Eugene Kelly formed The Vaselines in 1986 with Frances McKee and was a member until 1990 when the band split up. Kurt Cobain of Nirvana was a fan of the band and two covers of songs by The Vaselines were included on their Incesticide album.
In 1990 Kelly formed another band called Captain America but was forced to change the name after an objection from the company Marvel Comics, the band then became known as Eugenius. He has had a number of collaborations with Evan Dando of The Lemonheads and in 2003 Eugene released a solo album, Man Alive.
In 2006, he toured with Isobel Campbell, replacing Mark Lanegan when performing songs from Ballad of the Broken Seas, and supporting Mogwai, as well, as in Madrid on October 1, 2006.
Sinking Ship
Eugene Kelly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was well equipped I wouldn't drown
At the journey's end we would no longer be
Time and tide don't bury me
I gave her all that I could find
A love we could discover
She turned her back and walked a mile
On the sinking ship that dragged me down
I nailed my trust to the bow
No land around that I can see
Time and tide don't bury me
Oh Lord I'm overboard
I'm overboard
Oh Lord I will not drown
I will not drown
I gave her all that I could find
A love we could discover
She turned her back and walked a mile
I gave it to another lover
I didn't love her
The lyrics of Eugene Kelly's song Sinking Ship reflect the experience of being in a relationship that gradually becomes difficult and ultimately leads to a sense of sinking. The singer in the song feels like he is on a sinking ship with his partner, dragging him down. Despite being well-equipped and confident that he won't drown, he knows that their journey together won't last long. He pleads with time and tide not to bury him, indicating that he feels overwhelmed and helpless.
The second verse reveals that he gave his partner all he could find in terms of love and affection, hoping that they would explore it together. However, she turned her back on him and walked away, leaving him feeling heartbroken and alone. The metaphor of the sinking ship is further reinforced when he mentions that he nailed his trust to the bow, indicating that he trusted his partner completely, but his trust was misplaced. As the song progresses, he cries out to the Lord to save him and prevent him from drowning, signaling his distress and fear.
Overall, Sinking Ship is a poignant and heartfelt song that captures the despair and sadness of a relationship that has gone awry. Its lyrics are relatable to anyone who has ever been in a failing relationship or felt like their world was collapsing around them.
Line by Line Meaning
She was the sinking ship that dragged me down
I was in a destructive relationship that pulled me under
I was well equipped I wouldn't drown
I was initially confident that I could handle the situation
At the journey's end we would no longer be
Eventually, the relationship could not continue
Time and tide don't bury me
I hope to survive this ordeal and not be forgotten
I gave her all that I could find
I devoted myself to making the relationship work
A love we could discover
I hoped to explore a deeper connection with her
She turned her back and walked a mile
She rejected my love and left me alone
I gave it to another lover
I moved on with someone else
On the sinking ship that dragged me down
Even though the relationship was doomed, I kept trying
I nailed my trust to the bow
I was loyal and devoted, even until the end
No land around that I can see
I felt lost and helpless
Oh Lord I'm overboard
I am in a dangerous situation
Oh Lord I will not drown
I am determined to survive this
I didn't love her
Ultimately, I realized that I didn't truly love her
Contributed by Miles V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.