You're on a wide open ocean
No one around you for miles
Your thinkin' of drinkin' on water
While you're sailing the Nile
No one to stop you on your way
Flyin' by goes a stork
You decide to bring your oars in now
But accidentally knock out the cork
Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing you'll be sinking
And not knowin' your sinkin'
You take out a bottle of rum, yum
Swiggin' a drink to the bottom
The label reads 'Van Monchinghum'
Oars back into the water
You think you'll sai-ail on
But you can't 'cause your boat contains
Three and a half gallons
Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
Row your boat to shore
It is leaking, you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
Row, row, row your boat
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
Row, row, row your boat
Sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
I hope that you won't drink no more
No one around you for miles
Your thinkin' of drinkin' on water
While you're sailing the Nile
Flyin' by goes a stork
You decide to bring your oars in now
But accidentally knock out the cork
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing you'll be sinking
You take out a bottle of rum, yum
Swiggin' a drink to the bottom
The label reads 'Van Monchinghum'
You think you'll sai-ail on
But you can't 'cause your boat contains
Three and a half gallons
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
Row your boat to shore
'Cause it is leaking and you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
It is leaking, you're still drinking
Unless you cork the hole
You won't be sailing, you'll be sinking
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
And sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
Well I hope that you don't drink no more
Sail your ship to shore
You're barely, barely, barely keeping afloat
I hope that you won't drink no more
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I think it means that someone is an alcoholic and they are so blinded by their habit, they can't seem to understand that they are ultimately killing themselves, even though people have warned them.
I totally agree with cellophanegirl. I don't think anyone could summarize the meaning of this song more concisely or accurately, besides Mr. EMS himself.
I like the clever, nautical analogies comparing the person's situation to a sinking ship. The music is great and I simply adore Gwen's punchy, youthful vocals. She's always great. This is probably my favorite song from the first album.
I must admit that sometimes when I listen to this song, I imagine a bunch of pirates who get so drunk celebrating some triumphant victory that nobody notices when the ship starts sinking till it's too late.
i think this was the first no doubt song i heard and it got me hooked!! ive never actually thought about the lyrics but yeah now i see how its likely to be about an alcoholic. before now i just thought it was a silly/fun song. neways its cool as. no doubt rulez :)
I thought i was being silly thinking it was about an alcoholic, thank god other people do as well! haha
I thought it was about the dangers of drinking alcohol and sailing a ship.
@seeing don't think it is meant to be interpreted so literally ... I'd be more concerned that by boat was sinking on the Nile River (given the aggressive nature of the Nile crocodiles).
@seeing don't think it is meant to be interpreted so literally ... I'd be more concerned that by boat was sinking on the Nile River (given the aggressive nature of the Nile crocodiles).
Anyone notice the inconsistencies with the song??
I understand the sinking ship is an analogy, but they go from a "wide open ocean" to the "Nile", which is a river, in the first verse.
They are "sailing" in parts of the song and then "rowing" in others ... I understand that a boat can have both, but the song sorts of suggests they are one and the same.
Overall I agree with @cellophanegirl that the message is using the sinking boat as an analogy to their actual life (that is, alcohol hinders their ability to actual deal with troubles in life and they aren't actually living their life ... just blindly sinking).