I'm Sleeping in a Submarine

I think this song is about when children, little boys, dream of going to war. Arcade Fire seems to like to tackle childish fantasies.

“She’s gone to sea! / She’s fighting for me! What bravery!”

A little boy has a fantasy that some woman in his life (mother? aunt? some missing family figure?) is fighting for him. Perhaps he’s been told something like that, but he now fantasizes about how brave she is. (Are there any films or novels about a character like this?)

“I’m sleeping in a battleship. / I’m sleeping in a submarine. / I’m sleeping in a fighter plane.”

This is the woman speaking, though I believe it is simply in his mind. He imagines her playing, sleeping, having a good time.

“I’m sleeping going down the drain.”

I imagine much of this play taking place in the bathtub because of the submarine, battle ship thoughts. Perhaps the young boy has toys that he plays with in the bathroom, and while the bathtub is being drained, his imagination doesn’t stop. She’s sleeping going down the drain.

“Antiaircraft guns / have more fun / in the sun. / All hands on deck! / The radio address, / what a mess!”

Perhaps now he is playing on the beach. Really just making a game out of this, the way young children fantasize about war and the absurdity of it all.

“A cage is a cage / is a cage, is a cage!”

This sums up the song and covers a broad spectrum. Besides all the war tools being described as cages of sorts, the young boy is also in a cage: his imagination. He flatters himself with these fabricated and toy-accompanied dreams, locking himself into a cage.

does anyone know what release this is from?

It's from their self-titled EP. I saw it on ebay for close to $75, so I guess it's pretty rare.

Way underrated song.

I lurrrrrrve it. -jess

Isn't it in "Us kid Know" album in 2003?

Sounds so like Bjork's singing it. Anyone else think Arcade Fire are a more listenable Bright Eyes?

Wtf?! A more listenable Bright Eyes?

No way. There's just way too much more instrumentation and experimenting. Not to mention that distinct voice that both Regine, Win and Wil all have.

They can't compare.

and I feel sorry for the guy who bought their self titled considering they're re-releasing it and everything from their current record label. Lol.

to chachi...if you buy it for $75 you're getting ripped off big time. It's not rare at all, in fact you can get it from their record company's site for $9, check it out http://mergerecords.com/catalog.php?item_id=290&method=item I think i'll pick me one up

Trapped in the binds of war.

could that last line be a reference to the gertrude stein quote, 'a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose'?