All Hands on Deck Part 1: Raise the Sail
Funeral for a Friend Lyrics


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Horizon shows the signs,
the eye is getting closer,
birds don't fear the sky,
the clouds are looming over,
the vessel breaks the back it takes,
another wave that we must face.

Raise the sail,
as we all,
feel powerless.
Raise the sail,
as we all,
feel powerless.

Bloody hands reach out,
violence breaks my body,
drowning in the sea,
lifeboats lost without them,
the vessel breaks the it takes,
another wave that we must face.

Raise the sail,
as we all,
feel powerless.
Raise the sail,
as we all,
feel powerless.
Drowning in the wake,
as we all feel powerless.

Under crests of stars, water breaks a broken heart.




Under crests of stars, water breaks a broken heart.
Under crests of stars, water breaks a broken heart.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Funeral for a Friend's "All Hands on Deck Part 1: Raise the Sail" suggests a sense of urgency and helplessness in the face of a looming threat. The opening lines set the scene of an impending storm or disaster as the horizon shows signs and the eye gets closer. Birds, who are often indicators of the environment, are not afraid of the sky, which could suggest that something unusual is happening. The vessel is also mentioned multiple times, and it seems to be struggling against the waves. The line "another wave that we must face" hints at the inevitability of facing challenges even when we are exhausted, and the word "must" suggests that there is no other option.


The chorus, "Raise the sail, as we all, feel powerless" is a call to action in the face of powerlessness. The idea of harnessing the power of the wind, even when we feel helpless, speaks to the human desire for control and proactive measures in the face of adversity. The imagery of "bloody hands" reaching out and "violence breaking my body" adds a layer of violence and desperation to the lyrics, hinting at the idea that sometimes it's not just nature that we're battling against. Even with lifeboats lost, the vessel still has to face another wave, highlighting the idea that sometimes all we can do is prepare ourselves for the worst and hope for the best.


The lyrics end with the repetition of "Under crests of stars, water breaks a broken heart," which can be interpreted in many ways, but it seems to suggest the idea that even in the face of challenging situations and broken hearts, life goes on. The metaphor of water breaking a broken heart is powerful and speaks to the idea that even in our darkest moments, we can find comfort in nature and the universe around us.


Line by Line Meaning

Horizon shows the signs,
We can see signs of trouble ahead, maybe a storm or other dangers in the distance.


the eye is getting closer,
The storm's center or the most dangerous part is approaching us.


birds don't fear the sky,
The birds don't fear the storm because they can fly away from it.


the clouds are looming over,
The clouds are threatening and growing larger, indicating that the storm is getting stronger.


the vessel breaks the back it takes,
The ship is being pushed to its limits by the waves and winds of the storm.


another wave that we must face.
There are more challenges and obstacles to come as we try to navigate through the storm.


Raise the sail,
We need to make adjustments to the sails to catch the wind and keep moving forward.


as we all,
Everyone on board the ship is affected by the storm and needs to work together.


feel powerless.
We are all overwhelmed and unable to control the storm or our situation.


Bloody hands reach out,
Someone's hands are injured or bleeding, possibly due to trying to hold onto something during the storm.


violence breaks my body,
The rough waters are causing physical harm or pain to someone on board.


drowning in the sea,
Someone is submerged in the water or struggling to keep their head above water.


lifeboats lost without them,
There are not enough lifeboats or they are missing, making escape from the ship more difficult.


Drowning in the wake,
We are still struggling and suffering from the effects of the storm even after it has passed.


under crests of stars, water breaks a broken heart.
Even in the calm of night, the ocean can still cause emotional pain and heartache for someone on board the ship.




Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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