Shipwreck
Chris Pureka Lyrics

In "Shipwreck," Chris Pureka is exploring themes of bravery and cowardice, and the singer's relationship with the sea. The first stanza begins with an admission of vulnerability: "Remind me / I forgot how to be brave." The singer is acknowledging their own fear and insecurity, and asking for someone to help them find their way back to courage. The line "I forgot where the blood goes, / When it's tired and spent" speaks to a physical exhaustion that accompanies emotional struggle. The second half of the stanza sets the scene of a shipwreck, which might be interpreted as a metaphor for a traumatic event or emotional breakdown. After this shipwreck, the singer admits that they were a coward: "The coward'n me, rowed straight back to shore." This line is interesting because it suggests that the singer is separating themselves from the cowardly part of themselves, as though it's a separate entity that they can distance themselves from. The stanza closes with a surprising revelation: "And with my feet on solid ground, / I wrote a love song for the sea..." This line suggests that even in the midst of fear and chaos, the singer has found beauty and love in the world around them. It's a hopeful note to end on, and suggests that the singer is on a journey to rediscover their bravery and resilience.

The chorus of the song repeats the lines "Walk, walk, walk. / Bye, bye, bye. / Sometimes I wish that the tide would take me..." This is a powerful image that captures the singer's feelings of helplessness and desire for escape. The line "sometimes I wish that the tide would take me" brings to mind the idea of being carried away by the waves and released from earthly concerns. At the same time, it's a heartbreaking admission of defeat; the singer feels overwhelmed and burned out, and dreams of losing themselves to the sea.

The final stanza brings the focus back to the singer's relationship with the person they're addressing. They describe being drawn to this person through "blind intuition," suggesting that they're not sure why they feel so connected to them. The image of "a miracle of sadness / Like a thousand widowed doves / Just singing to the moon" is haunting and beautiful. It's unclear whether this person represents a source of comfort or confusion for the singer; the sadness they embody is arresting and miraculous, but leaves the singer feeling lost and uncertain. The song ends with the repetition of the first stanza: "Remind me, / I forgot how to be brave. / I wish I was drunk in the back of that car that was speeding away." The final line is a striking contrast to the hopefulness of the second half of the first stanza; the suggestion that the singer wishes they were "drunk in the back of that car" instead of facing their fears feels like a step backwards. It leaves the listener wondering whether the singer will be able to find the strength they need to move forward.