Once again Sting wrote a real poem. The lyrics alone can bring tears to your eyes (and even more so if you know under which circumstances the song was written)!
What I find interesting and what hasn't been mentioned yet: I think we agree that the sea in general and the North Atlantic here in particular are symbols of sadness and loneliness. Then I would translate the "Would north be true?" line as "Am I right in (re-)acting that way, feeling sad and lonely all the time? Doesn't life go on? Was the person I lost worth all this?"
It seems to me his head is telling him to go on and look forward but his heart just can't because there are still too many sad emotions.
Oh, one more thing: Why is he saying "North North West" instead of just "North" or "North West"? As Sting seems to like quoting Shakespeare, do you think he's refering to the famous Hamlet quote ("I am but mad north-north-west, when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw")?
It could be a hint that he's temporarily mad, caused by all the pain he's going through.
if the reference by Sting is not to the Hamlet, it is well interpreted. like the soliloquies which fill Hamlet, it seems Sting has his own soliloquy here, for so many times he asks himself the same question, why, Sting as the singer here has his own conflict trying to understand what he does not want in himself. the verses below support even more a conflict approaching madness for understanding/resolution.
if the reference by Sting is not to the Hamlet, it is well interpreted. like the soliloquies which fill Hamlet, it seems Sting has his own soliloquy here, for so many times he asks himself the same question, why, Sting as the singer here has his own conflict trying to understand what he does not want in himself. the verses below support even more a conflict approaching madness for understanding/resolution.
Dark angels follow me
Over a godless sea
Mountains of endless falling,
For all my days remaining,
Dark angels follow me
Over a godless sea
Mountains of endless falling,
For all my days remaining,
Once again Sting wrote a real poem. The lyrics alone can bring tears to your eyes (and even more so if you know under which circumstances the song was written)!
What I find interesting and what hasn't been mentioned yet: I think we agree that the sea in general and the North Atlantic here in particular are symbols of sadness and loneliness. Then I would translate the "Would north be true?" line as "Am I right in (re-)acting that way, feeling sad and lonely all the time? Doesn't life go on? Was the person I lost worth all this?"
It seems to me his head is telling him to go on and look forward but his heart just can't because there are still too many sad emotions.
Oh, one more thing: Why is he saying "North North West" instead of just "North" or "North West"? As Sting seems to like quoting Shakespeare, do you think he's refering to the famous Hamlet quote ("I am but mad north-north-west, when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw")? It could be a hint that he's temporarily mad, caused by all the pain he's going through.
The Faroe Islands are NNW of Great Britain, meaning more north than northwest.
The Faroe Islands are NNW of Great Britain, meaning more north than northwest.
if the reference by Sting is not to the Hamlet, it is well interpreted. like the soliloquies which fill Hamlet, it seems Sting has his own soliloquy here, for so many times he asks himself the same question, why, Sting as the singer here has his own conflict trying to understand what he does not want in himself. the verses below support even more a conflict approaching madness for understanding/resolution.
if the reference by Sting is not to the Hamlet, it is well interpreted. like the soliloquies which fill Hamlet, it seems Sting has his own soliloquy here, for so many times he asks himself the same question, why, Sting as the singer here has his own conflict trying to understand what he does not want in himself. the verses below support even more a conflict approaching madness for understanding/resolution.
Dark angels follow me Over a godless sea Mountains of endless falling, For all my days remaining,
Dark angels follow me Over a godless sea Mountains of endless falling, For all my days remaining,