A Girl In Port

Okkervil River

Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port

Marie's gone blonde and lost a stone
She lay on her lawn, spun and alone
And when the morning sun it rose
Upon Marie and her lacy clothes

Well, it lit her up, and she walked around
The winding streets of Camden Town
Well, she don't know who she wants to be
And if I knew I'd tell Marie

Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port

And Cindy tells me she's had fun
Sitting backstage, someone's plus one
Up in her room the records spin
Needle in the grooves that she's worn thin

Well, she lifts her sleeve and she sees a name
And she's got a smile on her face
And she's got a story you can't see
Well, that's just between that name and Cindy

And before Holly made her way
Over the sea and far away
She's telling me inside her car
Driving us back from the Crystal Corner bar

I lost her there, I fell from hell
Cut some fresh pieces from myself
And then for a second something in me
Said leave today, it's time, Holly, it's time

Oh, I'm a weak and lonely sort
Though I'm not sailing just for sport
I've come to feel out on the sea
These urgent lives press against me

I'm just aghast, I'm not apart
My tender head with my easy heart
These several years out on the sea
Made me empty, cold and clear
Pour yourself into me

Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the lady-killing sort
Enough to hurt the girl in port



Lyrics submitted by smileforthecamera

A Girl in Port Lyrics as written by Will Robinson Sheff

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC

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A Girl In Port song meanings
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40 Comments

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  • +5
    General CommentI think this song might be about something altogether different. I think maybe he's referring to himself as the person who's being used, like he's trying to find the right girl but can't for some reason or another. Take Marie: "She lay on her lawn
    Spun and alone" "and she don't know who she wants to be and if I knew I'd tell Marie" this seems to imply that he can't have a relationship with Marie because she's too busy trying to find herself.

    Then you have Cindy who's "someone's plus one" and "And she's got a story you can't see
    Well, that's just between that name and Cindy" seems to mean that he can't have a relationship with Cindy because she's already in love with someone else.

    And then you have Holly. It seems that Holly is leaving him, and she's telling him in the car and he says "i lost her then, i fell from (high?)".

    Last you have him singing how he's "just a (guest*?) I'm not a part" and that "these several years out on the sea made me empty cold and clear pour yourself into me" seems to mean that he has lost all individuality and is only meant to be used by other people. He's alone.
    percepirmeon June 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is the best i could get from the two live recordings i have...amazing song!
    trippyappleon March 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentpretty song.

    i love the new album.
    inafutureageon June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentpretty song.

    i love the new album.
    inafutureageon June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMarie's gone blonde
    And lost a stone
    She lay on her lung

    i think it's lawn instead of lung
    sidelineson June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentMarie's gone blonde
    And lost a stone
    She lay on her lung

    i think it's lawn instead of lung
    sidelineson June 25, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentguh, the tone of this song is so gorgeous. I love the imagery "Let fall your shoes.. etc." It's so, lonely and touching. And am I the only person who thinks of Doctor Who ("The Doctor plus one. I'm the Doctor. This is Rose Tyler. She's my plus one.")? Probably.
    fedorkmeon June 28, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think this song is the singer confessing to sleeping with women while on the road. He's imagining what they're lives are like now and apologizing for using them. Lines like:

    "These several years out on the sea
    Made me empty, cold, and clear"

    and

    "I'm not the ladykilling sort
    Enough to hurt
    A girl in port"

    sounds like he's not normally someone who has quick flings and one-night stands, but that the loneliness of the road is enough to push him to these types of relationships.

    Great song. My favorite off the new album. :-)
    Slaveofthelampon July 09, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment"Someone's plus one" refers to being the unknown counterpart to someone who's well known -- the latter makes reservations to an event saying "[my name] plus one". Just thought I'd share.
    goodreverendon July 11, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think "I'm just aghast/I'm not a part" should instead be "I'm just a guest/I'm not a part"
    elaffinton July 22, 2007   Link

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