This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Crazy as I may
Make my way through this world
It's for no one but me to share
What direction I turn in
'Cause I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
The same as it was and should be when you will
You give
Roll me back again
You give
Roll me away
You give
Roll the homes back again
You give
The same respect for them that turn and change
And don't you see the strange way
That the girl dances away a day
Even ridiculed display
Won't stop her feet from moving
Because I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
Just the same as it was away (?)
Maybe it's strange
I live a lie
I'm going back again
Oh, turn back
The lights from yourself
And turn the spotlight down
Or turn it on yourself
Because you are the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
Just the same as for all
I reign and waiting to be
Why should I be hypnotized
By someone else's lie?
Why should I
Oh, take time and pride in
What someone else believes?
Oh, tell me go on
Won't you roll on then maybe you
You give
Roll the backside on the wind
You give
Roll me away
You give
More than ever seen before
You give
Say, It may be all I can
Same as it was
And made me believe my head, my whole
Make my way through this world
It's for no one but me to share
What direction I turn in
'Cause I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
The same as it was and should be when you will
You give
Roll me back again
You give
Roll me away
You give
Roll the homes back again
You give
The same respect for them that turn and change
And don't you see the strange way
That the girl dances away a day
Even ridiculed display
Won't stop her feet from moving
Because I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
Just the same as it was away (?)
Maybe it's strange
I live a lie
I'm going back again
Oh, turn back
The lights from yourself
And turn the spotlight down
Or turn it on yourself
Because you are the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids, and kissing lips
Just the same as for all
I reign and waiting to be
Why should I be hypnotized
By someone else's lie?
Why should I
Oh, take time and pride in
What someone else believes?
Oh, tell me go on
Won't you roll on then maybe you
You give
Roll the backside on the wind
You give
Roll me away
You give
More than ever seen before
You give
Say, It may be all I can
Same as it was
And made me believe my head, my whole
Lyrics submitted by surfergurl1963
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nobody has commented on this song??? It's so good!!! Especially the live version!!! The first stanza is soooo good!
I think Dave is talking about being independent and taking charge, brilliant song...
I love this song, it represents this guys looking down on this girl that doesnt give a flip who sees her, and is danceing to her own drum. He says be the captain of your ship..dont care what others do, guide your own dam ship.
this is a great song. the meaning: be yourself. be the captain of your ship and guide your life to everything that you want. this a wonderful song to listen to when you are just drivin around or sittin at home. it eventually evolved into captain.
this is a great song, i think dave did a better job and made it better when he came out with it on the busted stuff cd as "captain" it was also on the lillywhite sessions, unreleased cd. this song was an early version of captain, and is awesome
Yeah the live version of this song is amazinggg
Yeah the live version of this song is amazinggg
this song is about going crazy with the idea of fate versus free will. the fate of God is perfectly written for each human an it states that every activity of every human was written before time and cannot be changed. while free will states that each and every action of each human being is chosen by its occupant.
dave sees himself as a spirit that is a passenger of his soul/body. his soul/body does what it does and dave is merely a witness to its activities. thus he believes in fate.
he wonders about all those who think that they are in charge and are choosing to do in their bodies what they will outside of the pre written fate of God.
its an ironic and sarcastic song of futility and mans belief of free will and their denial of fate.
as he says "you ARE the captain of YOUR ship"
"roll me back" means to return to the day when he was a spirit without the need of a body.
This has basically the same chorus as "Captain". What?