I'm sailin' sailin'
To a place I've never seen
That's way down south
Sweet 'ol New Orleans
Cause my hometown friend treats me awful mean

If I could holler
Yeah holler
If I could scream and cry
It hurts me so
When I look up in the sky
Cause my friends turn their heads
As they pass me by

Now it's rainin'
It's rainin'
The wind's blowin' cold
Lord I thought I heard
My train whistle blow
Now I'm gonna sail so far
Til I won't be back no more

Pardon me, Pardon me
It's so hard to stand
I ain't got no money
Uncle Sam has called my name
Now there's not a soul
To give me a helpin' hand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Mazzy Star's song "I'm Sailin'" tells the story of someone leaving their hometown and sailing to New Orleans in search of a better life. The opening lines of "sailin' sailin'" create a feeling of movement, as if the singer is leaving everything behind and embarking on a journey. The reason for this journey becomes clear in the next line - this person is escaping from mistreatment by a hometown friend. The third line, "That's way down south, sweet 'ol New Orleans," implies that this person believes that the city of New Orleans will offer them a fresh start and an escape from their troubles.

The second verse clarifies the emotional weight of the situation, with the singer wishing they could cry out in pain and having the pain of seeing their former friends turn their backs on them. The third verse introduces the element of uncertainty to the story, with the arrival of a storm and the fear of leaving everything behind permanently. The final lines of the song reveal another hardship - a call to service for Uncle Sam and a lack of support from others.

Overall, "I'm Sailin'" is about someone looking for a new start in life due to emotional and economic difficulties. The song expresses the longing for escape and the fear of the unknown, creating a feeling of melancholy that fits well with the Mazzy Star's dreamy, ethereal sound.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm sailin' sailin'
I'm setting sail towards an unknown destination.

To a place I've never seen
I'm going to a new, uncharted location.

That's way down south
The place I'm going to is in the southern part of the country.

Sweet 'ol New Orleans
I'm headed to the city of New Orleans.

Cause my hometown friend treats me awful mean
I'm leaving because a friend from my hometown is treating me badly.

If I could holler
If I could shout out.

Yeah holler
Loudly cry out.

If I could scream and cry
If I could express my emotions vocally.

It hurts me so
It's very painful for me.

When I look up in the sky
When I gaze upwards.

Cause my friends turn their heads
My friends are avoiding me.