The Confidential Agent
American Music Club Lyrics


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Take the velvet line for comfort
High above the water, feel disconnected and free
Tired of hopes that I just can't run from
I travel in secret, I know they're pursuing me

Morning that falls represents a weak link
After is after night's work is done
There's no sun, just a grey horizon
Hiding from heaven another frozen world

Watch the ship hold to its course
As an act of devotion
And me, I'm lost at sea
Going through the motions

Gave all my passion to the ocean
She holds it for me in reserve
My word is gone into remission
Your love's a tragedy that I don't deserve

She said, "You're only growing now."
She said, "Soon have we begun, then she can have you.
But until then, you're mine."

I watch her hold to her course
As an act of devotion
And me, I'm riding high
Going through

Seems like every flash in her eye's
An act of devotion
And me I'm lost in her hands
Going through the motions

Shore far away off the port side
Shore far away off the bow




Shore far away off the starboard side
Shore far away from now

Overall Meaning

The Confidential Agent by American Music Club is a song about escaping from one's problems and responsibilities to find comfort and freedom. The singer takes a metaphorical 'velvet line', which gives him comfort, and travels high above the water, which symbolizes the challenges and difficulties he faces. He is tired of his hopes and fears that he cannot run from, so he travels in secret, knowing that he is being pursued. The morning is a weak link, representing his vulnerability, and the grey horizon shows his isolation from the rest of the world. He is hiding from heaven, which means he is disconnected from any sense of divine intervention and searching for meaning in life.


The singer seems to have given up his passion to the ocean and finds comfort through it. His love is gone into remission and has become a tragedy he doesn't deserve, perhaps because he knows he hasn't treated it well. Despite this, somebody else loves him and tells him that he is growing. However, this love is temporary, and until it ends, the singer belongs to this person. The shore is far away, illustrating that the singer has a long way to go before he can get back to reality.


Line by Line Meaning

Take the velvet line for comfort
Choosing the easy path for comfort


High above the water, feel disconnected and free
Feeling liberated and detached from society


Tired of hopes that I just can't run from
Exhausted by unattainable aspirations


I travel in secret, I know they're pursuing me
Traveling incognito and running from someone or something


Morning that falls represents a weak link
The vulnerability of the morning hours


After is after night's work is done
The end of the day after a night's hard work


There's no sun, just a grey horizon
A bleak and hopeless outlook


Hiding from heaven another frozen world
Escaping reality for a cold and unfeeling existence


Watch the ship hold to its course
Observing the ship's steadfastness


As an act of devotion
Out of loyalty and commitment


And me, I'm lost at sea
Feeling adrift and uncertain


Going through the motions
Merely going through the necessary actions


Gave all my passion to the ocean
Giving oneself entirely to the sea


She holds it for me in reserve
Preserving one's passion for the future


My word is gone into remission
One's pledge or promise is in a state of recovery


Your love's a tragedy that I don't deserve
Feeling unworthy of another's affection


She said, "You're only growing now."
Being told that one is still developing


She said, "Soon have we begun, then she can have you.
Being promised to someone else in the near future


But until then, you're mine."
Claiming temporary ownership


Seems like every flash in her eye's
A sign of extreme devotion


An act of devotion
A display of loyalty and affection


And me I'm lost in her hands
Feeling helpless and under someone else's control


Shore far away off the port side
The distant hope of escape


Shore far away off the bow
The far-off possibility of freedom


Shore far away off the starboard side
The unreachable dream of salvation


Shore far away from now
The distant future or hope of release




Contributed by Leah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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