The Ship Song
Camille O'Sullivan Lyrics


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Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come, loose your doubts upon me
And let your head down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time to come around

We′ve talked about it all night long
We defined our ...
And when i crawl to your arms
Everything becomes tumbling down

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Your face is full inside me
For you know time is now
And I must move your wings
And you must learn learn to fly

Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around

Come, loose your doubts upon me
And let your head down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time to come around





Come sail your ships around me

Overall Meaning

Camille O'Sullivan's interpretation of The Ship Song by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds starts with an invitation to a loved one to come and sail their ships around the singer while burning their bridges. This is a metaphor for letting go of the past and committing to a future with each other. The choice of words suggests a bittersweet sense of finality, accepting that by making this commitment there is no turning back. Every time this person comes around, they make a little history together. The phrase "make a little history" implies that each time they are together, they are creating something significant, something that will stand the test of time.


In the chorus, the singer speaks to the person they love, urging them to let go of their doubts and lower their guard. They are intrigued by this person who is a little mystery to them, and each time they meet, they are faced with the unknown. They have spent the night talking, defining what they mean to each other, and when they are in each other's arms, everything else tumbles down.


The song ends with the singer telling their loved one that the time is now, they need to move their wings and learn to fly. It is a message of hope, a call to let go of their fears and insecurities and take a leap of faith into the future. It is a song about love, commitment, and the bittersweet nature of letting go of the past to embrace the unknown future.


Line by Line Meaning

Come sail your ships around me
Come, bring your worldly possessions and be with me


And burn your bridges down
Don't look back, let go of the past and start anew


We make a little history, baby
Our relationship has a special significance every time you come to me


Every time you come around
Every instance of your presence is uniquely special to me


Come, loose your doubts upon me
Share your insecurities and trust me to support you


And let your head down
Relax, be yourself and let go of any burden


You are a little mystery to me
You are fascinating and intriguing to me


We've talked about it all night long
We have discussed everything at length


We defined our ...
We have established and defined our relationship


And when I crawl to your arms
And when I seek comfort in your embrace


Everything becomes tumbling down
All my worries and fears dissipate


Your face is full inside me
Your image and presence consumes my thoughts and emotions


For you know time is now
Because you understand the importance of seizing the moment


And I must move your wings
I will gently guide you towards your potential


And you must learn learn to fly
You must learn to soar and realize your true potential




Writer(s): Nicholas Edward Cave

Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@ramseyboater

Possibly the most emotionally charged song I've ever heard. I've long appreciated Camille's work, but this is a whole new level. Fantastic.

@jennifermason9557

What a lovely interpretation of Nick's brilliant song. Lovely.

@vidmoosh

Any time I go to a Camille gig I always bring someone who's never seen her before. To be honest at this point I watch them as much as I watch her, just to try to recapture a bit of how I felt that first time I ever saw her live. Haunting, hilarious, and an absolute master of her craft.

@listursis99

I'd never heard of Camille until last Friday when I saw her at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. But my word she has had an impact. So much so that I went back to see her again last night, and will probably go and see her several more times before I leave Edinburgh! What talent. And what a genuine lass as well.

@tony01ath

I love this. What a fantastic cover by Camille. We saw her perform this at the Edinburgh Fringe 2 weeks ago. Not a dry eye in the house. Thanks Camille for this and a great show.

@westsussexceltwestsussexce7232

Remains one of my favourite singers - should be lauded more then she is. Thank you Camille.

@johncarroll5178

Best cover I ever heard.

@BrokenBard

The minimalism of this cover and video are perfect for the mood. Very beautiful version. I like the build up too.

@SilverLiningHere

Wonderful. Never get tired of this beautiful rendition of a great song. Camille rocks.

@hibbygeorge

Never tire listening to Camille singing this song. beautiful woman beautiful song

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