Foreign Slippers (aka Gabrielle Fröden) was born in Norrköping, Sweden and … Read Full Bio ↴Foreign Slippers (aka Gabrielle Fröden) was born in Norrköping, Sweden and is based in London.

In Gabi’s own words, Foreign Slippers influences are an enigmatic combination of:

“…my mother’s classical guitar, long summers building tree huts in the woods with my brothers and sisters and family singalongs around an old piano on holiday.”

I Wish I Was A Fisherman
Foreign Slippers Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wish I was a fisher man
My home is the sea
And when I get back to land
My saviour is waiting for me
And he'll give me a crown
It is made of gold
And he'll say well done
You were a magic untold

Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go
Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go

I could die any day now,
It's not either fair or unfair
And I could walk through that tunnel of light
And lead the rest of you there

Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go
Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go

Come crown on the floor
I am not yet reborn
Come whip come cross come Mary and grace
Cry quietly now
He didn't fade

Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go
Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Foreign Slippers' song I Wish I Was A Fisherman can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on the listener's perspective. One of the most striking elements of the song is the sense of longing for connection and meaning that underlies the lyrics. Specifically, the singer of the song wishes to be a fisherman, living out on the sea and braving the elements in search of a catch.

Throughout the song, the singer describes the peace and fulfillment that he feels when he is out on the water, and the sense of satisfaction that comes from bringing in a good haul. But the song also has a darker, more ominous tone at times, as the singer recognizes the fragility of life and the inevitability of death. When he sings that "I could die any day now," it's a reminder of the transience of existence and the importance of making the most of the time we have.

Despite the mournful notes that run through the song, there is also an underlying sense of hope and faith. The image of a crown made of gold, and the idea that the singer will be greeted with the words "well done," suggests a belief in a better life beyond this one. Similarly, the cryptic final lines of the song - "Come crown on the floor / I am not yet reborn / Come whip come cross come Mary and grace / Cry quietly now / He didn't fade" - seem to hint at some sort of spiritual awakening or transformation.

Overall, the song is a meditation on the joys and sorrows of life, and the need to seize each moment with gusto.

Line by Line Meaning

I wish I was a fisher man
I long to be a fisherman, living on the open waters

My home is the sea
My true home is the endless ocean, where I feel free

And when I get back to land
But when I must return to the shore, I know my savior is waiting for me

My saviour is waiting for me
My true saviour is waiting for me, guiding me through rough waters and bringing me safely back to shore

And he'll give me a crown
When I meet my savior on the shore, I know he'll give me a crown made of gold

It is made of gold
This crown is a symbol of honor and achievement, something to aspire to in my life on and off the sea

And he'll say well done
My savior will acknowledge my efforts and tell me that I have done a great job

You were a magic untold
He will remind me that there is something truly magical and mysterious about the life of a fisherman

Say the words now and I'll go I'll go I'll go
If you need me, just say the word and I will come running to help, no matter where you are

I could die any day now
I am aware that my time on this earth is limited, and I could pass away at any moment

It's not either fair or unfair
I accept that life is unpredictable, and that neither good nor bad things happen for any particular reason

And I could walk through that tunnel of light
When it is my time to go, I imagine walking through a tunnel of light into the next world

And lead the rest of you there
I hope that my own journey through this tunnel will inspire others to follow, and to continue living their lives with courage and integrity

Come crown on the floor
Even with a crown of gold, I am not yet reborn, and still have much to learn and experience

I am not yet reborn
I acknowledge that there is much more to life than what I have already achieved, and that every day is an opportunity to grow and change

Come whip come cross come Mary and grace
I am prepared to face whatever challenges come my way, whether they be physical or spiritual in nature

Cry quietly now
In the face of adversity, I will not give up or give in to despair, but will remain strong and carry on

He didn't fade
Even when my savior is not physically present, I take comfort in knowing that his love and guidance are always with me

Contributed by Eva T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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