Lost Coastlines

Okkervil River

Packed and all eyes turned in, no one to see on the quay
No one waving for me, just the shoreline receding
Ticket in my hand, I'm 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

Sit down, sit down on the prow to wave bye
There might not be another star further 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
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, too, 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 foreign lord

And we sail out on orders from him but we find
The maps he sent to us don't mention lost coastlines
Where nothing we've actually seen has been mapped or outlined
For we don't recognize the names upon these signs

And every night finds us rocking and rolling on waves wild and wide
Well, we have lost our way, nobody's gonna say it outright
Just go la la la-la-la-la la-la-la-la
La-la la-la-la la-la-la la
Oh-oh oh

La la la-la-la-la la-la-la-la
La-la la-la-la la-la-la la
Oh-oh-oh oh

La la-la-la-la la
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la la

La la-la-la-la la
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la la

La la-la-la-la la
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la la

La la-la-la-la la
La-la-la-la-la
La-la-la-la-la la, la


Lyrics submitted by error_to_brain, edited by dvorax, sugarnum, bfreeby, inverarity, Kozumou, promachos

Lost Coastlines Lyrics as written by Will Robinson Sheff

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

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Lost Coastlines song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment
    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.
    laviebonneon August 12, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    I want to become the tambourine player for Okkervil River. just sayin
    seaandthesaltybreezeon December 02, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    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:-)
    Houxty1on December 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    best song on the album, hands down.
    stars&satelliteson July 26, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    What a song.
    against_me44on August 15, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    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.
    censored by laurieon August 16, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    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...
    asoson September 10, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    "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.
    InTheBetweenon September 29, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation
    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
    yamahasixstringon November 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I hate to nitpick, but these three things need to get fixed: 1. key = quay 2. proud = prow 3. may lay = melee
    Imposs1bleon July 27, 2008   Link

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