Paper Ships
Dead Man's Bones Lyrics
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And I sank in the deep of your eyes
I got lost in your graveyard
Now I dream on a bed of knives
I found the map to your maps
I lost the shores for you
But now I'll never get back
Now I hold my poems
For ladies unknown
Until my hands go weak
I'll be a ghost ship on the blue
Birds are in the sky
The land's been gone for days
And all you left was time
To find a solid grave
Pirates never loved
The way that I do
You never said enough
To keep me next to you
Now I hold my poems
For ladies unknown
Until my hands go weak
I'll be a ghost ship on the blue
The song Paper Ships by Dead Man's Bones is a haunting, melancholic piece that tells the story of a lost love. Sailing on a ship made of paper, the singer finds himself sinking in the deep of his love's eyes, getting lost in her graveyard. He cherishes the memories of their love and holds on to his poems as he traverses the vast sea, dreaming on a bed of knives. The lyrics are a painful reminder of how love can be fleeting, and once lost, may never be regained.
The singer of the song is a man who is deeply in love but finds himself lost at sea, his ship becoming a ghostly reflection of his own heart. He has a map of her maps and once lost the shores for her. But now, he'll never get back to her because he's become a ghost ship on the blue. Despite his pain, he continues to hold on to his poems for ladies unknown, hoping against hope that one day, he will find someone who will love him back. The lyrics evoke a sense of sadness and melancholy, as the singer comes to terms with his lost love and the realization that he has to move on, albeit with a heavy heart.
In many ways, Paper Ships is a metaphor of love, the human heart, and the vastness of the sea, as it reflects the emotional turmoil that one goes through after losing someone they love. Its haunting melody and evocative lyrics have resonated with millions of listeners across the world, and the song remains one of the most popular tracks from the Dead Man's Bones.
Line by Line Meaning
Sailed on a ship of paper
I embarked on an imaginary journey that lacked substance and foundation.
And I sank in the deep of your eyes
I became completely entranced and lost in your gaze.
I got lost in your graveyard
I feel trapped in your past, unable to move forward or escape your memory.
Now I dream on a bed of knives
I find myself haunted by painful memories and regrets, unable to rest.
I found the map to your maps
I discovered a way to access the intricacies and mysteries of your being.
I lost the shores for you
I abandoned everything I had and knew, in order to pursue you.
But now I'll never get back
I am now forever lost and cannot retrace my steps.
'Cause I'm a ghost ship on the blue
I am now a mere shadow of what I once was, aimlessly drifting on the ocean of life.
Now I hold my poems
I pour my heart and soul into my art, writing letters to women I'll never have.
For ladies unknown
These letters are addressed to women who do not exist or that I may never meet.
Until my hands go weak
I will continue to write and love, even when I am too old and frail.
Birds are in the sky
I am alone and surrounded by emptiness and decay.
The land's been gone for days
I have been wandering aimlessly without direction or purpose for what feels like an eternity.
And all you left was time
You have taken everything from me, leaving me with nothing to hold on to but the moments we shared.
To find a solid grave
I am searching for a stable resting place, a place where I can lay down and finally let go of everything.
Pirates never loved
Most people are dishonest and incapable of loving someone as purely and wholly as I do.
The way that I do
I love with all my heart, my soul, my being, in a way that most people cannot comprehend.
You never said enough
You never gave me the validation or acceptance I so desperately craved.
To keep me next to you
You did not value me enough to keep me close, resulting in me becoming lost and forgotten.
Contributed by Jordan D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.