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In This Camp Lyrics
In this camp there's one who delights me
Brings me afternoon tea then she leaves me
When they're climbing over the sea
She helps to keep our strength complete
But I'd rather stay
'Cause the north is too far away
I wanted to marry Babette
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
Unconquered seas
There's the horn call
Put your boots and courage on and run
I wanted to marry Babette
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
Unconquered seas
I'm counting up all the lovely years
Since I had stepped inside
With the others in this lonely field
Who I fought beside
They mustn’t mind
They must let me go to find
A site for my retire
Will this war
Capture your heart or more
And carry you down the shore
'Cause the north is too far away
I wanted to marry Babette
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
Brings me afternoon tea then she leaves me
When they're climbing over the sea
She helps to keep our strength complete
But I'd rather stay
'Cause the north is too far away
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
Unconquered seas
Put your boots and courage on and run
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
Unconquered seas
Since I had stepped inside
With the others in this lonely field
Who I fought beside
They must let me go to find
A site for my retire
Will this war
And carry you down the shore
And the weapons on my shoulders
I'd throw into seaweed banks
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
And the willows and the lime-trees
Were gathered there for us
Above the unconquered seas
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This song seems to have been inspired by "The Ice Maiden" by Hans Christian Andersen. The willow's, the lime tree's, and of course, marrying Babette are all there.
Check it out chapter 4: http://www.classicauthors.net/andersen/TheIceMaiden/TheIceMaiden4.html
Tim Smith is an awesome writer. The way his lyrics get you to really put yourself into a state of long term contemplation is amazing. He's a great guy too.
this is one of the most heartwrenching, tearjerking songs I have ever heard.
the haunting bassoon parts are so perfect, too. but just everything about it feels so hopeless, exhausted, yet passive... I don't know, but it captures the emotion perfectly.
the story is so sad, and classic... man is at war, knows he's going to die, and is reminiscing about everything that he's going to have to leave, including his love for the militia's water(tea)girl, and he ponders the life that they COULD have had.
I don't necessarily get the vibe that the lyrics are implying a fear of dying, but more of a wish to have loved, longer, the life unshared.
Simply, having been unable to linger in the pleasant way takes priority over the wish to stay alive, but the feelings are heavily related.
very sad, but still lovely
In the opening line the artist talks about the camp and how there is someone there who delights him (the tea girl) and her delight keeps his strength and his companys strength complete. However, he is remorsed when he thinks about Babette who his true love who is in the North his home. So he is caught between the war which has captured parts of his heart and soul and his desire and love to have married and returned to Babette. This song is a classic example of great story telling in a song. The instrumentials in the background capture the feeling or war and love.
I get the impression this maybe set in the American civil war (the north being too far away) but could probably translate to any war. It seems to be about a man who didn't really want to be fighting in this war and in the absence of much female company had fallen in love with Babatte (who served them tea) and fantasised about running away with her instead of doing his duty.
Maybe WWI? There was a naval ship called the USS Babette. If that is the case, perhaps he has fallen in love with the sea/the ship.
Maybe WWI? There was a naval ship called the USS Babette. If that is the case, perhaps he has fallen in love with the sea/the ship.
I think the lyrics speak for themselves, mostly, but I just wanted to share that I also think this is an incredible song. It's the best thing by Midlake, in my opinion. And it is heart-wrenching, like techno mentioned.