"When you can't figure out what a song is about, it's probably about a prostitute."
I agree the setting is Portland, but I think it's a tale of a young man who comes there for work back in the 1800s when the city was the major port of the region. He doesn't like the weather and the melancholy mood the town gives him Summer's always just around the corner, right?), but he finds comfort in the brothels, "down by the water" on the main drag. Maybe there was even prostitution on the ships? A historian's perspective here would be most appreciated.
I had a feeling the "lash-flashing Leda" line was key to unlocking the meaning. Some folks thought he was singing "leader" but I listened to it and it just didn't sound right. Turns out Leda is a character from Greek mythology who became impregnated by two men in the same night. I wasn't sure about the lash-flashing part and then I realized it was short for eyelashes. However it could be that there is also some anthromophization regarding describing a ship as a woman. So maybe there's a double meaning as there is a definite nautical feel to the lyrics. It seems the character is "knocked-down and torn up" emotionally about his behavior and possibly his love for the woman but continues going down to the waterline in order to fulfill his needs. Probably were way more young men there in those days than women so it's not hard to imagine this scenario.
"When you can't figure out what a song is about, it's probably about a prostitute."
I agree the setting is Portland, but I think it's a tale of a young man who comes there for work back in the 1800s when the city was the major port of the region. He doesn't like the weather and the melancholy mood the town gives him Summer's always just around the corner, right?), but he finds comfort in the brothels, "down by the water" on the main drag. Maybe there was even prostitution on the ships? A historian's perspective here would be most appreciated.
I had a feeling the "lash-flashing Leda" line was key to unlocking the meaning. Some folks thought he was singing "leader" but I listened to it and it just didn't sound right. Turns out Leda is a character from Greek mythology who became impregnated by two men in the same night. I wasn't sure about the lash-flashing part and then I realized it was short for eyelashes. However it could be that there is also some anthromophization regarding describing a ship as a woman. So maybe there's a double meaning as there is a definite nautical feel to the lyrics. It seems the character is "knocked-down and torn up" emotionally about his behavior and possibly his love for the woman but continues going down to the waterline in order to fulfill his needs. Probably were way more young men there in those days than women so it's not hard to imagine this scenario.