Ship Of Fools Lyrics
No one left to scream and shout.
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon.
Everyone was hanging out
Hanging up and hanging down
Hanging in and holding fast
Hope our little world will last.
Along came Mr. Goodtrips
Looking for a new ship.
Come on people better climb on board
Come on babe we're going home.
Ship of fools, Ship of fools.
The human race was dying out
No one left to scream and shout.
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon.
Ship of fools, ship of fools X3
Climb on board
Ship's gonna leave you all, far behind.
Katherine Anne Porter wrote a book called "Ship Of Fools" in 1962. It was based upon the german book "Das Narrenschiff" by 15th century writer Sebastian Brant. It tells the story of a passanger ship on it's way from Mexico to Germany and how life on board a sailing ship can be compared to life on our planet. This song was written around the time when people could see the first photos from the Apollo space missions and some concluded that earth was like a wessel floating in space.
@bertil Further note that you are probably aware of...
@bertil Further note that you are probably aware of...
There was a film in 1965, taken from Porter's book. There is a fair chance that this film, which was pretty good--I saw it in the theatre at the time, was known to Morrison, and functioned as an artistic springboard.
There was a film in 1965, taken from Porter's book. There is a fair chance that this film, which was pretty good--I saw it in the theatre at the time, was known to Morrison, and functioned as an artistic springboard.
only 1 comment for this great song?!?
I think it's kind of like what jim said at a concert once; "I don't know what's gonna happen man, but I wanna get my kicks in before the whole sh*thouse goes up in flames, alright! alright!"
This song is amazing, It took me a while to figure it out but what I think Jim is talking about is the earth is a ship of fools. He feels trapped on this ship seeing there werent many others like him around at the time. Just by the last time he says ship of fools X3 you can tell this is what the songs about. He is Mr. Goodtrips looking for a new World thats why he got high and thats why he broke on through to the other side. He wanted more revolutionary type people around to take thier destiny into thier own hands.
The term Ships of Fools is an allegory that has long been used in Western literature and art. The allegory depicts a vessel populated by humans who are deranged or oblivious, passengers aboard a ship without a pilot, and seemingly ignorant of their own direction.
What I love about this song is how the music and words work together to create a playful, whimsical mood, with a dose of humor, which you don't find too too often in Doors songs.
I agree that the song references Porter's book, and the film of the same title that came out in the mid-60s.
So far as a "playful" ambiance, it's tough to see how this squares with lines like "The human race was dying out..." and "Smog's gonna get you pretty soon..."