The Port of Cherbourg is located in Normandy. This song is a continuation of Nantes, most definitely. It documents the mans time on the ship, after he’s set off to reconnect with his girlfriend.
“And a fall from you / is a long way down. / I've found a better way out.”
He has realized the pain he’s been through before with his girl, and insists that he shouldn’t have to endure it again because he knows something better.
“Well it's been a long time / since I've seen you smile. / Gambled away my fright / till the morning lights shine.”
An allusion to Nantes, what he once did.
“Sunday morning / only fog on the limbs. / I called it again. / What do you know?”
Imagery of a life on the sea, I believe.
“And I filled our days / with cards and gin. / You're alight again, my dear.”
He is clearly with friends, and is realizing that the “cards and gin” life is not so bad. She is alight, no longer so high up in his mind, in his life.
“I will lead the way, oh, lead the way / when I know.”
He plans to direct the ship (also a metaphor for his life) when he knows where he wants to go, meaning he doesn’t, meaning he is no longer going towards her.
“And I'll sleep away, oh, sweep away / what I don't.”
He is getting rid of the notion of her.
“Well seize the way, oh, seize the way, / oh, I hope. / I will lead the way, oh, lead the day
when I know.”
The punch line, he is accepting his life on the sea, wandering. He is intending to enjoy, not make any plans as he was before. However, he realizes that at some point he will need direction. He simply does not have it yet.
The Port of Cherbourg is located in Normandy. This song is a continuation of Nantes, most definitely. It documents the mans time on the ship, after he’s set off to reconnect with his girlfriend.
“And a fall from you / is a long way down. / I've found a better way out.”
He has realized the pain he’s been through before with his girl, and insists that he shouldn’t have to endure it again because he knows something better.
“Well it's been a long time / since I've seen you smile. / Gambled away my fright / till the morning lights shine.”
An allusion to Nantes, what he once did.
“Sunday morning / only fog on the limbs. / I called it again. / What do you know?”
Imagery of a life on the sea, I believe.
“And I filled our days / with cards and gin. / You're alight again, my dear.”
He is clearly with friends, and is realizing that the “cards and gin” life is not so bad. She is alight, no longer so high up in his mind, in his life.
“I will lead the way, oh, lead the way / when I know.”
He plans to direct the ship (also a metaphor for his life) when he knows where he wants to go, meaning he doesn’t, meaning he is no longer going towards her.
“And I'll sleep away, oh, sweep away / what I don't.”
He is getting rid of the notion of her.
“Well seize the way, oh, seize the way, / oh, I hope. / I will lead the way, oh, lead the day when I know.”
The punch line, he is accepting his life on the sea, wandering. He is intending to enjoy, not make any plans as he was before. However, he realizes that at some point he will need direction. He simply does not have it yet.