This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I'm undecided about you again
Mightn't be right that you're not here
It's double-sided, because I ruined it all
But also saved myself, by never believing you, dear
Everything good, I deem too good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward to
Has a pretty painful and very imposing before
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
Just because I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do, but spend my best
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in its wake, appeared the touch and call
Of a different breed
One who set to get me wise, and got me there
And then, got me
And what a thing, to know what could be instead
Oh, what a blessed curse; to see
It took the agenda from its place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Giving me eyes to view it
As it goes by the boards
Mightn't be right that you're not here
It's double-sided, because I ruined it all
But also saved myself, by never believing you, dear
Everything good, I deem too good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward to
Has a pretty painful and very imposing before
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
Just because I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do, but spend my best
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in its wake, appeared the touch and call
Of a different breed
One who set to get me wise, and got me there
And then, got me
And what a thing, to know what could be instead
Oh, what a blessed curse; to see
It took the agenda from its place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
Oh sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Giving me eyes to view it
As it goes by the boards
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Midnight
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Midnight” is a song about finding a love that is so true that it provides a calming feeling through every storm. Ed Sheeran reflects on his good fortunes in landing someone with such peace and support and speaks of not fearing the dark days because he knows they’ll all end in the safety nets of her arms.
“Well, good morning there / What a way to start the day / With everything laid bare,” Ed Sheeran sings in the first verse, enthusiastic to be waking up beside his woman. He apologizes for missing her calls in the second verse and promises to return them because for him, speaking to her is the most important thing. “Well, I get lost inside my head / In this chaos, you’re my calm / And I will find my feet again / ‘Cause еven the worst days of my life will always еnd / At midnight in your arms,” sings Ed Sheeran in the chorus, revelling in his good luck.
Another Love
Tom Odell
Tom Odell
I think the meaning is pretty clear. This person got really burned in a previous relationship, and because of this is unable to love and show care in his present one, even though he so badly wants to. It's lovely song, and very sad. You can really feel how defeated and frustrated he is with himself.
I dont think she is necessarily the "other woman", and waiting for him to leave anyone for her. In factm one of the most important point is that sailors tend to never settle down with one woman, and she KNEW this. Basically he was making her empty promises. She won't let herself believe him, cuz its simply "too good to be true" and she was trying to protect herself from being hurt. Obviously she was correct in doing so, because she does say that it ultimately saved her in the end. However, I think you're meant to assume she DID believe him, and thats why it hurts. She feels that he was bound to hurt her, and wise her up to these harsh realities. The card reference is saying she is taking a gamble on the love a sailor, but she's basically "going all in" as they say and spending her best...setting herself up for heartache and dissapointment. A paramour is actually ANY type of ellicit lover, not nesessarily of a married person. Something "going by the boards" is a reference to jetsam, which is something lost at sea.I liken it to when you're with a guy that you know you should be wary of, but you eventually let yourself become vulnerable and trust him, and then of course you get hurt. You knew better, but you took that gamble. The song is much easier to understand if you replace every "by the boards" with "lost".
@Violetthoughts Great interpretation. I totally agree.
they 'freed' her own their own terms
i just think this album doesn't sound much like fiona - the unreleased E.M is so much better...
She's the "other woman" in this song. She waited patiently for him, probably assuring her that he was leaving his wife, all the while dragging her deeper into love with him. Eventually he's had enough of his paramour (his adulterous lover) and let's her go by the boards (discards her, like something fallen overboard and carried away, thus the sailor reference.)
fantastic song. I think the abandon with which she sings it alludes to the theme of habit. that this is some kind of habitual behavior or situation that she's used to--because of everything having a painful "before" she ends up in these relationships where she is the one inflicting the pain instead (being the other woman, as opposed to the woman being cheated on). The repetition of her asking the sailor why he did it seems as though she is both resentful that he hurt her in the end instead of the woman that he was supposed to be hurting, and also that she sort of expected it (at least her tone suggests that she's not really surprised in the end and instead is just going through the protocol of asking why, even though she expected it all along). i think the thing i like most about this song is that ambivalence between being really hurt and it being expected; really wondering why, and asking why in a sort of sarcastic/cliche way that everyone asks even when they already know the answer.
This song is as good as anything off her first album, ths needs to be released
AND IT IS!!! FINALLY!!!!
she sings with a lot less passion in comparison to her other songs..... how sad but i still have much love for fiona
i think the reason is explanatory in her lyrics :) it's more 'jaded' than lack of passion, i like it though, adds depth to the lyrics - yes the monotony adds depth if you count the meaning.
I can't wait..! Ah.
This song obviously has a lot to do with a painful relationship, but it is still ambiguous. Does anyone have ideas about the "by the boards" stuff? What does that allude to? Btw, her new album is a lot less bitter piano-pounding, more mature reflection. I love both so much. Thank you Sony for finally freeing Fiona!
i think the abandon with which she sings this song is intentional.