Night Boat
Deftones Lyrics


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Standing on the edge of the quay
no light flashes on the water for me
fog in my mind darkness in my eyes
silently screaming for a distant sound

ripple river yellows
rising for a breath of breeding and drowns
stillness overcomes me in the night
listen to the rising water moan

waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat

shadows all through me shudder away
echo me echo me am I alone
or is the river alive cause it
echoes me echoes me echoes me

I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I'm waiting




I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I'm waiting for the nightboat

Overall Meaning

"Nightboat" is a song by Deftones, whose lyrics are open to interpretation, but seem to reflect a sense of isolation, longing, and uncertainty. The song starts with the image of the singer standing on the edge of a quay, with no light flashing on the water, indicating a lack of clarity, direction, or hope. The fog in their mind and darkness in their eyes suggest confusion and sadness, while the silent scream for a distant sound symbolizes a desire for connection and escape.


The second verse depicts the river as a symbol of life and death, with its yellows rising for a breath of breeding and drowning. The stillness that overcomes the singer in the night is juxtaposed with the rising water's moan, creating a haunting and unsettling atmosphere. The chorus repeats the singer's waiting for the nightboat, which could be interpreted as waiting for a way out, or waiting for something to happen that would change their situation.


The third verse introduces the idea of shadows all through the singer, shuddering away, suggesting a sense of fear, insecurity, or even dissociation. The echoing of their voice raises the question of whether they are alone or not, and whether the river is alive and echoing them, further emphasizing the sense of isolation and disorientation. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the feeling of waiting and uncertainty, suggesting that the nightboat may never come, or that it may not provide the escape that the singer seeks.


Overall, "Nightboat" is a powerful and evocative song that captures the complex emotions and experiences of someone who feels lost, disconnected, and longing for something that may or may not come.


Line by Line Meaning

Standing on the edge of the quay
I am at the edge of the dock


no light flashes on the water for me
It is dark and there are no illuminated areas on the water in front of me


fog in my mind darkness in my eyes
I feel confused and my vision is impaired


silently screaming for a distant sound
I am hoping to hear a sound from far away, silently begging for it


ripple river yellows
The river has a ripple and yellowish color


rising for a breath of breeding and drowns
The river is rising for a moment before shrinking back


stillness overcomes me in the night
I feel very still and calm in the darkness


listen to the rising water moan
I can hear the water making a low, mournful sound


waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I am waiting patiently for the boat to come at night


I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I am still waiting for the boat to arrive


shadows all through me shudder away
My body shakes as shadows disappear


echo me echo me am I alone
I hear my own voice echoing, questioning if I am alone


or is the river alive cause it echoes me echoes me echoes me
I wonder if the river is alive because it echoes me


I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I am still waiting for the boat to arrive


I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I am still waiting for the boat to arrive


I'm waiting
I am still waiting


I'm waiting, waiting for the nightboat
I am still waiting for the boat to arrive




Contributed by Parker S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

KoKoPops

So great. I wish they'd cover this whole album.

SyndroDome

that bass man

disneyforthewin

love this song!!!!!!

Somnus

I wish they would've covered Come Undone by Duran Duran

lamestraw

Thanks for posting. Searched for this forever :)

lamestraw

Have the b-sides and rarities album where this is not on. Maybe because the EU version is different.

Walter Giménez

Gran versión del tema de Duran Duran!

Carlos Racine

Versión gran del Durán Durán tema

Ryukasai

Gran del Durán Durán versión tema

321doucheface

when was this recorded??

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