaves...

Submitted by

zygoticmynci On Jul 18, 2002

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Timeless Melody

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Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

zygoticmynci

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2002-07-18 14:54:24

3 Meanings

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Cover art for Liberty Ship lyrics by La's, The

by featureless

17y ago

Most literally: the singer gives breath that fills sails, fosters love and bravery. She can feel possessed by her audience. The poet is farsighted, tender of flames, holds a gift for mankind. Good ones are voyagers and navigators. Both performer and audience are at sea. Music is rhythmic - the ocean, waves, sailing are common tropes.

Yet somehow I don't quite believe these literal conceits were in the writer's mind. It seems easier to imagine this as a kind of dreamlike narrative with a literal protagonist locked in a winning struggle against human and natural elements.

My Interpretation

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Cover art for Liberty Ship lyrics by La's, The

by daisyh

20y ago

I really love this one

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Cover art for Liberty Ship lyrics by La's, The

by pt

18y ago

sail away on the airwaves Let the music i make, take you away, make you brave.

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