I thought I would take a shot at the meaning of this one as there are few songs that contrast creationism and evolution. I doubt my interpretation of the meaning will be popular, even with me, but I base it on the words of the song and the delivery.
The use of the “Charlie Darwin” line in both verses two and three seem to emphasis that a point is being made that the theory of evolution is at the center of the song. The description of the water as a symbol of nature, and perhaps science, fits as an antagonistic theory to creationism as the “system built to fail.”
The first verse sets the stage for a voyage to a new world (Mayflower) with new ideas (“reckless dreams”) that will be separate (“haven”) from a world of lost direction (“her decay”). The Mayflower, as a boat choice, places the religious pilgrims in a situation at sea and with nature.
The second verse asks why people did not listen (“heed the words of Darwin”), but instead continued to believe in an idea (creationism) that was under attack from science (“fight for a system build to fail”). The futility of supporting creationism (“broken vessel”) is the lack of solid support (“there is no land as far as I can see”).
The chorus is the cry of those trying to keep the idea of creationism (“broken vessel”) alive by small actions (“spooning water”) while realizing the vastness of nature (water) that is washing over their ideas. The science (“cold, shapeless and formless”) is represented by the water. The great irony is the trust and belief that they will be saved that is repeated four times each more urgently but with more despair (“Oh my God, the water is all around us”).
The third verse again asks why people did not listen, but instead of advancing, or evolving, instead chose to profit from the failure of advancement (“profit from decay”). The “promise of the children” is the concept of natural selection that causes beneficial traits to become more prevalent while less desirable traits to disappear. Instead of that occurring, children are taught catchy phrases (“jingles” or maybe commandments) similar to the way adults are encouraged to work more than evolve (“we trade our hard earned time for pay”).
The delivery of the song as a thoughtful hymn with the ironic surprise line of “Oh my God the water is all around us” as opposed to a more scientific delivery (cold and shapeless), adds to the sense of futility. The added lines in the chorus form a building sense of desperation that the boat is sinking.
Perhaps, the most interesting part of the song is the telling of the story from the point of view of the believers on the ship (broken vessel). Their surprise, and despair, at vast amount of water in nature, and the evolutionary theory, tells the story better than any representative of Darwin.
I thought I would take a shot at the meaning of this one as there are few songs that contrast creationism and evolution. I doubt my interpretation of the meaning will be popular, even with me, but I base it on the words of the song and the delivery.
The use of the “Charlie Darwin” line in both verses two and three seem to emphasis that a point is being made that the theory of evolution is at the center of the song. The description of the water as a symbol of nature, and perhaps science, fits as an antagonistic theory to creationism as the “system built to fail.”
The first verse sets the stage for a voyage to a new world (Mayflower) with new ideas (“reckless dreams”) that will be separate (“haven”) from a world of lost direction (“her decay”). The Mayflower, as a boat choice, places the religious pilgrims in a situation at sea and with nature.
The second verse asks why people did not listen (“heed the words of Darwin”), but instead continued to believe in an idea (creationism) that was under attack from science (“fight for a system build to fail”). The futility of supporting creationism (“broken vessel”) is the lack of solid support (“there is no land as far as I can see”).
The chorus is the cry of those trying to keep the idea of creationism (“broken vessel”) alive by small actions (“spooning water”) while realizing the vastness of nature (water) that is washing over their ideas. The science (“cold, shapeless and formless”) is represented by the water. The great irony is the trust and belief that they will be saved that is repeated four times each more urgently but with more despair (“Oh my God, the water is all around us”).
The third verse again asks why people did not listen, but instead of advancing, or evolving, instead chose to profit from the failure of advancement (“profit from decay”). The “promise of the children” is the concept of natural selection that causes beneficial traits to become more prevalent while less desirable traits to disappear. Instead of that occurring, children are taught catchy phrases (“jingles” or maybe commandments) similar to the way adults are encouraged to work more than evolve (“we trade our hard earned time for pay”).
The delivery of the song as a thoughtful hymn with the ironic surprise line of “Oh my God the water is all around us” as opposed to a more scientific delivery (cold and shapeless), adds to the sense of futility. The added lines in the chorus form a building sense of desperation that the boat is sinking.
Perhaps, the most interesting part of the song is the telling of the story from the point of view of the believers on the ship (broken vessel). Their surprise, and despair, at vast amount of water in nature, and the evolutionary theory, tells the story better than any representative of Darwin.