The band's most famous songs have been renditions of the folk music classics "The Log Driver's Waltz" and "Drunken Sailor", as well as a cover of the Arrogant Worms' "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate". This song has become so popular that many fans believe, wrongly, that is of their own creation.
Pompeii
Captain Tractor Lyrics
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The bridges here are charred and black, and we all watched them burn
Just take what you can carry, no time to shed a tear
Find yourself another place; be sure it's far from here
I wander and time gets lost, decades start to pass
Just T's to dot and I's to cross, stepping on the gas
This place will always be: a monument, a shrine
Hey-y-y! Year's decay, here in this day
Hey-y-y! Just like Pompeii
Hey-y-y! Year's decay, here in this day
Hey-y-y! Just like Pompeii (x5)
To hit the checkpoint, guardsmen shout, to hear the children laugh
Just keep the geiger counter on, don't walk off the path
Keep your wits about you girl, and keep your head screwed on
Meet back in a thousand years, and then we'll have some fun
Hey-y-y! Year's decay, here in this day
Hey-y-y! Just like Pompeii
Hey-y-y! Year's decay, here in this day
Hey-y-y! Just like Pompeii (x5)
So my friend, let's get out of this place
Let's get out, let's get out, let's get out of this place
Let's get out (Hey!) let's get out, let's get out of this place
Let's get out (Hey!) let's get out, (Just like Pompeii)
Let's get out (Just like Pompeii), let's get out
Leave it all behind
The song "Pompeii" by Captain Tractor is a powerful commentary on the tragedy of human progress and the destruction that it unleashes upon the world. The lyrics suggest a sense of finality and inevitability, as if the singer is certain that the end is nigh and there's nothing that can be done to stop it. The first verse sets the scene, describing a world where all hope is lost and there is no turning back. The bridges are charred and black, symbolizing the destruction of the past and the futility of trying to recapture it. The singer advises the listener to take what they can carry and find a new place to call home, as the world they once knew is gone forever.
The second verse paints a picture of time passing by in a blur, with the singer hurrying to tie up loose ends before it's too late. They describe a place frozen in time, a monument to the arrogance and folly of humanity. The chorus repeats the phrase "just like Pompeii," drawing a comparison between the ancient Roman city destroyed by Mount Vesuvius and the world in which the singer finds themselves. The final verse brings the song full circle, with the singer urging their friend to leave everything behind and escape from the looming disaster. The song ends abruptly, leaving the listener to ponder the impending catastrophe.
Line by Line Meaning
This time there's no turning back; this time there is no return
We cannot go back to the way things were, there is no going back
The bridges here are charred and black, and we all watched them burn
The relationships are damaged beyond repair and we watched them fall apart
Just take what you can carry, no time to shed a tear
Take with you what's important, don't waste time lamenting over what's lost
Find yourself another place; be sure it's far from here
Move on from this place, make sure it's different from where you are now
I wander and time gets lost, decades start to pass
I roam aimlessly and lose track of time, decades go by
Just T's to dot and I's to cross, stepping on the gas
Just completing trivial tasks, no thought, just speeding through life
This place will always be: a monument, a shrine
This place will always serve as a reminder of what happened, it will be remembered
In April morning, in a distant year, just frozen here in time
In a past moment, that remains unchanged in time, frozen forever
To hit the checkpoint, guardsmen shout, to hear the children laugh
Soldiers at the checkpoint shout orders, while the children laugh around them
Just keep the geiger counter on, don't walk off the path
Stay alert and on the designated path, keep the geiger counter on for safety
Keep your wits about you girl, and keep your head screwed on
Stay focused, keep your head on straight and be careful
Meet back in a thousand years, and then we'll have some fun
We will meet again in the distant future, after all of this has passed and have fun
So my friend, let's get out of this place
Let's leave this place behind
Let's get out (Hey!) let's get out, let's get out of this place
Let's leave this place (with emphasis)
Leave it all behind
Forget about everything from here and move on
Contributed by Lillian R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.