A billion words ago
The sailors disappeared
A story for the children
To rock them back to sleep

A million burning books
Like torches in our hands
A fabric of ideals
To decorate our homes

A thousand generations
The soil on which we walk
A mountain of mistakes
For us to climb for pleasure

A hundred clocks are ticking
The line becomes a circle
Spin the wheel of fortune
Or learn to navigate

A choir full of longing
Will call our ships to port
The countless lonely voices
Like whispers in the dark

A choir full of longing
Will call our ships to port
The countless lonely voices
Like whispers in the dark

A second of reflection can
Take you to the moon
The slightest hesitation can
Bring you down in flames

A single spark of passion
Can change a man forever
A moment in a lifetime
Is all it takes to break him

A fraction of a heartbeat
Made us what we are
A brother and a sister
For better or for worse

A billion words ago
They sang a song of leaving
An echo from the chorus
Will call them back again

A choir full of longing
Will call our ships to port
The countless lonely voices
Like whispers in the dark

A choir full of longing
Will call our ships to port
The countless lonely voices
Like whispers in the dark

Tonight we light the fires
We call our ships to port
Tonight we walk on water
And tomorrow we'll be gone

Tonight we light the fires
We call our ships to port
Tonight we walk on water
And tomorrow we'll be gone

Tonight we light the fires
We call our ships to port
Tonight we walk on water
And tomorrow we'll be gone

Tonight
Tonight

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Lyrics submitted by gravija, edited by twelfth

Call The Ships To Port Lyrics as written by Simonsson Eskil Joakim Montelius

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Call the Ships to Port song meanings

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15 Comments

+2
General Comment
My father used to use the saying "Call the ships to port" as a phrase that means to take time to gather yourself. This song seems to be describing a pivotal moment that's going to change your life for better or for worse and if you take the moment to pause and second guess your decisions you could really lose it all. Which the line where he gets louder and says "Tonight we light the fires, we call our ships to port, tonight we walk on water and tomorrow we'll be gone" sounds like the singer's decision to go all in with everything he has and risk it all for a goal that he knows might break him. The 'walking on water' I think describes his feeling of being untouchable.

My father used to use the saying "Call the ships to port" as a phrase that means to take time to gather yourself. This song seems to be describing a pivotal moment that's going to change your life for better or for worse and if you take the moment to pause and second guess your decisions you could really lose it all. Which the line where he gets louder and says "Tonight we light the fires, we call our ships to port, tonight we walk on water and tomorrow we'll be gone" sounds like the singer's decision to go all in with everything he has and risk it all for a goal that he knows might break him. The 'walking on water' I think describes his feeling of being untouchable.

Reason:

xxullon April 27, 2011 Link
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@xxull

I believe you have a pretty good handle on the song. In fact you have done better than I would have.

However, the "walking on water" likely is a reference to Peter having his faith tested by Jesus when Jesus is walking on the water and calls out to Peter to join him. It is told in Matthew 14:22-33. Peter step out of a boat, walks upon the surface of the lake, then his faith falters, and but for the hand of Jesus would have drowned.

So I would take to simply be reinforcing the meaning that you already have seen in the song. A test or leap of faith that requires you to act with the resolve that you will succeed. To act with faith in God or yourself, depending on your worldview.

TimothyChaseon February 25, 2014
+1
General Comment
Some parts of this song remind me of the story of a famous shipwreck in Sweden a few hundred years ago. I think it was called the Vasa. This song is a highpoint of any live Covenant show, really. It does seem to be about the pivotal moments in life, and the tenuous hold we have on it. Some of it seems more specific, though, and I'm not sure what those parts refer to. I can connect it to more than a few personal things, but I'm not sure what the writer intended. I love it, though.

Some parts of this song remind me of the story of a famous shipwreck in Sweden a few hundred years ago. I think it was called the Vasa. This song is a highpoint of any live Covenant show, really. It does seem to be about the pivotal moments in life, and the tenuous hold we have on it. Some of it seems more specific, though, and I'm not sure what those parts refer to. I can connect it to more than a few personal things, but I'm not sure what the writer intended. I love it, though.

Reason:

MermaidGazeon October 20, 2006 Link
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@MermaidGaze
+1
General Comment
i think its about living for the moment like a lot of people have said but in the negative sense. like "burning books" could mean accidentally destroying parts of the past. and also how many parts of the world and such were accidentally discovered as in "a mountain of mistakes, for us to climb for pleasure"

i think its about living for the moment like a lot of people have said but in the negative sense. like "burning books" could mean accidentally destroying parts of the past. and also how many parts of the world and such were accidentally discovered as in "a mountain of mistakes, for us to climb for pleasure"

Reason:

hardcorey784on March 12, 2007 Link
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@hardcorey784
+1
General Comment
The sailors: A metaphor for the daring, brave individuals...like the ones that would venture out to sea before the earth was known to be round. They have gone...in light of logic and science, there are no dreamers anywhere but in the stories. I think that's exactly what the line "The line becomes a circle" means. The flat earth became round thanks to discovery. But one of Covenant resounding themes is seeming to inspire...to ask the question of "Where are the ones that will stand up and make a difference?" I think the same theme is present in "Brave New World". I could be wrong, but that's my take.

The sailors: A metaphor for the daring, brave individuals...like the ones that would venture out to sea before the earth was known to be round. They have gone...in light of logic and science, there are no dreamers anywhere but in the stories. I think that's exactly what the line "The line becomes a circle" means. The flat earth became round thanks to discovery. But one of Covenant resounding themes is seeming to inspire...to ask the question of "Where are the ones that will stand up and make a difference?" I think the same theme is present in "Brave New World". I could be wrong, but that's my take.

Reason:

eldrochon January 30, 2009 Link
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@eldroch

This song is about our society. Our society is lost at sea, going round in circles and making mountains of mistakes. As in the book burning that preceded world war 2. There is a big storm coming, in other words trouble and it is time for us to "Whisper in the dark". Which means that Goths call the ships back to the safety of the port. It has other layers of meaning as well. ( This resonates with me as I live overlooking a harbour and have been at sea in storms many a time )

Another big theme is how easy it is to dash a person's hopes and how small little things can have such a big impact on our lives. Like a ship foundering on a small rock. We are more fragile than we like to believe and need a safe haven.

nexusparadoxon October 13, 2009
0
General Comment
Great new single of their new album Northern Light! I love it.

Great new single of their new album Northern Light! I love it.

Reason:

TheDarkstaRon August 24, 2002 Link
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@TheDarkstaR
0
General Comment
What's your favorite remix? My personal favorites are the Kaylab Version and Single Version.

What's your favorite remix? My personal favorites are the Kaylab Version and Single Version.

Reason:

gravijaon August 24, 2002 Link
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@gravija
0
General Comment
The Single verson is my favorite. Covenant really came through with this one! I can't wait for the album, it's gonna be so ace!

The Single verson is my favorite. Covenant really came through with this one! I can't wait for the album, it's gonna be so ace!

Reason:

o0Sid0oon September 21, 2002 Link
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@o0Sid0o
0
General Comment
I saw Covenant live on Saturday and this song was the highlight of the whole festival!! Amazing!!!!!!!!! Beat and lyrics.

I saw Covenant live on Saturday and this song was the highlight of the whole festival!! Amazing!!!!!!!!! Beat and lyrics.

Reason:

hellason May 09, 2005 Link
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@hellas
0
General Comment
is there anyone who wants to talk about the meaning of the song thats at least what i thought this site was for At least for me this song is about living in the moment wich is the meaning of many covenant songs, but also how little it takes to change a man forever but that al actions arent nececery to think to much about, we burn the books and then what will be left? The ideals will be gone.

is there anyone who wants to talk about the meaning of the song thats at least what i thought this site was for At least for me this song is about living in the moment wich is the meaning of many covenant songs, but also how little it takes to change a man forever but that al actions arent nececery to think to much about, we burn the books and then what will be left? The ideals will be gone.

Reason:

myoo-naon July 26, 2006 Link
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@myoo-na
0
General Comment
To me it sounds like it's talking about the logic of dreams (for lack of a better way to put that, Covenant songs are hard to describe!) It reminds me of the dramatic dreamlike feel of classic fairy tales and legends, where everything is a symbol and nothing happens that doesn't mean something. I probably don't make a lot of sense here, but that's what I think of: the stories and dreams that make up our collective unconscious.

To me it sounds like it's talking about the logic of dreams (for lack of a better way to put that, Covenant songs are hard to describe!) It reminds me of the dramatic dreamlike feel of classic fairy tales and legends, where everything is a symbol and nothing happens that doesn't mean something. I probably don't make a lot of sense here, but that's what I think of: the stories and dreams that make up our collective unconscious.

Reason:

LaLaLogicon February 05, 2007 Link
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@LaLaLogic