Yeah, I think this song is 50% personal song about lost friendships and 50% Libertines setting out their idea of albionism. Pete's always had a very strong belief in the ideal of leading the good ship Albion (Britain) to the utopia of Arcadia (paradise). They're both very, very old Celtic ideas that predate Christianity in Britain (albion is the oldest known term for Britain), and so they kind of represent that kind of ancient paradise based in nature that the Celts believed in. Hence namechecking Bodicea- what they're singing about is exactly what she was fighting for. Of course, she lost and so will they- and that's why the Arcadian dream has fallen through. But the idea of the Albion sailing on course is really suggesting that it's an inevitable journey, and in a metaphorical way the Libertines will bring it about.
Yeah, I think this song is 50% personal song about lost friendships and 50% Libertines setting out their idea of albionism. Pete's always had a very strong belief in the ideal of leading the good ship Albion (Britain) to the utopia of Arcadia (paradise). They're both very, very old Celtic ideas that predate Christianity in Britain (albion is the oldest known term for Britain), and so they kind of represent that kind of ancient paradise based in nature that the Celts believed in. Hence namechecking Bodicea- what they're singing about is exactly what she was fighting for. Of course, she lost and so will they- and that's why the Arcadian dream has fallen through. But the idea of the Albion sailing on course is really suggesting that it's an inevitable journey, and in a metaphorical way the Libertines will bring it about.