The Tempest
The Real McKenzies Lyrics
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We'll take whatever comes to be while keeping hopeful melody
and we'll cruise through the darkness until the warmth of dawn
so row row you bastards you never can tell
through water like glass above a briney hell
so row and a-hollar come give her all you can
or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
we carry on the burden and we hide our grimace well
for the day will come for us to mutiny
but as long as we survive our hope and pride they cant deprive
and we'll carry on our melody to sing in harmony
so row row you bastards you never can tell
over water like glass above a briney hell
so row and a-hollar come give her all you can
or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
So row row ye bastards you never can tell
the ocean a tempest or the land a stormy hell
so row and a-hollar till bloody oar in hand
or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
we are wracked from the hardships
exhausted by the years we can still escape this barren misery
but even with our shackled wrists we can fight our way through this
and we'll power all aboard the ship to total liberty
So row row ye bastards you never can tell
the ocean a tempest or the land a stormy hell
so row a litlle harder till bloody oar in hand
or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
The Real McKenzies's song The Tempest is a song about the struggles of life and the journey that we all must face. The first verse speaks to the idea that we are all born free, but we are forever living in chains. We fight for existence and push on, taking whatever comes our way while still holding onto a hopeful melody. The second verse continues this theme with the idea that we must row through the darkness until we see the warmth of dawn. No matter what the sea throws at us, we must keep rowing and giving our all to survive.
The chorus is a call to action, urging the crew of the ship to row harder, to give everything they have, or they will never see the land. The repetition of the first line "so row row you bastards you never can tell" adds to the sense of urgency and the need to push harder. The last verse acknowledges that life is hard and the crew is exhausted, but they can still escape their misery. Even with shackled wrists, they can fight their way to total liberty. The final chorus brings the song full circle, echoing the call to row harder until they reach their goal.
Overall, The Tempest is a song about resilience and perseverance, urging the listener to keep pushing forward no matter what life throws at them.
Line by Line Meaning
We are all born free but forever live in chains and we battle to exist and soldier on
Even though we are born free, we are burdened by society and must fight to survive
We'll take whatever comes to be while keeping hopeful melody and we'll cruise through the darkness until the warmth of dawn
We'll face any obstacle with a positive attitude and keep moving forward until we see the light
so row row you bastards you never can tell through water like glass above a briney hell so row and a-hollar come give her all you can or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
We must row as hard as we can and give it our all because the sea is unforgiving and we may never reach our destination
we carry on the burden and we hide our grimace well for the day will come for us to mutiny but as long as we survive our hope and pride they cant deprive and we'll carry on our melody to sing in harmony
We bear the weight of our struggles and keep a brave face, knowing that one day we may rebel against our hardships. We will never lose hope or pride and will continue to sing in unison
So row row ye bastards you never can tell the ocean a tempest or the land a stormy hell so row and a-hollar till bloody oar in hand or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
We must row with all our might, even in the face of a stormy sea or a harsh land. If we don't give it our all, we may never make it to safety
we are wracked from the hardships exhausted by the years we can still escape this barren misery but even with our shackled wrists we can fight our way through this and we'll power all aboard the ship to total liberty
We are worn down by our struggles and the passing of time, but we can still break free and overcome our misery. Even if we are physically restrained, we can still fight for freedom and inspire others to join us
So row a little harder till bloody oar in hand or the sea she will best us, we'll never see the land
We must push ourselves even harder, even if it means physical pain, because if we don't, we may never make it to safety
Contributed by John P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.