The group takes its name from Shakespeare. In particular Hamlet's soliloquy To be, or not to be, where it refers to dying; "coil" is used in its archaic sense of "disturbance, trouble":
"What dreams may come, when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause."
Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1, line 67.
Song to the Siren
This Mortal Coil Lyrics
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I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle
And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am
Here I am
Waiting to hold you
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was forced out
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
For you sing, "Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow
Oh my heart, Oh my heart shies from the sorrow"
Well I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death, my bride?
Hear me sing, "Swim to me, swim to me, let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you"
The lyrics of "Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil are about a man who is lost and alone on the seas until he is drawn to an island by the singing of a mysterious woman. He describes how her voice and touch bring him comfort and joy, but also acknowledges that she is aloof and hesitant to let him get too close. The singer is unsure whether his experiences are real or just a dream, and he struggles with the decision of whether to stay with this woman or return to the unknown dangers of the open sea.
The opening lines of the song set a melancholy tone, as the singer describes himself as "long afloat on shipless oceans" and struggling to maintain a positive attitude. However, his spirits are lifted when he encounters the woman singing on the island, and he describes her eyes and fingers as drawing him lovingly towards her. The chorus of the song, with its repeated calls to "sail to me" and "let me enfold you," expresses the woman's desire to bring the singer into her embrace and protect him from the trials of the outside world.
Line by Line Meaning
Long afloat on shipless oceans
I have been drifting aimlessly and without direction for a long time.
I did all my best to smile
I tried to keep a positive outlook, even though I was lost and alone.
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
But then I saw you, and your music reached out to me.
Drew me loving to your isle
You brought me to your home and showed me kindness and love.
And you sang
Your song filled me with hope and joy.
Sail to me
Come to me, and let me show you my love.
Sail to me
Don't be afraid, just come to me.
Let me enfold you
Let me hold you close and keep you safe.
Here I am
I am here for you, always.
Here I am
I will never leave you, no matter what.
Waiting to hold you
I am always waiting to be close to you, to comfort and protect you.
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Wondering if you have thought of me as much as I have thought of you.
Were you here when I was forced out
Did you leave me because of something I did?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
My life is out of balance, and I am adrift.
Broken lovelorn on your rocks
My heart has been shattered by you, and I am lost and alone again.
For you sing, "Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow
You pushed me away, and now you are telling me to stay away until another day.
Oh my heart, Oh my heart shies from the sorrow"
I am in pain and cannot bear to face the sadness anymore.
Well I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I am lost and confused, like a newborn in the world.
I'm as riddled as the tide
My emotions are constantly in flux, like the ever-changing tides of the ocean.
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Should I fight against the forces of nature and try to make things happen?
Or should I lie with death, my bride?
Or should I give up and accept my fate?
Hear me sing, "Swim to me, swim to me, let me enfold you
But I still want you to come to me, to let me love and protect you.
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you"
I am still here, waiting for you, even though I may never have you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Larry Beckett, Tim Buckley
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind