Take You on a Cruise

Best song on Antics. Love the ocean/nautical symbolism.

This is NOT about rape. He's trying to convince this girl, not rape her. He's trying to persuade this girl that he is so wonderful, wants to offer her a future of marriage and children. Even if it's bullshit. If it is about a cocktail waitress, then it's far less dreamy than I pictured. But this is what it is to me:

He's stealing this woman away, reminds me of Rose's fiance on Titanic, but less of an asshole. "Tears drown in the wake of delight" - reluctance and sorrow will turn to joy.

"There's nothing like this built today/You'll never see a finer ship in your life" - there's no one like him these days, if she passes him up she's going to regret it.

"Along the way, the sea will crowd us with LOVERS (not rubbers - those lyrics are completely wrong) at night" - we'll have our options for infidelity. We'll be surrounded by temptation.

"An anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries": Ultimately, what they will be - what they will be made of, one is more experienced "Who knows how we'll disappear" - breaking up/leaving someone is inevitable, it's a question of how

"I am a scavenger between the sheets of union" - he's like a sex vulture - he picks up whatever girls he can, whatever action he can get. The way he sings it makes me almost pity him.

"An anatomy of kisses and a future of lies" - again, reminds me of infidelity.

its about a guy on a cruise ship who sucks at being romantic and getting girls so he starts hitting on a cocktail waitress. "make money like fred astaire" - he's rich. "pitbull in time" - aggressive. "baby don't you try to find me" emotionally, he's shallow. "i am a scavenger between the sheets of union", easily the greatest line. this guy scavenges for girls, and sex, "between the sheets of union". sheets= bedsheets, union = sex.

the bit where it goes 'i am the scavangerrrrrr'

man that sends shivers down my spine

I agree with kid-44. I really dont think it's about rape or prostitutes. There really is no right meaning because every one interperets it diffrently. I'm sure the words mean something different for paul, daniel, sam, and carlos. I'm sure they dont think it all means the same.

Here's what i think. I think this is one of their most beautiful songs, and is the closest thing i think is a love song for them. Here's why:

"Baby won't you try to find me Baby won't you try to fight Baby won't you try to find me Maybe it will be alright"

That means he DOES want her to find him. The 'won't' isn't really for negitivity it's like 'why wouldn't you?' I think he realizes that he should give her a shot and it might just turn out better than he thought.

"Along the way Tears drown in the wake of delight"

I think this means that they will become happy and all the sorrow will start to go away due to this new thing.

"There's nothing like this built today You'll never see a finer ship in your life"

Ship, in my view, is himself, and just overall personality. and how he can be geniune and caring (there's nothing like this built today part) Because these times, i see alot of people easy and in it for the lust. and i think he's saying how much of genuine person he is compared to the average person.

"I am the scavenger Between the sheets of union"

I do agree he's talking about sex here, but i think he's trying to find that specific person, and he's been around and couldnt really find the person

"Lately I can't tell for sure, whether machines turn anyone"

I think this is saying that he can't tell anymore between women. If they're fake, geniune or whatever. (i know i should back this up more, but for my own sake, i wont - long day).

"I see that you've come to resist me... I'm a pitbull in time"

She is unsure if she should leave with him and be with him, which will make him go a bit wild if she keeps him waiting which can lead to anger

"White Goddess, Red Goddess, Black temptress of the sea, you treat me right"

I think these lines are saying (and i am refering to what paradigmshift said) that no matter what the case is (happiness - white), (love/passion - red), or (anger/negativity - black), they will be alright and nothing can get inbetween their love at the moment.

"Oh my love we are sailing to Norway Oh my love we're leaving tonight"

I think here, he's at a point where he'll leave everything with her to start a new life and he wants it right away.

That's how i interpret some parts of the song. and i'm sticking with that.

most of these comments are pretty spot on, my interpretation is more of a conglomerate of them all.

i think it is about a guy who is in love with a woman he cant have, because she is married/in a relationship. the telling line is the "scavenger between the sheets of union." he is trying to convice her that the "grass is greener" on the other side, so to speak; that he is better than what she has now. it is so certain that he is worth leaving her current love for that he says "baby there is no need to fight." she also resists him at every turn, even though she is probably doing it on purpose, or playing hard to get, hence the meaning of the "pitbull" line and the "temptress" lines, (white black and red being the album's colors). she teases him but in the end, they do sail away (to Norway) which is just a play on Norweigen Cruise lines im pretty sure.

"Take You on a Cruise" by Interpol appears to be a metaphorical song that explores themes of escapism, relationships, and the search for freedom and happiness. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey, both physically and emotionally, as the narrator seeks to escape the confines of their current situation.

At the beginning of the song, the narrator describes themselves as "timeless like a broken watch" and a money-maker, referencing Fred Astaire, which suggests a sense of disillusionment or detachment from the traditional constraints of time and material success. They invite someone ("you") to join them on this journey, acknowledging that resistance may be present, but that it is not what holds them back. Instead, it is the "circles inside," perhaps alluding to emotional and psychological limitations or patterns.

The chorus describes the journey as a form of delight, with tears drowning in its wake. This suggests that the escape is a powerful and overwhelming experience, offering a temporary release from pain or sadness. The metaphor of a cruise ship represents a temporary sanctuary from the trials of daily life. The narrator emphasizes that this kind of experience is rare and unparalleled, emphasizing the uniqueness of their proposed adventure.

The bridge of the song adds complexity to the narrative, introducing the idea of machines and questioning their impact on human connection. It suggests a fear of losing genuine emotional experiences amidst a technologically driven world.

The outro brings forth a new element: the mention of goddesses and temptresses of the sea. These mythical figures can be seen as both alluring and potentially dangerous forces that the narrator encounters on their journey. It adds an additional layer of mystique and intensity to the overall narrative.

Overall, "Take You on a Cruise" portrays a longing for escape, both physically and emotionally, as the narrator seeks to break free from the limitations and routines of life. It speaks to the desire for adventure and the pursuit of temporary respite from the complexities of existence.

My stupid interpretation:

I feel like its about a man who is in a secret relationship with his professor (I feel like the professor is married), and she knows it's wrong so she tries and resists him. At the same time, he is another relationship with someone who he has fallen out of love with and thinks about his professor while with her. In the end, all he thinks about is his professor and he wants her to sail with him somewhere far away so they don't have to feel guilty anymore and finally enjoy each other without regret. Some lines that lead me to this interpretation:

I see that you've come to resist me I'm a pitbull in time

She has come to resist him because she feels guilty for being with him. He's aggressive in trying to make the relationship work.

The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries Who knows how we'll disappear? Would you like to be my Misses and in future with child? You know we can't get back from here But we can get away

This is what leads me to believe he is in a secret relationship with his professor. Instead of teaching him information in the classroom, she shows him her kisses and love. He fantasizes how they will leave and be happy together, finally feeling guiltless. He also fantasizes about being together married and with children. They both know they can't have that where they are at, so the ultimate solution is to get away.

Baby don't you try to find me Baby don't you try to fight Baby don't you try to find me Lady it will be alright

This is the professor talking to him, telling him to give up on me and stop fighting for the relationship, because it will never work. But he reassures her that everything will be alright.

Along the way Tears drown in the wake of delight There's nothing like this built today You'll never see a finer ship in your life We sail today Tears drown in the wake of delight There's nothing like this built today You'll never see a finer ship or receive a better tip in your life

He's telling her that they will find ultimate bliss with each other if they leave. The ship could be a metaphor for their relationship, and it could also be meant literally; leaving on a ship and starting a new life.

I am the scavenger between the sheets of union Lately I can't tell for sure whether machines turn anyone (The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries...would you like to be my Misses and in future with child...)

When having sex with his other woman, he feels no connection or is not turned on by her. He feels like they are machines in the relationship that can't turn each other on. He is thinking about his secret relationship during sex and fantasizing about his professor.

I also feel like this verse be directed at his professor: Like Idliketo said, she could be married and hes is like a scavenger because he is making love to her on her husband's bed. Calling himself a scavenger is degrading because he feels guilty but cannot help himself (direct quote from idliketo).

White goddess, red goddess, black temptress of the sea You treat me right Black goddess, red goddess, white temptress of the sea You treat me right White goddess, black goddess, red temptress of the sea You treat me right (Oh my love, we are sailing to Norway)

This is his ultimate confession to her. He compares her to a goddess and that she makes him happy and treats him right (unlike his other woman). In the end, he is either still fantasizing about leaving with her to Norway, or she finally decides to be with him so they sail to Norway.

Pretty crazy and stupid, I know.

This song talks about red, white, and black in the "white goddess" part, and those are the only colors you see on the album art.

I dunno, I just thought that was pretty cool, like conceptual continuity.

In my previous comment I meant to say that I thought he was saying "Sailing to Norway" but I forgot to. I think i'm right.

P.S. that "Scavengerrrr" part gets me everytime!

Why Norway? What do they want there?

First I have to say that Interpol must be a bit fond of Norway because of the "We are sailing to Norway"-line, but they also wrote a song entitled with the name of a Norwegian traveller, Leif Erikson, the first person to discover America. That is also ship-related, too. Not that it have to mean something, just something I would like to point out.

Also, what can the line mean? Well, Norway is (officially) the best place to live in. It could be a metaphor of a relationship going well, or it could mean that he wants to start a new life there with his love. Norway might also be considered a very remote country (though there are countries more remote), so he just simply wants to sail forever with her. But Norway is also (somewhat falsely) considered a very cold country, but I don't know what you might get out of that.

Haha. All this out of one line, how great.