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Ship Of Gold Lyrics
Tin shacks and catfish bones
Have been about all I've ever known.
The junebugs rattle and roll
Around the old maypole.
Thunder and lightning,
I said the catfish are biting,
I took a riverboat downstream.
I think you know what I mean.
The chicken hawks, they are gathering.
Above my head, they are circling.
Old friends coming out visiting,
say, "Hi," and talk about collecting.
Stray dogs won't come near me.
Was blind, now I see clearly.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
When you're living in the country it's, "why, oh why?"
Oh, I'm sorry that I left my home.
Look over yonder there,
On the farther shore.
On the farther shore,
Look over yonder there.
I see a ship of gold.
I see a ship of gold.
Beyond that mountain there,
I see a Citty-on-the-Hille.
Its gates are open wide.
I hear the ringing bells.
Look over yonder there,
On toward the burying ground.
Poor boy is all afire.
Poor boy is dead and gone.
One of these days
The Ship of Gold
Will carry me
To my reward.
Out of this world
It will take me
To hear the horns of Jubilee.
Pig fat and old pork rinds
Ain't enough to keep a man alive.
The bullfrog sleeps all day.
Come night he has his say.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
Believe I'll take my rest.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
Believe I'll take my rest.
Oh, I'm sorry that I left my home.
Have been about all I've ever known.
The junebugs rattle and roll
Around the old maypole.
I said the catfish are biting,
I took a riverboat downstream.
I think you know what I mean.
Above my head, they are circling.
Old friends coming out visiting,
say, "Hi," and talk about collecting.
Stray dogs won't come near me.
Was blind, now I see clearly.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
When you're living in the country it's, "why, oh why?"
Oh, I'm sorry that I left my home.
On the farther shore.
On the farther shore,
Look over yonder there.
I see a ship of gold.
I see a ship of gold.
Beyond that mountain there,
I see a Citty-on-the-Hille.
Its gates are open wide.
I hear the ringing bells.
Look over yonder there,
On toward the burying ground.
Poor boy is all afire.
Poor boy is dead and gone.
The Ship of Gold
Will carry me
To my reward.
Out of this world
It will take me
To hear the horns of Jubilee.
Ain't enough to keep a man alive.
The bullfrog sleeps all day.
Come night he has his say.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
Believe I'll take my rest.
Believe I'm fixing to die.
Believe I'll take my rest.
Oh, I'm sorry that I left my home.
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Why has no one commented on this song? It's freaking great.
Clutch has said that they've set out to create a sort of American mythology in their work; a unique amalgam of the histories, religions, and pre-existing mythologies of the many peoples who now live in the land we call America. This is a beautiful example, blending America's history as a (misleading) symbol of freedom with Christian imagery and imagery of rural poverty.
One symbol I particularly love is the "chickenhawk." It might not be that deep, but "chickenhawk" is a political term in the United States used to describe a person who is a war hawk yet actively avoids or avoided military service when of age. Not exactly irrelevant to the subject matter, eh?
I also did some research into this "Ship of Gold", which I think refers to the SS Central America, which sank in 1857, and is considered the world's richest shipwreck.