She continues to be involved in the influential Glasgow based label Chemikal Underground. A second solo album, The Law of Large Numbers, was released by the label on March 1, 2010. Her third solo album, In Search of Harperfield, was released on January 29, 2016.
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Hug The Harbour
Emma Pollock Lyrics
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Avoiding all disaster
Horizon gone from view
The lights were friends to you
And all the people who are dear to you
Are sitting right behind and trusting you
My trust lies in your precision
You should have hugged the harbour
Avoiding all disaster
Horizon gone from view
The lights were friends to you
A fundamental lack of understanding
Will quickly lead you to a fatal landing
You do not know your up from down you see
Your inner ear a liability
And all the people who are dear to you
Are sitting right behind and trusting you
My trust lies in your precision
Let us leave this indecision
So with this point of view
I pick a bone with you
I take a firm hand
A pointless reprimand
A fundamental lack of understanding
Will quickly lead you to a fatal landing
When the darkness met you
Your usual knowing left you
You're just not qualified
To choose the night to fly
You do not know your up from down you see
Your inner ear a liability
I met a man and he said this to me
"It's only with the heart that we can see"
But I confess I have to disagree
I'll put my faith in physicality
If you wish to still romanticize
I give my word I will not criticize
But I will draw the line when in the skies
Let's leave the indecision
The tired cynicism
My trust is in precision
When off the ground
Oh, will you hug the harbour?
Don't make it any harder
A case of mind and matter
Just leave the heart to barter
A fundamental lack of understanding
Will quickly lead you to a fatal landing
There is knowing why you thought you could
Contend in such an eagle altitude
With such a violent force you came to rest
A fatal failure to a final test
My trust lies in your precision
The lyrics of Emma Pollock's song "Hug The Harbour" present a warning message about the importance of being cautious and mindful to avoid disaster. The song speaks to the vulnerability and fragility of human life, reminding us that we should always be aware of the risks and dangers that surround us. The "harbour" in the lyrics is used as a metaphorical representation of safety, and embracing it could have prevented calamity.
The lines "Horizon gone from view / The lights were friends to you" refer to how the singer lost sight of the horizon and relied on the guidance of the lights, indicating a sense of disorientation and dependence. Meanwhile, "My trust lies in your precision / Let us leave this indecision" conveys a sense of trust in a more knowledgeable and measured person, indicating some form of mentorship or instructive relationship. The song speaks to how we should learn from those who have more experience and knowledge than us, especially in situations where stakes are high.
With this point of view, the song leaves the listener with a message of hope, that by being vigilant and learning from those around us, we can overcome the risk of danger and disaster.
Line by Line Meaning
We should have hugged the harbour
We should have stayed close to the safety of the harbor
Avoiding all disaster
To avoid all potential disasters
Horizon gone from view
Unable to see the horizon
The lights were friends to you
The lights are comforting to you
And all the people who are dear to you
Everyone you care about is with you
Are sitting right behind and trusting you
They are trusting you to lead them safely
My trust lies in your precision
I believe in your ability to navigate precisely
Let us leave this indecision
We need to make a decision and take action
A fundamental lack of understanding
A lack of knowledge and understanding
Will quickly lead you to a fatal landing
Could result in a deadly crash
You do not know your up from down you see
You are disoriented and don't know which way is up or down
Your inner ear a liability
Your sense of balance is not reliable
So with this point of view
From this perspective
I pick a bone with you
I have an issue to raise with you
I take a firm hand
I am being assertive and serious
A pointless reprimand
A reprimand that would serve no purpose
When the darkness met you
When you were in the dark
Your usual knowing left you
You lost your usual sense of awareness
You're just not qualified
You don't have the necessary skills or knowledge
To choose the night to fly
To decide it is safe to fly at night
I met a man and he said this to me
I spoke with someone who said the following to me
"It's only with the heart that we can see"
You can only truly understand with your heart
But I confess I have to disagree
I disagree with that statement
I'll put my faith in physicality
I have more faith in practical, tangible things
If you wish to still romanticize
If you still want to believe in romantic ideals
I give my word I will not criticize
I promise not to judge you for it
But I will draw the line when in the skies
But when flying, I will not take unnecessary risks
Let's leave the indecision
We need to make a decision and take action
The tired cynicism
The negative and skeptical attitude
Oh, will you hug the harbour?
Will you stay close to the safety of the harbor?
Don't make it any harder
Don't make the situation more difficult than it needs to be
A case of mind and matter
A situation that requires practical thinking
Just leave the heart to barter
Don't rely solely on your emotions to make decisions
There is knowing why you thought you could
Understanding why you thought you were capable
Contend in such an eagle altitude
Attempting to fly at a high altitude
With such a violent force you came to rest
You crashed with a great deal of force
A fatal failure to a final test
A deadly mistake that led to the final result
My trust lies in your precision
I believe in your ability to navigate precisely
Contributed by Hailey V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.