The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
One step meets two, open, in the sea street.
We will reign free. I can't be king.
Right me from this dead bulb.
One step meets two, open, in the sea street.
We will reign free, as the sons of the first King.
When wave meets foot,
A ships wreck will drown it's crew.
Every man must face the fears, so he can brave.
Please turn this vessel back to flagship
So I can brave it, hold fast and brave.
Every man who steps aboard
Must face the fears and brave.
He must brave.
Cause even the most praised of ships
Will wreck when the captain is careless.
Oh Captain! The waves are, like jaws, dripping...
Oh, let me not be made meal to the sea.
Cause I want to be strong.
Yeah I want to see the cannons jump.
Strip my pride. Oh, strip my pride.
Let no fault meet this hull.
I know the reef's kiss. It cuts and sinks.
Draws me deep inside her. I won't fear her.
Through swells, we will reign free
As the sons of the first King.
The sons of Flagship.
We will reign free. I can't be king.
Right me from this dead bulb.
One step meets two, open, in the sea street.
We will reign free, as the sons of the first King.
When wave meets foot,
A ships wreck will drown it's crew.
Every man must face the fears, so he can brave.
Please turn this vessel back to flagship
So I can brave it, hold fast and brave.
Every man who steps aboard
Must face the fears and brave.
He must brave.
Cause even the most praised of ships
Will wreck when the captain is careless.
Oh Captain! The waves are, like jaws, dripping...
Oh, let me not be made meal to the sea.
Cause I want to be strong.
Yeah I want to see the cannons jump.
Strip my pride. Oh, strip my pride.
Let no fault meet this hull.
I know the reef's kiss. It cuts and sinks.
Draws me deep inside her. I won't fear her.
Through swells, we will reign free
As the sons of the first King.
The sons of Flagship.
Lyrics submitted by ourpalaceofsnow
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To me this song is about earning your life. Not sulking in your sorrows or degrading yourself like most young adults tend to do today. Oh, Sleeper is really really good live. Go see them!
I agree with thegreatdistress.
To me this song is about getting back on track with God, turning the vessel back to Flagship, and earning your life.
So, this song has a pretty straighforward meaning, which I can see being taken two ways, but then it also has a sub-meaning. The main message of the song is turning the vessel back to flagship. Because the flagship is the point of the fleet--where the King sits--we can assume that the flagship represents Jesus or God. Either way, it represents the path that we were created to live. But, what I think is open for interpretation, is what our vessel is. When we step aboard this vessel, we must be brave, face fears, take care. I think the vessel could either represent a church, or a life. The easiest interpretation would be that a vessel represents our lives, and it's rudder would be our toungue (good ol' bible) and we would be steering our lives after Christ. That's what I can logically justify as a meaning. But ever since I first listened to this song, the first thing I thought a vessel was was a church. Because the song refers to many people being on the ship, not just the ship leading itself (a ship's wreck can drown its crew). And the captain of the church would be the pastor, and the ship will wreck if he is careless. There is a distinction between the captain that may be careless and the Captain that we call out to (capital 'C' if anyone missed that). Then turning back to flagship would represent fixing the course of a church that has gone awry. Or even an entire denomination, or a cult. There are definitely some wrecked churches out there. But when we're with the flagship we will reign free through the swells. Confidence in living as Christ. So, that's the main meaning of the song in my opinion. The hard to understand part to me is the first couple lines. Mostly the part about the dead bulb... And I can't be king. And the first line. One step meets two means walking? And open...? The sea street would just be the ocean, being paths that our vessel could take. But that beginning is up for interpretation. I absolutely love the breakdown at the end by the way. With the shortened phrase...epic.
THIS SONG IS ABOUT BRUTAL OPEN SEA WARFARE. THAT'S IT.
Yup all there songs have meanings behind them all about God, but this one! No this one is just about BRUTAL OPEN SEA WARFARE....<br /> <br /> Look up the band, watch there videos, listen to what they have to say. They are all about God :)<br /> <br />
<br /> Oh and thebush i think i may of said this like a bit lower down but i think the dead bulb is us because a dead bulb can't grow. But through God our sins can be forgiven and we can eb brought back to life so to speak. And the part about never being king i think is just saying you can never be your own master truely as God is the creator and King<br /> <br /> Dunno if you agree but thats just my take.
Oh Sleeper is amazing. Glad they'll be there when I g and see....DEMON HUNTER!
Haha, theBush, you're beating me to all of these, aren't ya? Well, Again, I can't say anything more than how much I like this song and band, newfound to me. Demon Hunter...thanks for touring with them, or I may have never known about them ;)
A lot of Oh, Sleeper's lyrics remind me of the book "Wild at Heart" by John Eldredge. It's about getting our hearts back, being men, turning back to flagship! Check it out.
Ok so back in the old days when ships went round in big fleets there would be a Flagship the flagship was the leading ship. The song is simply about how without the Flagship (God) then you will be lost. Its about following the path liad out by Jesus and how through him is the only way to enternal life. The begining says "We will reign free. I can't be king.Right me from this dead bulb." we are all born into sin and therefore a dead bulb but when nutured by God we can grow.
It says "even the most praised of ships will wreck when the captain is careless" this means no matter how hard you try or what you do without the flagship you will make mistakes and cannot have God's gift of eternal life.
Jesus said "I am the way" and in this song Jesus is the Flagship guiding the fleet(his people(us))
Well atleast thats how I read this =p
I just saw Oh, Sleeper last night in Indianapolis. Coolest concert I've ever been to. Got to sing on stage with Micah Kinard to "Hush Yael". Such an amazing experience and one that I will never forget