Song To The Siren
Dead Can Dance Lyrics


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On the floating Shipless oceans I did all my best to smile To your singing eyes and fingers Drew me loving to your arms And you sang Sail to me Sail to me Let me enfold you Here I am Here I am Waiting to hold you Did I dream You dreamed about me Were you here when I was full sail But now my foolish boat is leaning Broken love lost on your rocks Will you sing Touch me not Touch me not Come back tomorrow Oh, my heart Oh, my heart Shies from the sorrow But I′m as puzzled as the newborn child I'm as riddled as the tide Should I stand amid the breakers Or should I lie with death my bride Hear me sing Swim to me Swim to me Let me enfold you Here I am Here I am Waiting to hold you




Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Song To The Siren" by Dead Can Dance is a story of a man who is lost at sea and is trying to reach his lover. The song mentions the "floating Shipless oceans" which represent the vast emptiness of the sea. The man sees his lover in his dreams and tries to reach her. The lyrics say, "Did I dream you dreamed about me? Were you here when I was full sail? But now my foolish boat is leaning, Broken love lost on your rocks." This suggests that the man was once with his lover but is now separated from her and his boat is in trouble.


The man is confused about his feelings and is unsure whether he should continue his journey towards his lover or just give up and accept his fate. The lyrics say, "But I'm as puzzled as the newborn child, I'm as riddled as the tide. Should I stand amid the breakers or should I lie with death my bride." The man is torn between life and death, and it is not clear what his ultimate decision will be.


Line by Line Meaning

On the floating Shipless oceans
Amidst the endless ocean, I am floating aimlessly without direction or purpose.


I did all my best to smile
Despite feeling lost and alone, I made an effort to put on a happy face and remain optimistic.


To your singing eyes and fingers
Your captivating presence, manifested in your eyes and the way you touch me, draws me closer to you.


Drew me loving to your arms
Your love and affection irresistibly pulled me into your embrace.


And you sang Sail to me
You entreat me to set sail with you and embark on a journey together towards the unknown.


Let me enfold you
Allow me to hold you close and protect you from harm.


Here I am Waiting to hold you
I am present and ready to comfort and support you whenever you need me.


Did I dream You dreamed about me
I wonder if the intense and magical connection we share was a figment of my imagination or if you too have been thinking about me.


Were you here when I was full sail
Did you also experience the excitement and adrenaline rush of being on a thrilling adventure with me.


But now my foolish boat is leaning
In this moment of vulnerability, I feel as though my life is unstable and uncertain like a boat swaying dangerously in the wind.


Broken love lost on your rocks
Our love has been shattered and destroyed like a boat crashing against sharp rocks in a stormy sea.


Will you sing Touch me not
Do you want to distance yourself from me by refusing physical contact or affection.


Come back tomorrow
Perhaps you need some time to yourself to heal and recover, but I hope you will return to me eventually.


Oh, my heart Shies from the sorrow
My heart cowers and recoils in pain and sadness, unable to bear the weight of my emotions.


But I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I am as confused and uncertain about my feelings and the state of our relationship as an innocent and naive newborn baby.


I'm as riddled as the tide
My thoughts and emotions are as turbulent and restless as the changing tides of the sea.


Should I stand amid the breakers
Should I confront the challenges and obstacles in our relationship head-on, or should I retreat and avoid further conflict.


Or should I lie with death my bride
Is it better to give up on us entirely and embrace the certainty of loneliness and sorrow, like lying with death as my partner.


Hear me sing Swim to me Swim to me
I implore you to come back to me and swim towards me with open arms.


Let me enfold you
Let me envelop you in my love and warmth.


Here I am Waiting to hold you
I am still here, patient and waiting for you to return to me.




Writer(s): Timothy Charles Iii Buckley, Larry Beckett

Contributed by Carter C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Francesco Nizza

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle

And you sang
Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you

Did I dream, you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks

For you sing
Touch me not, touch me not
Come back tomorrow
Oh, my heart
Oh, my heart shies from the sorrow

Well I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death my bride?

Hear me sing
Swim to me, swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you



All comments from YouTube:

Lauralee Hansen

This is my favorite song of all times and i love listening to different artists sing their version. Awesome job.

Andrew MacLeod

Same, this is like the four I've listened to tonight so far.

Don't Go To Hell

The Bible says faith in Jesus Christ and repentance are the ONLY way into the Kingdom of Heaven. John 14:6

Make sure you get you Judgement-Ready.

Acts 2:38-39

Beatriz Correa

Oh God, Brendan's voice only gets better through the years. Love Dead Can Dance forever.

Francesco Nizza

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle

And you sang
Sail to me, sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you

Did I dream, you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks

For you sing
Touch me not, touch me not
Come back tomorrow
Oh, my heart
Oh, my heart shies from the sorrow

Well I'm as puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death my bride?

Hear me sing
Swim to me, swim to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am, here I am
Waiting to hold you

Whiite shirt

3rd verse, 2nd line should be: Were you hare when I was fox? (rhymes with "Broken lovelorn on your rocks")

Chele66

Beautiful!

Martin Cooke

Original version has the lyric “I am puzzled as the oyster” this is a wonderful choice of strange. I don’t like the more conventional “newborn child” replacement as much but it’s still a phenomenal song.

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mstanley97

Been listening to Dead Can Dance since 90's. live voice is so amazing and sounds just like the studio. Liz Frazier version is also amazing and my favorite!

HiDay

Saw them in London a few years back best concert ever!!!!!incredible voices just sublime ❤️🎤

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