Galley Without Aim
Crack Jaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the steamin' hot disaster slavery is fighting hard
And the rifles scream: no mercy die now or be free
In the haze some took a galley in search of liberty
Criminals desperate resign
Innocent plea for their lives
They've got no chance on the galley without aim
On the ocean storm is wailing some have gone over board
And the captain he is praying: "bless our souls please my Lord"
In the morning silent mourning of the ship that knows all plain
On the bottom it tells the story of the galley without aim
Shadows fall on the harbour's scenery
A silent call of a galley moving smooth
A dead old ship a sign names it "Liberty"
And still remains the memory of the
Galley without aim
The lyrics of the song Galley Without Aim by Crack Jaw talks about a group of desperate people on a galley in the middle of the ocean, fighting for their freedom against oppression and violence. The first few lines describe the difficult situation in the harbor as the "chaingang's got the guard". This implies that the oppressed and enslaved criminals are seeking a way out of captivity. In the heat of desperation for freedom, some of them took a chance on a galley in search of liberty, even though it is not directed towards anywhere specific, hence it's a "galley without aim".
As they journey through the ocean, they encounter several challenges, some have gone overboard, while the captain prays to God to bless their souls. The scene is painted as one of misery, with mourning and cries of wounded animals. The chorus emphasizes the struggle for survival as "criminals desperate resign, innocent plea for their lives, animals wounded they cry, they've got no chance on the galley without aim."
Overall, the song portrays the desperation and struggle of people fighting for freedom from oppression and violence, even at the risk of losing their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
There is not in the harbour the chaingang's got the guard
The prisoners have escaped from the harbor after overpowering their guards.
In the steamin' hot disaster slavery is fighting hard
In the desperate situation of being enslaved, people are fighting hard for their freedom.
And the rifles scream: no mercy die now or be free
The captors are threatening to kill the prisoners if they don't surrender and give up their quest for freedom.
In the haze some took a galley in search of liberty
Despite the odds being against them, some of the prisoners took a ship and set sail in search of their freedom.
Criminals desperate resign
Those who have nothing left to lose become desperate and take risks.
Innocent plea for their lives
The prisoners are pleading for their lives, even though they are innocent of any crime.
Animals wounded they cry
The prisoners are treated like animals, and are suffering as a result.
They've got no chance on the galley without aim
The prisoners have little hope of survival on a ship with no destination or clear direction.
On the ocean storm is wailing some have gone over board
As they navigate through rough seas, some of the prisoners are lost to the waves.
And the captain he is praying: "bless our souls please my Lord"
The captain of the ship is praying for guidance and protection in this difficult and dangerous situation.
In the morning silent mourning of the ship that knows all plain
The ship and its crew are mourning the loss of life and the difficult situation they are in with no clear direction or hope.
On the bottom it tells the story of the galley without aim
The wreckage of the ship tells the sad story of the prisoners' struggles for freedom on a ship with no real direction, ultimately leading to disaster.
Shadows fall on the harbour's scenery
The setting sun casts dark shadows on the harbor, creating a somber mood.
A silent call of a galley moving smooth
The ship is moving silently, giving the appearance of peace but in reality, the prisoners are struggling to survive.
A dead old ship a sign names it "Liberty"
Ironically, the ship which once symbolized freedom for the prisoners now lies dead and forgotten.
And still remains the memory of the Galley without aim
Even though the ship is no more, the memory of the prisoners' struggles for freedom will live on.
Contributed by Vivian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.