Shore Leave
John Hammond Lyrics
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I rolled down the national stroll
And with a big fat paycheck
Strapped to my hip sack
And a shore leave wristwatch underneath
My sleeve
In a Hong Kong drizzle on Cuban heels
I rowed down the gutter to the Blood Bank
And I'd left all my papers on the Ticonderoga
And was in a bad need of a shave
And so I slopped at the corner on cold chow mein
And shot billards with a midget
Until the rain stopped
And I bought a long sleeved shirt
With horses on the front
And some gum and a lighter and a knife
And a new deck of cards (with girls on the back)
And I sat down and wrote a letter to my wife
And I said Baby, I'm so far away from home
And I miss my Baby so
I can't make it by myself
I love you so
Well I was pacing myself
Trying to make it all last
Squeezing all the life
Out of a lousy two day pass
And I had a cold one at the Dragon
With some Filipino floor show
And talked baseball with a lieutenant
Over a Singapore sling
And I wondered how the same moon outside
Over this Chinatown fair
Could look down on Illinois
And find you there
And you know I love you Baby
And I'm so far away from home
And I miss my Baby so
I can't make it by myself
I love you so
Shore Leave.
Shore Leave.
The song "Shore Leave" by John Hammond is a story of a soldier on a two-day shore leave in Hong Kong. The song starts off with the soldier feeling detached, as he is in a foreign land with no one familiar around. The soldier has a "buck shot eyes and a purple heart" indicating that he has been through some rough times in the past. Furthermore, he has a "big fat paycheck strapped to his hip sack," which gives insight into the soldier's intentions during his shore leave. He visits a blood bank in the "Hong Kong drizzle on Cuban heels" and "slopped at a corner on cold chow mein." In this process, he leaves all his papers aboard Ticonderoga and realizes it was necessary to shave.
Afterward, the soldier went to a bar where he had a Singapore Sling and discuss baseball with a lieutenant while watching a Filipino floor show. Despite being far away from home, he feels that the same moon shines over his lover's city and Hong Kong. He yearns for his lover and "misses her so" and writes a letter expressing his emotions. The chorus "Shore Leave" repeats twice, emphasizing that this is a temporary break from his responsibilities.
The song expresses emotions of detachment, loneliness, and longing for someone back home. The story of the soldier is a representation of the inability to connect with people and their surroundings. The use of specific place names and cultural references in the song provides a visual image of the contrast between the soldier's and lover's worlds.
Line by Line Meaning
Well with buck shot eyes and a purple heart
After experiencing a lot of emotional and physical pain, I am now in a state where I am difficult to be fooled.
I rolled down the national stroll
I casually walked down the main street.
And with a big fat paycheck
I have a lot of money.
Strapped to my hip sack
My wallet is attached to my belt.
And a shore leave wristwatch underneath
I'm wearing a watch that reminds me of where I'm going when I'm done with my business.
In a Hong Kong drizzle on Cuban heels
I walk downtown in the misty Hong Kong rain wearing special shoes.
I rowed down the gutter to the Blood Bank
I walked down a dirty alley to a place to donate blood.
And I'd left all my papers on the Ticonderoga
I forgot my documents on the ship I came in.
And was in a bad need of a shave
I had a long beard that needed to be cut.
And so I slopped at the corner on cold chow mein
I ate some Chinese food with a texture I did not enjoy.
And shot billards with a midget
I played pool with a small person.
Until the rain stopped
I was playing pool until the rain ceased.
And I bought a long sleeved shirt
I purchased a shirt with long sleeves.
With horses on the front
The design on the front of the shirt is horses.
And some gum and a lighter and a knife
I bought some chewing gum, a lighter, and a knife.
And a new deck of cards (with girls on the back)
I bought a new set of cards with pictures of women on the back.
And I sat down and wrote a letter to my wife
I found a comfortable spot and wrote a message to my significant other.
And I said Baby, I'm so far away from home
In my letter, I expressed how much I miss and love my significant other and how far away I am from them.
And I miss my Baby so
I feel a strong sense of longing for my loved one.
I can't make it by myself
I am struggling to cope alone.
I love you so
I deeply care for my partner.
Well I was pacing myself
I was taking things slow and steady.
Trying to make it all last
I wanted to savor every moment and make it memorable.
Squeezing all the life
I wanted to make the most of my limited time.
Out of a lousy two day pass
I only had two days to enjoy myself.
And I had a cold one at the Dragon
I enjoyed a cold drink at a bar called 'The Dragon.'
With some Filipino floor show
I watched a performance by a Filipino dance group.
And talked baseball with a lieutenant
I chatted with a military figure about baseball.
Over a Singapore sling
We drank a Singapore Sling cocktail while chatting.
And I wondered how the same moon outside
I pondered how the same moon I see from here is the same one my loved one sees back home.
Over this Chinatown fair
I watched the festive atmosphere in Chinatown.
Could look down on Illinois
The same moon I see in Hong Kong also shines on my hometown of Illinois.
And find you there
It's amazing to think that my loved one is always there under the same moon no matter where we are in the world.
And you know I love you Baby
I want my significant other to know how much I love them.
Shore Leave.
I am excited to enjoy my shore leave, and I am looking forward to what's to come.
Shore Leave.
I am repeating my excitement for this much-needed break from work or military duty.
Writer(s): TOM WAITS
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.