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Sunken Union Boat Lyrics
Sunken Union Boat
out past the Levy county line
coffee black Suwannee river blends into the coast
gushing water crimson copper boil
I grew up there the bottom of the swimming hole
fresh blood comes rushing back to me
I never thought I'd remember all of this oh dear me
it's a trick of the mind
it's a trick of the mind
ready, set, dive again
open up your mask let the water clean your glass
find the sunken union boat
find the 1955 Dr. Pepper can
fresh blood comes rushing back to me
I never thought I'd remember all of this oh dear me
it's a trick of the mind
coffee black Suwannee river blends into the coast
gushing water crimson copper boil
I grew up there the bottom of the swimming hole
I never thought I'd remember all of this oh dear me
it's a trick of the mind
open up your mask let the water clean your glass
find the sunken union boat
find the 1955 Dr. Pepper can
I never thought I'd remember all of this oh dear me
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
John Vanderslice has such a beautiful way with words. Phrases like "coffee black Suwanee river" are simply lovely.
Listening to this song gives me a potent sense of nostalgia. But, "It's a trick of the mind"? Could this be an anti-nostalgia nostalgia song?
fresh blood comes rushing back to me I never thought I'd remember all of this oh dear me
I always heard it as:
Fresh flood (as in, of memories) comes rushing back to me I never thought I'd remember all of this so dear to me
I don't think it's necessary anti-nostalgia; maybe 'it's a trick of the mind' refers to the power of memory/nostalgia rather than the unreliable nature of memory (or maybe it does refer to the latter, idk).
A nastier interpretation that has crossed my mind has 'I grew up there the bottom of the swimming hole' as referring to something horrible, with the 'fresh flood' meaning suppressed memories resurfacing and it's a trick of the mind' a mantra of denial. It also fits with the title - 'sunken union boat' as something deliberately buried.