"Ship to Wreck" was met with critical acclaim, with critics praising frontwoman Florence Welch's vocals, as well as the song's production. The song received nominations for Best Rock Video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.
Ship to Wreck
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics
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Dredging up great white sharks, swimming in the bed
And here comes a killer whale, to sing me to sleep
Thrashing the covers off, has me by its teeth
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I said?
I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I did?
Did I build a ship to wreck?
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
Did I build this ship to wreck?
What's with the long face? Do you want more?
Thousands of red-eyed mice, scratching at the door
And don't let the curtain catch you, cause you've been here before
The chair is an island, darling, you can't touch the floor
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I said?
I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I did?
Did I drink too much? Am I losing touch?
Did I build a ship to wreck?
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
Did I build this ship to wreck?
Good God, under starless skies
We are lost, and into the breach, we got tossed
And the world is coming in fast
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I said?
I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I did?
Did I drink too much? Am I losing touch?
Did I build a ship to wreck?
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
Did I build this ship to wreck?
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
Did I build this ship to wreck?
The song Ship to Wreck by Florence + the Machine is a reflection on the self-destructive tendencies that we often fail to see in ourselves. The lyrics are filled with images of chaos and danger, such as "great white sharks swimming in the bed" and "thousands of red-eyed mice scratching at the door". The singer seems to be aware of her own faults but cannot help but be drawn towards them, like building a "ship to wreck". The line "I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed" shows the character's struggle to control her own destructive tendencies, as if she is sinking deeper into the chaos she has created.
The chorus of the song is haunting with its repetitive use of the phrase "did I build this ship to wreck". It is a rhetorical question, indicating that the singer is aware of her actions yet has no control over them. The song touches upon themes of addiction, self-sabotage, and the fear of spiraling out of control.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't touch the sleeping pills, they mess with my head
I don't want to take the sleeping pills because they affect my mental state.
Dredging up great white sharks, swimming in the bed
I feel like there are dangerous things lurking inside of me.
And here comes a killer whale, to sing me to sleep
Even something as beautiful as a killer whale cannot comfort me to sleep.
Thrashing the covers off, has me by its teeth
The dangers within me are causing me to feel out of control.
And, ah, my love remind me, what was it that I said?
I need a reminder of what I have said, my memory is failing me.
I can't help but pull the earth around me to make my bed
I tend to isolate myself and create my own world around me.
Did I drink too much? Am I losing touch?
I am questioning my own habits and whether they are affecting my mental state.
Did I build a ship to wreck?
I may have created my own downfall by my actions.
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
I am fully aware of the potential for destruction in my actions.
What's with the long face? Do you want more?
Someone is noticing my melancholy mood and asking if I need anything.
Thousands of red-eyed mice, scratching at the door
I feel like there are so many little anxieties that are overwhelming me.
And don't let the curtain catch you, cause you've been here before
I'm trying to keep up appearances and hide my emotions because I've dealt with this before.
The chair is an island, darling, you can't touch the floor
I feel alone and disconnected from the world around me.
Good God, under starless skies
I feel lost and alone, with no guiding force.
We are lost, and into the breach, we got tossed
Sometimes we get thrown into difficult situations without warning.
And the world is coming in fast
The world is moving quickly and it's hard to keep up.
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
The potential for destruction is still present.
Did I build this ship to wreck?
I am still questioning whether I brought this upon myself.
To wreck, to wreck, to wreck
The theme of destruction persists.
Contributed by Gianna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.