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Lost in the Harbour Lyrics

Over here the ladies all want sweet perfume
But there's never a rose
And over there the roses are frightened to bloom
So they never can grow

And over here they need wool
For weaving their baby's new clothes
But nobody has any wool
And the sheep are all lost in the harbour
Lost in the harbour

And over here they want diamonds to wear
But there aren't any here
And over there everyone's hiding their tears
But they're crying inside

And the wall won't come down
Till they're no longer afraid of themselves
And if you don't believe me ask yourselves
And then I can come down to the harbour
Down to the harbour

And then I will fill the ocean back up with my tears
I still have a couple more years
And then I can come back to the harbour
Down to the harbour
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Cover art for Lost in the Harbour lyrics by Tom Waits

I love this song. tomwaitslibrary.com quotes Tom as saying it's about walls (And the wall won't come down), for example Berlin Wall, Israel/Palestine, Northern Ireland conflict. Hence the "over here" and "over there".

My favourite line is

"And the wall won't come down Till they're no longer afraid of themselves" and the last verse.

The line after your favorite is what what strikes me.

"And if you don't believe me ask yourselves."

We all put up these walls and are "lost in the harbour"

Cover art for Lost in the Harbour lyrics by Tom Waits

"Lost in the harbour "seems to be a metaphor for a peaceful place that is not longer able to be found. An apt description of Gaza and Ukraine in 2025.

Negative
Subjective
Sadness
Metaphor
Peace
Conflict
Loss
Future
Cover art for Lost in the Harbour lyrics by Tom Waits

This song is amazing. The melody when he says "Lost in the Harbor" is amazing. The song is both warming and haunting at the same time.

 
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