This song is the sailor’s eulogy for his Captain, the last person in his life that he had any concern and respect for. It's important to keep in mind that the sailor is drunk and not in his right mind while giving the eulogy.
"Why do I keep falling back to you? You're the Holy Ghost my mother told me all about you"
The sailor can't stop thinking about the Captain and, through his obsessive thoughts. He begins to get confused with the Captains identity in death. To the sailor, the Captain has become God-like in death, "you're the Holy Ghost my mother told me all about you". Holy Ghost is a reference to one of the parts of the holy trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) in the Christian religion. According to Christian beliefs, the Holy Ghost is the part of God that lives inside of us and speaks to us.
"It's funny how I complicate the two"
This is him realizing that it's not possible for his Captain to literally be the Holy Ghost, yet he can't shake the feeling the he is.
"You're a sacred heart if I've ever missed one"
Regardless his confusion as to whether or not the Captain is the Holy Ghost, he acknowledges that, in his eyes, the Captain was sacred, perfect, and flawless.
"The ship is heading underneath the sea. You were the last reason I was waking up each morning"
The Sailor has reached a turning point through the Captains death. He now feels that life is not worth living because the one thing that was holding him together is now gone. He is planning to sink the ship as his means of suicide.
"I cut a whole in my throat just for you"
The sailor is further emphasizing his desire to not be in the mortal world anymore. He's metaphorically going to slit his own throat by sinking the ship.
"What a dirty love if I've ever tasted one"
He understands that it's crazy to sink the boat but doesn't care. His love for the Captain is dirty and driving him to do things that are irrational.
"You’re a sacred heart for a preaching dead man"
The sailor expresses once again that the Captain is sacred. He now believes that the Captain is pushing him to sink the ship.
"I've got a sacred plan from a preaching dead man"
The sailor is not going to let the Captain down, he's going to take on "the Captains" task of sinking the ship.
This song is the sailor’s eulogy for his Captain, the last person in his life that he had any concern and respect for. It's important to keep in mind that the sailor is drunk and not in his right mind while giving the eulogy.
"Why do I keep falling back to you? You're the Holy Ghost my mother told me all about you" The sailor can't stop thinking about the Captain and, through his obsessive thoughts. He begins to get confused with the Captains identity in death. To the sailor, the Captain has become God-like in death, "you're the Holy Ghost my mother told me all about you". Holy Ghost is a reference to one of the parts of the holy trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost) in the Christian religion. According to Christian beliefs, the Holy Ghost is the part of God that lives inside of us and speaks to us.
"It's funny how I complicate the two" This is him realizing that it's not possible for his Captain to literally be the Holy Ghost, yet he can't shake the feeling the he is.
"You're a sacred heart if I've ever missed one" Regardless his confusion as to whether or not the Captain is the Holy Ghost, he acknowledges that, in his eyes, the Captain was sacred, perfect, and flawless.
"The ship is heading underneath the sea. You were the last reason I was waking up each morning" The Sailor has reached a turning point through the Captains death. He now feels that life is not worth living because the one thing that was holding him together is now gone. He is planning to sink the ship as his means of suicide.
"I cut a whole in my throat just for you" The sailor is further emphasizing his desire to not be in the mortal world anymore. He's metaphorically going to slit his own throat by sinking the ship.
"What a dirty love if I've ever tasted one" He understands that it's crazy to sink the boat but doesn't care. His love for the Captain is dirty and driving him to do things that are irrational.
"You’re a sacred heart for a preaching dead man" The sailor expresses once again that the Captain is sacred. He now believes that the Captain is pushing him to sink the ship.
"I've got a sacred plan from a preaching dead man" The sailor is not going to let the Captain down, he's going to take on "the Captains" task of sinking the ship.