Prophet released his solo debut Brother Aldo in 1990 on Fire records,(later reissued in the late 1990's on Walter Yetnikoff's Velvel imprint. His immediate career path took him through mostly European touring markets and his followup "Balinese Dancer" came out in 1993 & later the Steve Berlin produced "Feast of Hearts" came out in Europe only through the Fire imprint. After a decade long bout with substance abuse, Prophet resurfaced refreshed and renewed on the critical breakthroughs 1998's "Homemade Blood", 2000's "The Hurting Business" and 2002's live "Turn The Pigeons Loose" (all available via Cooking Vinyl in UK). By 2000 he'd recorded a side project with his wife Stefanie called Go Go Market and begun incorporating electronic influences into his traditional roots rock formula, resulting in some mainstream radio play and expanded exposure, culminating in the wider distribution of albums "No Other Love" from 2002 and 2004's "Age of Miracles" on New West Records. Chuck signed a new arrangement in the US with North Carolina based Yep Roc for 2007's "Soap and Water", an album that saw the musician invited to play twice on National Public Radio, as well as on televison talk shows like Late Night With David Letterman, and The Carson Daly Show.
Over the years he also began collaborating with other songwriters like Kelly Willis, Steve Yerkey and contributing as a guitarist/musician to studio efforts from folks like Jonathan Richman, Warren Zevon, Kim Carnes, Cake, Tom Heyman and Jewel. Alejandro Escovedo's upcoming 2008 release produced by Tony Visconti entitled Real Animal was co-written and recorded with Prophet. In addition to having his songs recorded by artists like Solomon Burke, Heart & Cyndi Thomson he has also recorded with men who started out as his influences like Jim Dickinson, Dan Penn and the late Warren Zevon.
www.chuckprophet.com.
Storm across the Sea
Chuck Prophet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She's completely nude, standing on the fence
She's about to fly, phone the doctor quick
She's a house on fire whenever she gets lit
I'm laughing with nothing up my sleeve
Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea
Then she stole it back, what will tomorrow bring
Mercy, vengence, Lord above
How can I refuse her love
I'm laughing with nothing up my sleeve
Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea
There's a Ph.D. on the radio
Says the next of kin is the last to know
She grabs the dial, jumps up on my lap
Starts to lick my face like a Persian cat
Hear me laughing with nothing up my sleeve
Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea
Chuck Prophet's song "Storm Across the Sea" is an upbeat rock song with a catchy melody and lyrics that seem to reconcile the singer's complicated relationship with a woman. The opening lines describe an urgent situation where someone is in danger but it's not clear who. The ambiguity may suggest that the singer is not entirely present or in control of their surroundings. This sets the tone for the rest of the song, which alternates between moments of vulnerability and moments of power.
The line "She's a house on fire whenever she gets lit" may imply that the woman is unpredictable and dangerous, but also captivating and irresistible. Later on, the singer reminisces about how the woman has broken his heart in the past, and yet he can't resist her love. The contrast between "mercy" and "vengeance" suggests that the singer has conflicting emotions and desires. The chorus, "Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea," reinforces the idea that the woman is powerful and unstoppable.
The second verse introduces a new character, a Ph.D. on the radio who warns that "the next of kin is the last to know." This cryptic message may have a personal resonance for the singer, since it seems to suggest that there are things he doesn't want to know about this woman. However, when she jumps into his lap and starts "licking his face like a Persian cat," he can't help but laugh and enjoy the moment. The song ends with the same chorus, suggesting that the singer is resigned to the woman's hold on him, even if it's a storm that he can't quite control.
Overall, "Storm Across the Sea" is a complex and nuanced portrayal of a relationship that's both exciting and dangerous. The juxtaposition of vulnerability and power, humor and despair, creates a sense of ambiguity and tension that captures the complexity of the human heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Someone call the ambulance
There is an emergency situation and medical assistance is needed immediately
She's completely nude, standing on the fence
The person in question is behaving erratically and inappropriately
She's about to fly, phone the doctor quick
The person is highly agitated and may be a danger to themselves or others
She's a house on fire whenever she gets lit
The person in question is highly explosive and prone to causing chaos and destruction
I'm laughing with nothing up my sleeve
The artist is amused and carefree despite the chaos around them
Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea
The person the singer is referring to has arrived and is causing a significant disturbance
She broke my heart when she pawned my ring
The singer has been hurt and betrayed by the person in question
Then she stole it back, what will tomorrow bring
The artist is unsure of what their future holds with the person in question
Mercy, vengence, Lord above
The artist is caught in a difficult and complex emotional situation
How can I refuse her love
The artist is unable to resist the allure and pull of the person in question
There's a Ph.D. on the radio
An expert is providing commentary on the situation
Says the next of kin is the last to know
Important information is being withheld from those who should be informed first
She grabs the dial, jumps up on my lap
The person is unpredictable and impulsive
Starts to lick my face like a Persian cat
The person is affectionate and playful
Here come that gal of mine like a storm across the sea
The person in question is once again causing a significant disturbance
Contributed by Eliana W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.