Derelict
Beck/John King/Michael Simpson Lyrics


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I dropped my anchor in the dead of night
I packed my suitcase and threw it away
I fell asleep in the funeral fire
I gave my clothes to the police man

Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air
Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air
Shooting venom at the passers-by
I'm hi-jacking stop the heaven down
I put my eyes in a paper bag
I'm spinning round like a gambling wheel

Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air
Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air

I dropped my anchor in the dead of night
I packed my suitcase and threw it away
I fell asleep in the funeral fire
I gave my clothes to the police man





Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air
Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Derelict" by Beck/John King/Michael Simpson portray a sense of detachment from reality and a desire to escape from oneself. The opening line "I dropped my anchor in the dead of night" suggests a need to anchor oneself to something, but the following line "I packed my suitcase and threw it away" negates that need and implies a rejection of material possessions. The line "I fell asleep in the funeral fire" could mean a sense of self-destructive behavior or a metaphorical reference to the destruction and rebirth of oneself.


The chorus of the song, "Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air" appears to represent a desire to be freed from the burdens of society and surrender to the chaos of the world. The following verse "Shooting venom at the passers-by" suggests a need to lash out at those who pass by, possibly out of a sense of frustration or anger. The line "I put my eyes in a paper bag" may represent a need to cover up or hide from reality, while "I'm spinning round like a gambling wheel" conveys a sense of losing control.


Overall, the lyrics of "Derelict" paint a bleak picture of someone who is struggling to find their place in the world and has a desire to escape from reality.


Line by Line Meaning

I dropped my anchor in the dead of night
I made a commitment in the middle of the darkness and uncertainty


I packed my suitcase and threw it away
I let go of my past and abandoned my possessions


I fell asleep in the funeral fire
I found comfort and peace among the chaos and destruction


I gave my clothes to the police man
I surrendered myself and my identity to authority


Blow back derelict wind, lay my soul in the foul of the air
I'm asking for the harsh, wandering wind to take control and engulf me in its dark embrace


Shooting venom at the passers-by
I'm hurting others with my words and actions


I'm hi-jacking stop the heaven down
I'm trying to stop good things from happening and bring destruction to myself and others


I put my eyes in a paper bag
I'm blinding myself to reality and hiding from the truth


I'm spinning round like a gambling wheel
I'm taking risks and living recklessly, with no clear direction or purpose




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BECK DAVID HANSEN, JOHN ROBERT KING, MICHAEL S. SIMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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