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Ship of Fools Lyrics
Tell me quick said old mcfee
Whats this all have to do with me?
Ive spent all my time at sea a loner.
Is there something else I should know?
Something hidden down below the level of your conversation?
Well he turned away before the answer
Though I yelled aloud he refused to hear
It became to clear
So it went as we put out
I was left in constant doubt
Everything I asked about seemed private
The captain strolled the bridge one night
I stopped him in the evening light
To ask him would it be all right to join him
But he stood there like some idol
And he listened like some temple
And then he turned away
All along the fateful coast
We moved silent like a ghost
The timeless sea of tireless host possessed us
The wind came building from the cold northwest
And soon the waves began to crest
Crashing cross the forward deck
All hands lost
I alone survived the sinking
I alone possessed the tools
On that ship of fools
Whats this all have to do with me?
Ive spent all my time at sea a loner.
Something hidden down below the level of your conversation?
Well he turned away before the answer
Though I yelled aloud he refused to hear
It became to clear
So it went as we put out
I was left in constant doubt
Everything I asked about seemed private
I stopped him in the evening light
To ask him would it be all right to join him
And he listened like some temple
And then he turned away
We moved silent like a ghost
The timeless sea of tireless host possessed us
The wind came building from the cold northwest
And soon the waves began to crest
Crashing cross the forward deck
All hands lost
I alone possessed the tools
On that ship of fools
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I think it's about impending death. The song's viewpoint is from "Death" himself visiting on this ship. Old McPhee figures it out pretty quickly but like the Captain, he's in denial, like all of us, once we face and come closer to our mortality.
I suppose this is what some would call a "throwaway song". On the album just to fill space. Which is why it's not very popular. Despite that it's one of my favorite Seger songs.
The song is full of metaphors. Most of which too complex to try and interpret. But the feeling I get from this song is one of isolation. The protagonist in the song is a loner and has never felt like he fit into the "ship of fools".
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Foucault has a nice chapter on the "Ships of Fools" that replaced Mary's of Bethlehem psych ward:
Odysseus too is the sole survivor, all his friends at the Hotel of lost companions with heated pool and bar..
The lyrics of "Ship of Fools" by Bob Seger convey themes of isolation, existential questioning, and the struggle for connection. "Tell me quick said old McFee / What's this all have to do with me?" - This opening line suggests a sense of urgency and perhaps frustration from Old McFee, indicating a desire for clarity about his place in the unfolding events. It reflects a feeling of disconnection and confusion. "I've spent all my time at sea a loner." - Here, the speaker identifies as a solitary figure, suggesting that their experiences have been isolating. The sea symbolizes both literal and metaphorical distance from others, emphasizing a life lived in solitude. "Is there something else I should know? / Something hidden down below the level of your conversation?" - The speaker is seeking deeper truths or insights that might not be openly discussed. This indicates a yearning for understanding amidst superficial exchanges, highlighting the complexity of human interactions. "Though I yelled aloud he refused to hear." - This line emphasizes the theme of alienation. Despite the speaker’s attempts to reach out, their voice goes unheard, reinforcing feelings of isolation and desperation. "It became too clear." - The realization of the futility of communication leads to clarity about the situation's dire nature, possibly hinting at a painful acceptance of one's loneliness. https://basketballsuperstars.io
[Edit: Grammar error]
I always thought these lyrics made a good metaphor for Richard Nixon—the guy who refused to listen to anyone around him while his ship was going down.