The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
On waves of love my heart is breaking
And stranger still my self control I can't rely on anymore
New tide, surprise, my world is changing
Within this frame an ocean swells behind this smile, I know it well
Beneath a lover's moon I'm waiting
I am the pilot of the storm
Adrift in pleasure I may drown
I built this ship, it is my making
And furthermore my self control I can't rely on anymore
I know why, I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Who claims that no man is an island?
While I land up in jeopardy
More distant from you by degrees
I walk this shore in isolation
And at my feet eternity draws ever sweeter plans for me
I know why, I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
And stranger still my self control I can't rely on anymore
New tide, surprise, my world is changing
Within this frame an ocean swells behind this smile, I know it well
Beneath a lover's moon I'm waiting
I am the pilot of the storm
Adrift in pleasure I may drown
I built this ship, it is my making
And furthermore my self control I can't rely on anymore
I know why, I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Who claims that no man is an island?
While I land up in jeopardy
More distant from you by degrees
I walk this shore in isolation
And at my feet eternity draws ever sweeter plans for me
I know why, I know why
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh
Crazy on a ship of fools
Oh, crazy on a ship of fools
Turn this boat around, back to my loving ground
Oh no, oh no
Ship of fools
Lyrics submitted by ballzofsno
Ship of Fools Lyrics as written by Robert A Plant Phil Johnstone
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, CTM Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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very atmospheric ... the lyrics are awesome ... seem like the work of a classic poet ... bulls eye!!! the way its recorded and produced ... can't get much better than this ... perfect ... 10/10 ...