The Ship Song

I wrote the song because Anita and i would argue at a constant pace and I would always tell her to unleash the dogs and burn the bridges as a way of saying you can say what you feel but forget the past and let's move forward. in an argument one always has to stand down until the other quits. this cleans off the slate. the first verse contemplates arguing all night long until one gives in and they embrace each other and start over. this was not one of my "dark" songs. I write what I feel and I was not feeling "dark". if you want "dark" then immerse yourself into murder ballads. thank you

Nicholas Edward Cave

I think that is a fair interpretation, however, I think it could also be about forbidden love, an affair, not just old lovers. It's clear that they are old lovers with a history. Burning bridges, makes me guess that she is married. Finding myself in a similare situation in my life, I find the line "We make a little history, baby/Every time you come around" especially beautiful. Inside of a relationship that can have no future, I found myself telling my lover that I will remember him when I am an old woman. Sometimes life is complicated, like a good song.

I think "come sail your ships" means a battle is about to begin: he sees courtship as a war, but in a playful sense, it's not a sad song. I suppose "and let your hair hang down" refers to war too: the woman is seen as a warrior goddess. These lyrics are really haunting, it's one of my favourite Nick Cave songs.

I love this song. Giving yourself entirely to another person. That's all. Come what may, ships, dogs.

I think this song is about two ex-lovers that continually go back to each other.

The two lovers have a history of each time they meet they make love. But this time when they meet again, they don’t want to let this happen because they are both very guarded and hurt during their on and off again relationship. When they talk about their moral ground, I feel that it is they are agreeing to not make love. However, when they are in each other embrace “everything comes tumbling down” and they can no long resist the urge to make love.

A good half of the lines in this song are specific literary or historical references to war. Usually stuff like "Love is a Battlefield" presumes that's a bad thing, that either it's a necessary evil or it's a relationship that's toxic. This doesn't do either. It welcomes, invites, embraces the engagement, even as it acknowledges the upcoming carnage. It's an interesting theme.

It also lets you imagine the song as correspondence between the rulers of nations, if you like your romance really really epic.

Line by line:

Come sail your ships around me >>> Siege, notably Troy's "face that launched a thousand ships" And burn your bridges down >>> Preventing your own retreat by burning bridges or boats is a terrifying morale tactic, used all over the place. It says there can be no compromise. We make a little history, baby >>> What are history books punctuated by? Every time you come around

Come loose your dogs upon me >>> "Cry havoc, and let slip the dogs of war!" Translation: "Oh, it's on now." And let your hair hang down >>> And a swerve into Song of Solomon-style intimacy for the rest of the chorus. You are a little mystery to me Every time you come around

We talk about it all night long We define our moral ground >>> Most wars start with a lot of diplomacy in which people try to both get what they want and look like the good guy. But when I crawl into your arms Everything comes tumbling down >>> Which all goes out the window when the cannons start.

Your face has fallen sad now For you know the time is nigh When I must remove your wings And you, you must try to fly >>> No direct references to war in this verse, but the part about flight lends itself to siege interpretations; both sides can't win in this situation, and one side's freedom/integrity is in question.

I wrote my comment that this was above his muse and and then read this in one of the above postings: "I wrote the song because Anita and i would argue at a constant pace and I would always tell her to unleash the dogs and burn the bridges as a way of saying you can say what you feel but forget the past and let's move forward. in an argument one always has to stand down until the other quits. this cleans off the slate. the first verse contemplates arguing all night long until one gives in and they embrace each other and start over. this was not one of my "dark" songs. I write what I feel and I was not feeling "dark". if you want "dark" then immerse yourself into murder ballads."

When I read this I thought my interpretation was wrong. But then I read on wikipedia:

"Cave dated Anita Lane from the late 1970s to mid 1980s. She had an undeniably strong influence upon Cave and his work, often cited as his "muse".

So I think my interpretation could be part of his interpretation about his relationship with Anita.

it really surprises me that no one has commented on this song before...it's just beautiful. i'm not too sure whether i understand all the lyrics, but i love it. i would b glad if someone could tell me what is meant by Come sail your ships around me

is it referring to his want to have her near him? or could it be interpreted as sexual??

I agree with Lady Evelnhair, this is a beautiful song. I love it. I have only heard the version with Concrete Blonde and it is so good.
My favorite lines are:

Your face has fallen sad now For you know the time is nigh When I must remove your wings And you, you must try to fly

It is about letting someone you love go. It may be sad, but it is the right thing to do. Although, I have always wondered why the songs speaks of "removing wings" when it is hard to fly without them? Perhaps that is the irony in it?

"We talk about it all night long We define our moral ground But when I crawl into your arms Everything comes tumbling down"

Talk about a weird verse...