Together, Campbell and Lanegan formed a unique combination of gruff vocals and dulcet voices. They released a series of albums: Ballad of the Broken Seas, which received a nomination in the 2006 Mercury Awards, Sunday at Devil Dirt, which was released in May 2008. The album received US release in Fall 2008. Their third album Hawk was released in August 2010. The same year the live album "Live At The Barbican London 2010 " was released.
Ballad Of Broken Seas
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm drowning in whiskey and beer.
My doctor reports, if I don't stop soon,
That I'll drown in an ocean of tears.
I looked to you and saw my desire
Went from the frying pan into the fire.
Surrendered to sorrow and was undone
We fucked up the sun into kingdom come
You are under my blood and my skin.
Living life at eachother's throats
In the gilded sailboat of sin.
Ours was an ocean to swim around in,
Ours was an ocean I should have drowned in.
My doctor reports that we must be strong,
But I'm praying that it won't be long
These evocative lyrics in Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan's "Ballad of Broken Seas" tell the story of two people who are drowning in a sea of pain and suffering. The singer is overwhelmed by his own sadness, drowning in a sea of whiskey and beer. His doctor warns him that if he continues down this path, he will drown in an ocean of tears. The object of his desire only adds to his pain, and he feels as though he has gone from bad to worse. He has lost himself in his sorrow, and now he can only pray for relief.
The second verse continues the metaphor of the ocean, describing a relationship that is just as tumultuous and dangerous as the sea. The two lovers have "fucked up the sun into kingdom come," a phrase that suggests they have done irreparable harm to themselves and perhaps even to the world around them. Despite this, they are still bound together, unable to escape each other's hold. They live in a "gilded sailboat of sin," a gilded cage that is both beautiful and suffocating.
The final lines of the song suggest that there may be hope for these two damaged souls yet. The doctor reports that they must be strong, and the singer is praying that it won't be long. These words are both a plea for help and a promise to keep fighting, even when things seem darkest.
Line by Line Meaning
I bring you the tale of the broken seas
I will tell you the story of the chaotic and troubled times
And I'm drowning in whiskey and beer.
I am overwhelmed with alcohol to numb the pain of these times
My doctor reports, if I don't stop soon,
That I'll drown in an ocean of tears.
My physician warns me that if I keep going down this path, my emotions of despair will consume me
I looked to you and saw my desire
Went from the frying pan into the fire.
When I turned to you for comfort and love, my yearning only led me to greater trouble
Surrendered to sorrow and was undone
Now I'm praying that it won't be long.
I gave myself up to grief and now I hope that the end will come soon
We fucked up the sun into kingdom come
You are under my blood and my skin.
We destroyed everything good in our lives and now I am inseparably linked to you, for better or worse
Living life at eachother's throats
In the gilded sailboat of sin.
We exist in constant conflict with each other, living in a lavish but corrupted world
Ours was an ocean to swim around in,
Ours was an ocean I should have drowned in.
Our relationship was vast and complex, one which I should have immersed myself wholeheartedly in
My doctor reports that we must be strong,
But I'm praying that it won't be long
My physician advises us to be resilient, but I am secretly hoping for the end to arrive soon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind