I think it's about his ill-fated trip to America (where the steel beams meet concrete sky) to record an album and it went to shit.
It's about the stark difference between his home life and the Big Machine. Ireland made him and it gave him his love for music (the lover that later goes overboard). Pushed by the Lord (natural musical gifts and love for it) but pulled by the crowd (promise of reaching a wider audience).
When the hills let go and slip into the water can be seen as literally watching Home fade away into the distance as you travel. He seems to be saying that the ghosts and paper thin girls (stereotypical Hollywood types) were with him from the beginning of the journey and he didn't like it from the start.
The stones they float. This I think is echoed later when he talks about words that would normally cut like a knife. The stones that they throw from the side of the boat I imagine can be viewed like 'sticks and stones' in that the way they speak (to him) is harsh and hurtful. Rather than sink like the paper thin girls are used to they float in the air for James as he's not used to hearing it.
He went to make some money so he could keep doing what he loves (the simplest of crimes) but betrayed his love (leaving blood behind). He then worries that "she knows". He's betrayed his God-given gifts and she knows it, will she forgive him?
By the sound of the album which he made once BACK in the UK, I'd say she did. Amazing album and this is potentially the best song on it.
I think it's about his ill-fated trip to America (where the steel beams meet concrete sky) to record an album and it went to shit.
It's about the stark difference between his home life and the Big Machine. Ireland made him and it gave him his love for music (the lover that later goes overboard). Pushed by the Lord (natural musical gifts and love for it) but pulled by the crowd (promise of reaching a wider audience).
When the hills let go and slip into the water can be seen as literally watching Home fade away into the distance as you travel. He seems to be saying that the ghosts and paper thin girls (stereotypical Hollywood types) were with him from the beginning of the journey and he didn't like it from the start.
The stones they float. This I think is echoed later when he talks about words that would normally cut like a knife. The stones that they throw from the side of the boat I imagine can be viewed like 'sticks and stones' in that the way they speak (to him) is harsh and hurtful. Rather than sink like the paper thin girls are used to they float in the air for James as he's not used to hearing it.
He went to make some money so he could keep doing what he loves (the simplest of crimes) but betrayed his love (leaving blood behind). He then worries that "she knows". He's betrayed his God-given gifts and she knows it, will she forgive him?
By the sound of the album which he made once BACK in the UK, I'd say she did. Amazing album and this is potentially the best song on it.