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,
Crazy as I may,
Make my way through this world,
Oh, it's for no one but me to say,
What direction I should turn in now.
Cause I am the captain of this ship,
Wanting eyes and kissing lips.
The same as it was,
And will remain until I'm done and gone.
Strange, but it seems,
There's mutiny brewing inside of me now.
I don't want your pity,
Just the promise that I'll be alright.
Cause I am the captain of this ship,
Curious hands and fingertips.
The same as it was,
And will be until I'm gone.
Oh, I know I'm a dreamer,
Still think it's strange?
I won't be here for long.
Oh, I know that I feel,
Oh, wait and go again, Again.
Oh, look, I'm buried,
Like a cancer eating away inside of me.
I don't want your pity,
Only the promise that I'll be okay now.
But I am the captain of this ship,
Curious hands and fingertips.
The same as it was before here,
Here, back after all.
Why should I be hypnotized,
By the promise of a long life?
Why should I hold hope,
In tiny, tiny dribbles that glide by?
Why should I lean on everything... upon
I won't be here long....
Oh, I know I'm a dreamer,
Still seems a truth.
I won't be long for here.
Oh, it's so, but I think I lay this,
On now your lips.
I'm drowning.
I am the captain of... oh... But, I'll be okay after all.
Make my way through this world,
Oh, it's for no one but me to say,
What direction I should turn in now.
Cause I am the captain of this ship,
Wanting eyes and kissing lips.
The same as it was,
And will remain until I'm done and gone.
Strange, but it seems,
There's mutiny brewing inside of me now.
I don't want your pity,
Just the promise that I'll be alright.
Cause I am the captain of this ship,
Curious hands and fingertips.
The same as it was,
And will be until I'm gone.
Oh, I know I'm a dreamer,
Still think it's strange?
I won't be here for long.
Oh, I know that I feel,
Oh, wait and go again, Again.
Oh, look, I'm buried,
Like a cancer eating away inside of me.
I don't want your pity,
Only the promise that I'll be okay now.
But I am the captain of this ship,
Curious hands and fingertips.
The same as it was before here,
Here, back after all.
Why should I be hypnotized,
By the promise of a long life?
Why should I hold hope,
In tiny, tiny dribbles that glide by?
Why should I lean on everything... upon
I won't be here long....
Oh, I know I'm a dreamer,
Still seems a truth.
I won't be long for here.
Oh, it's so, but I think I lay this,
On now your lips.
I'm drowning.
I am the captain of... oh... But, I'll be okay after all.
Lyrics submitted by antifox64
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I signed up just to comment on this song. It kills me that he changed this from a dark song of torturous depth into one that is trite and meaningless for Busted Stuff. It seems to me that this song is about the contemplation of suicide: "I am the captain...there's a mutiny brewing inside of me." To me, this is THE song Dave is thinking of when he says the material of this album was too dark for release. The Lillywhite version is so hauntingly frightening that I damn near cry every time I hear it.
What I find kind of interesting in the meaning of the words is the phrase/idea of "I am the captain of this ship" is derived from Platonic/Neo-Platonic philosophy, which believes, in essence, that the Soul is the captain or driving force for the body (thus ship.) Along with all the references to death and the brevity of life, it is kind of fitting. I am not certain that Dave is quoting neo-platonic thought, but it certainly meshes with the idea.
I also find the lyrics "I don't want your pity, just the promise that I'll be okay" one of the most telling and useful mantras concerning life (I am not as fond of the busted stuff change to "promise that you'll stay with me"...kinda turned it quasi-romantic for me; I liked the Lillywhite Version better.)
When I was translating these lyrics to Polish language I was really striken that it isn't a simple song about a "captain of the ship" or a simple story about a lover who wants to leave his girl whenever he likes, more precisely when he's gone.
I think Dave ment something else. He paints a portrait of a man who whishes to be a sole captain of his life. But his life without God is rather miserable. Ana in this context words "I don't want your pity just the promise that I'll be okay" give the full picture of a man who wants to decide, but the outcome is pitiful (just to puzzle a bit with words), so he doesn't need God's pity, but a promise that everything's going to end up well. Still stoneharted we might say. Because life's short he wants to use it having as much fun as he can. He puts aside everything what important is and he drowns in activities that are useless but pleasant. Very nice sexual comparisonnice - who can resist the beautiful spouse's (or girlfriend/boyfriend's) lips, arms, etc...?
To say that I liked the Lillywhite Version better is not enough. I would rather say that I dislike the versions that were finally released on "Busted stuff". I really regreat that the Lillywhite session material wasn't the one that was put on the CD.
YOU ARE THE WORST PERSON EVER
one of dave's top songs...love the idea how we control these big ships- our lives- and we must be the sole directors. Our lives, these ships, will face many difficulties, like big waves, but we must control the ship ourselves. I LOVE the line, why must I be hypnotized by the promise of a long life!!!! why wait until tomorrrow to do something- tomorrow may never come!!!!!
one of dave's top songs...love the idea how we control these big ships- our lives- and we must be the sole directors. Our lives, these ships, will face many difficulties, like big waves, but we must control the ship ourselves. I LOVE the line, why must I be hypnotized by the promise of a long life!!!! why wait until tomorrrow to do something- tomorrow may never come!!!!!
i read the lyrics to this song before i ever heard it and i fell in love!! then i heard the song and i fell in love all over again, haha. i can totally relate to having to remind people that this is MY ship and no matter how badly i look like im struggling i need to learn things for myself. this song is amazing...
I think this is song is like Romeo and Juliet ... Romeo talks about how God ships his sail...and Dave is saying that he's the captain of his sail...he doesn't want God to control his life...
i heard from a good source that this song is about sex. any comments?
Unfortunately, I think this song means that you shouldn't have to rely on any higher being to control your life. I don't agree with it's assumed meaning because the ultimate result in this type of philosophy of life leads to eternal damnation, in my opinion. Have a nice day!
I agree with grand old partay and gabester. i head that one of the songs on busted stuff has to do with him comptimplating suicide and it makes sence now that its captain. dave is in my opinion kinda weird about religion. i dunno i agree with both opinions