Take You on a Cruise Lyrics

Lyric discussion by Caughtinastorm 

Cover art for Take You on a Cruise lyrics by Interpol

My stupid interpretation:

I feel like its about a man who is in a secret relationship with his professor (I feel like the professor is married), and she knows it's wrong so she tries and resists him. At the same time, he is another relationship with someone who he has fallen out of love with and thinks about his professor while with her. In the end, all he thinks about is his professor and he wants her to sail with him somewhere far away so they don't have to feel guilty anymore and finally enjoy each other without regret. Some lines that lead me to this interpretation:

I see that you've come to resist me I'm a pitbull in time

She has come to resist him because she feels guilty for being with him. He's aggressive in trying to make the relationship work.

The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries Who knows how we'll disappear? Would you like to be my Misses and in future with child? You know we can't get back from here But we can get away

This is what leads me to believe he is in a secret relationship with his professor. Instead of teaching him information in the classroom, she shows him her kisses and love. He fantasizes how they will leave and be happy together, finally feeling guiltless. He also fantasizes about being together married and with children. They both know they can't have that where they are at, so the ultimate solution is to get away.

Baby don't you try to find me Baby don't you try to fight Baby don't you try to find me Lady it will be alright

This is the professor talking to him, telling him to give up on me and stop fighting for the relationship, because it will never work. But he reassures her that everything will be alright.

Along the way Tears drown in the wake of delight There's nothing like this built today You'll never see a finer ship in your life We sail today Tears drown in the wake of delight There's nothing like this built today You'll never see a finer ship or receive a better tip in your life

He's telling her that they will find ultimate bliss with each other if they leave. The ship could be a metaphor for their relationship, and it could also be meant literally; leaving on a ship and starting a new life.

I am the scavenger between the sheets of union Lately I can't tell for sure whether machines turn anyone (The anatomy of kisses and a teacher who tries...would you like to be my Misses and in future with child...)

When having sex with his other woman, he feels no connection or is not turned on by her. He feels like they are machines in the relationship that can't turn each other on. He is thinking about his secret relationship during sex and fantasizing about his professor.

I also feel like this verse be directed at his professor: Like Idliketo said, she could be married and hes is like a scavenger because he is making love to her on her husband's bed. Calling himself a scavenger is degrading because he feels guilty but cannot help himself (direct quote from idliketo).

White goddess, red goddess, black temptress of the sea You treat me right Black goddess, red goddess, white temptress of the sea You treat me right White goddess, black goddess, red temptress of the sea You treat me right (Oh my love, we are sailing to Norway)

This is his ultimate confession to her. He compares her to a goddess and that she makes him happy and treats him right (unlike his other woman). In the end, he is either still fantasizing about leaving with her to Norway, or she finally decides to be with him so they sail to Norway.

Pretty crazy and stupid, I know.