Lost Coastlines Lyrics
No one waving for me just the shoreline receding.
Ticket in my hand and thinking wish I didn't hand it in.
Cause who said sailing is fine?
Leaving behind all the faces that I might replace if I tried on that long ride,
Looking deep inside but I don't want to look so deep inside yet.
There might not be another star, farther on the line.
Look out, look out at each town that glides by,
And there's another crowd, to drown in crying eyes.
And see how that light you love now just won't shine,
There might just be another star, that's high and far in some other sky.
And decide what a dance might mean to it.
Ruining the place where the ensuing may lay escape.
We packed up all of our bags the ship's deck now sags
From the weight of our tracks as we pace beneath flags
Black and battered rattling our swords in service of some fated, foreign, war.
But we find that the maps he sent to us don't mention lost coastlines.
Where nothing we've actually seen has been mapped or outlined
And we don't recognize the names upon strange signs.
Well we have lost our way, nobody's gonna say it outright.
Just go

so. fucking. great. this album IS amazing. will sheff is one of the most eloquent humans on earth.
"ENSUING MELEE ESCAPE"
my god.
and they did something with this album that tilly and the wall EPIC FAILED at. they modified their sound and at the same time STAYED TRUE TO OKKERVIL RIVER.
thye're fucking great.

I want to become the tambourine player for Okkervil River. just sayin

I suspect JoeF is right about this (although in an incredibly smug and arrogant manner it has to be said).
Just a couple of thoughts to add:
What if Lost Coastlines refers more specifically to the unsuccessful search for Weapons of Mass Destruction In Iraq?
Then - "We sail out on orders from him but we find the maps he sent to us don't mention lost coastlines" - relates to those who were sent by Bush and Blair on a wild goose chase.
Maybe I'm reading to much into it but that would be clever songwriting in my humble opinion.
Not being American, I'm not sure how much influence or authority (if any) Condeleeza Rice had in the decision to send weapons inspectors but if she did play an important role then could she be our "marionette".
And, when we've finished serving and volleying semantics, it's a great song and it's a big universe so I rather suspect it doesn;t matter:-)

best song on the album, hands down.

What a song.

I somewhat agree with you WillG about the unexpected turns in life and setting forth through doubt...but what I think you're missing is Johnathan Meiberg's (sp?) leaving Okkervil to focus on his band Shearwater. This is really the only true duet btwn Will and John...and I think that the intent is to show that this split is on good terms and that neither knows what will happen with their respective bands in the future...or if there may ever be an Okkervil "reunion"
Great song...just pre-ordered the new album and will be seeing them in NYC this October.

Maybe I'm just a dog but this song sounds to me like the guys in the band dealing with their misgivings over indulging in the pleasures of the road.
The "Lost Coastlines" refer to their moral boundaries disappearing as a result of constant travel (i.e. never having to remain in a place long enough to deal with the consequences of their actions).
And who here hasn't found themself in the middle of "waves wild and wide" deliberating whether or not they should give in to their lustful side? Anyone? I didn't think so. Sometimes you just have to say La, La... La, La, La...

"Is that marionette real enough yet to step off of that set to decide what her dance might be doing? Ruining the play to, in the ensuing melee, escape?"
You can tell that this is what he's really singing, and it's also the way the lyrics are listed in the cover insert.
Incredible song.

Sit down, sit down on the prow to wave bye There might not be another star further on the line
We sing Is that marionette real enough yet to step off of that set To decide what her hands might be doing Ruining the play to, in the ensuing melee, escape
We packed up all of our bags The ship's deck now sags from the weight of our tracks As we pace beneath flags black and battered Rattling our swords in service of some (faded/fated) foreign lord
We sail out on orders from him but we find The maps they sent to us don't mention a lost coastline Where nothing we've actually seen has been mapped or outlined And we don't recognize the names upon these signs

I hate to nitpick, but these three things need to get fixed:
- key = quay
- proud = prow
- may lay = melee
Are those changes that you suggested that have already been made? Or are you saying that quay should be changed to key, etc? If the latter is the case you're wrong about all three.
Are those changes that you suggested that have already been made? Or are you saying that quay should be changed to key, etc? If the latter is the case you're wrong about all three.