McMorrow's second album, Post-Tropical, was released in January 2014. It was noted for its distinct shift in style from the nu-folk of his first album, leaning more towards electronica and ambient sounds. Two singles were released from the album - "Cavalier" and "Red Dust." The album reached the top 30 in the UK and the Netherlands; as well as peaking at number 2 on the Irish album charts.
Down the Burning Ropes
James Vincent McMorrow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Slowly fade into the water like some ancient lover
On a ship filled with ghosts
It's something to behold
When the paper thin girls
With twisting little braids in their hair,
They take off their coats and throw
Crying out
The stones they float, the stones they float
Oh my God, the stones they float, the stones they float
Down the burning ropes
Past the places where the steal beams meet concrete skies
You make your bed under the moonlight
I think it's time we said goodbye
Cause nothing moves in the warm air
And words that once would cut like a knife,
They just hang in the cloud and you're
Pushed by the lord,
But you're pulled by the crowds and
You're overboard, you're overboard
Oh my God, she's overboard
My love she's overboard
She's overboard
My love she's over board
Not a shell unbroken
In the valley where my heartache and the timbers lay
It's not the time to be hanging around here
You know what some might say
That people get too reckless
That even with the simplest of crimes
They leave, blood behind,
As I clean the knife for the very last time
I think she knows, I think she knows
Oh my God, I think she knows
I think she knows
The lyrics to "Down the Burning Ropes" by James Vincent McMorrow are imbued with intense emotion and vivid imagery that coalesce to create a haunting and beautiful song. The first verse paints a picture of a landscape in transition; the hills are receding and dissolving into the water. The reference to an "ancient lover" adds a mystical, romantic quality to the scene. The image of a ship filled with ghosts intensifies the feeling of transience and evokes a sense of the passage of time. The chorus follows this with the introduction of "paper-thin girls," who cast stones into the water, watching them float away.
The second verse takes a darker turn. It speaks of burning ropes descending past steel beams and concrete skies. The singer speaks of making a bed under moonlight, which could be seen as a romantic notion, but given the foreboding context of the rest of the verse, it could also represent an act of finality. The singer's inner turmoil is evident, as he is both "pushed by the lord" and "pulled by the crowds", with the latter seemingly winning. The repetition of "overboard" highlights the feeling of being out of control and sinking into something larger and more uncontrollable than himself. The final verse deals with heartache and the aftermath of a bloody crime. The singer alludes to having committed the crime and reflects on its weighty consequences. The line "I think she knows" hints at the singer's culpability and guilt. Overall, the song is a haunting meditation on themes of transience, loss, and regret.
Line by Line Meaning
When the hills let go
As the hills loosen their grip
Slowly fade into the water like some ancient lover
They dissolve like a historical romance coming to an end
On a ship filled with ghosts
Referencing a vessel with spectral passengers
It's something to behold
It's a sight to witness
When the paper thin girls
The fragile young women
With twisting little braids in their hair,
Their hair is styled in small, intricate braids
They take off their coats and throw
They remove their outer garments and toss
Pebbles and stones from the side of the boat,
Small rocks and stones from the ship's edge
Crying out
Shouting
The stones they float, the stones they float
The rocks and stones remain buoyant
Oh my God, the stones they float, the stones they float
Expressing shock and awe that the stones float
Down the burning ropes
Descending along fiery cords
Past the places where the steal beams meet concrete skies
Passing by the junctions of steel beams and concrete skies
You make your bed under the moonlight
Creating a makeshift bed while illuminated by the moon
I think it's time we said goodbye
It's probably best we part ways
Cause nothing moves in the warm air
In the hot air, things remain still
And words that once would cut like a knife,
Previously hurtful language
They just hang in the cloud and you're
The words linger in the atmosphere and you're
Pushed by the lord,
Influenced by a divine force
But you're pulled by the crowds and
You're also compelled by the masses and
You're overboard, you're overboard
You are in too deep
Oh my God, she's overboard
Oh my God, she's in trouble
My love she's overboard
My beloved is in distress
She's overboard
She's in the water
Not a shell unbroken
Every shell is shattered
In the valley where my heartache and the timbers lay
In the depression where my sorrow and the wood are found
It's not the time to be hanging around here
This is not a suitable moment to linger
You know what some might say
Perhaps you know what others would say
That people get too reckless
People can become too impulsive
That even with the simplest of crimes
Even with minor offenses
They leave, blood behind,
They leave evidence of violence
As I clean the knife for the very last time
As I tidy the knife for the final time
I think she knows, I think she knows
I believe she is aware
Oh my God, I think she knows
Oh my God, I'm sure she knows
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JAMES MCMORROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ennui Stricken
This song is about a murderer who lets his lover take the fall for his crimes, and she gets hung at the gallows.
First part might mean that his problems are sinking, like his ancient lover, ancient because she is dead and her ghost haunts him.
The paper thin girls could be the spectators for the hanging, and the stones floating is a metaphor. Stones don't float, it is impossible for them to float, and like the woman being hung, it is impossible for her to be the murderer.
Down the burning ropes could be the noose that is going to hang the woman. When they bury her she is in a grave, and her "bed" is buried under the moonlight.
So now that she is killed, she is innocent so rather than go to hell the Lord is trying to bring her to heaven but the spectators believe she is guilty so they want her to go to hell, and now she's overboard with the accusations of this crime.
So now the village where he lives is full of heartache and the aftermath of this woman's death. Gossip goes on in the village.
People were gossiping about how people get reckless with their crimes, and he reminisces on how he became reckless with his murders and she came in and witnessed the killing. He realizes that his lover knows that he is a murderer.
Be Nice
When the hills let go
Slowly fade into the water like some ancient lover
On a ship filled with ghosts
It's something to behold
When the paper thin girls
With twisting little braids in their hair,
They take off their coats and throw
Pebbles and stones from the side of the boat,
Crying out
The stones they float, the stones they float
Oh my God, the stones they float, the stones they float
Down the burning ropes
Past the places where the steal beams meet concrete skies
You make your bed under the moonlight
I think it's time we said goodbye
Cause nothing moves in the warm air
And words that once would cut like a knife,
They just hang in the cloud and you're
Pushed by the lord,
But you're pulled by the crowds and
You're overboard, you're overboard
Oh my God, she's overboard
My love she's overboard
She's overboard
My love she's overboard
There's not a shell unbroken
In the valley where my heartache and the timbers lay
It's not the time to be hanging around here
You know what some might say
That people get too reckless
That even with the simplest of crimes
They leave, blood behind,
As I clean the knife for the very last time
I think she knows, I think she knows
Oh my God, I think she knows
I think she knows
Ennui Stricken
This song is about a murderer who lets his lover take the falls for his crimes, and she gets hung at the gallows.
First part might mean that his problems are sinking, like his ancient lover, ancient because she is dead and her ghost haunts him.
The paper thin girls could be the spectators for the hanging, and the stones floating is a metaphor. Stones don't float, it is impossible for them to float, and like the woman being hung, it is impossible for her to be the murderer.
Down the burning ropes could be the noose that is going to hang the woman. When they bury her she is in a grave, and her "bed" is buried under the moonlight.
So now that she is killed, she is innocent so rather than go to hell the Lord is trying to bring her to heaven but the spectators believe she is guilty so they want her to go to hell, and now she's overboard with the accusations of this crime.
So now the village where he lives is full of heartache and the aftermath of this woman's death. Gossip goes on in the village.
People were gossiping about how people get reckless with their crimes, and he reminisces on how he became reckless with his murders and she came in and witnessed the killing. He realizes that his lover knows that he is a murderer.
Ennui Stricken
This song is about a murderer who lets his lover take the falls for his crimes, and she gets hung at the gallows.
First part might mean that his problems are sinking, like his ancient lover, ancient because she is dead and her ghost haunts him.
The paper thin girls could be the spectators for the hanging, and the stones floating is a metaphor. Stones don't float, it is impossible for them to float, and like the woman being hung, it is impossible for her to be the murderer.
Down the burning ropes could be the noose that is going to hang the woman. When they bury her she is in a grave, and her "bed" is buried under the moonlight.
So now that she is killed, she is innocent so rather than go to hell the Lord is trying to bring her to heaven but the spectators believe she is guilty so they want her to go to hell, and now she's overboard with the accusations of this crime.
So now the village where he lives is full of heartache and the aftermath of this woman's death. Gossip goes on in the village.
People were gossiping about how people get reckless with their crimes, and he reminisces on how he became reckless with his murders and she came in and witnessed the killing. He realizes that his lover knows that he is a murderer.
Ennui Stricken
This song is about a murderer who lets his lover take the falls for his crimes, and she gets hung at the gallows.
First part might mean that his problems are sinking, like his ancient lover, ancient because she is dead and her ghost haunts him.
The paper thin girls could be the spectators for the hanging, and the stones floating is a metaphor. Stones don't float, it is impossible for them to float, and like the woman being hung, it is impossible for her to be the murderer.
Down the burning ropes could be the noose that is going to hang the woman. When they bury her she is in a grave, and her "bed" is buried under the moonlight.
So now that she is killed, she is innocent so rather than go to hell the Lord is trying to bring her to heaven but the spectators believe she is guilty so they want her to go to hell, and now she's overboard with the accusations of this crime.
So now the village where he lives is full of heartache and the aftermath of this woman's death. Gossip goes on in the village.
People were gossiping about how people get reckless with their crimes, and he reminisces on how he became reckless with his murders and she came in and witnessed the killing. He realizes that his lover knows that he is a murderer.
Shirley Lopez
I think its been about 2 years since I first heard this song and to this day I'm still obsessed.
Ennui Stricken
This song is about a murderer who lets his lover take the fall for his crimes, and she gets hung at the gallows.
First part might mean that his problems are sinking, like his ancient lover, ancient because she is dead and her ghost haunts him.
The paper thin girls could be the spectators for the hanging, and the stones floating is a metaphor. Stones don't float, it is impossible for them to float, and like the woman being hung, it is impossible for her to be the murderer.
Down the burning ropes could be the noose that is going to hang the woman. When they bury her she is in a grave, and her "bed" is buried under the moonlight.
So now that she is killed, she is innocent so rather than go to hell the Lord is trying to bring her to heaven but the spectators believe she is guilty so they want her to go to hell, and now she's overboard with the accusations of this crime.
So now the village where he lives is full of heartache and the aftermath of this woman's death. Gossip goes on in the village.
People were gossiping about how people get reckless with their crimes, and he reminisces on how he became reckless with his murders and she came in and witnessed the killing. He realizes that his lover knows that he is a murderer.
Tariq Salim
This song just makes me want to fly into the sun
Karlee Tobin
This has been my favourite song since this album came out in 2011. I've got an appointment to get my next tattoo as a beautiful traditional ship with a banner saying "my love, she's overboard" I'm stoked
houndsanddirewolves
I love the sound of that tattoo!
Marielis Martinez
K Alexandra Awesome! did you get it?
Sam Medakovic
you are so right i hate how people nowadays think they can just go around making shitty versions of amazing songs but when we - the ones who have a good ear for music- have these untouched beautiful songs its great
Mohamad “Mohamadkaaki” Kaaki
Beautiful song!
Be Nice
When the hills let go
Slowly fade into the water like some ancient lover
On a ship filled with ghosts
It's something to behold
When the paper thin girls
With twisting little braids in their hair,
They take off their coats and throw
Pebbles and stones from the side of the boat,
Crying out
The stones they float, the stones they float
Oh my God, the stones they float, the stones they float
Down the burning ropes
Past the places where the steal beams meet concrete skies
You make your bed under the moonlight
I think it's time we said goodbye
Cause nothing moves in the warm air
And words that once would cut like a knife,
They just hang in the cloud and you're
Pushed by the lord,
But you're pulled by the crowds and
You're overboard, you're overboard
Oh my God, she's overboard
My love she's overboard
She's overboard
My love she's overboard
There's not a shell unbroken
In the valley where my heartache and the timbers lay
It's not the time to be hanging around here
You know what some might say
That people get too reckless
That even with the simplest of crimes
They leave, blood behind,
As I clean the knife for the very last time
I think she knows, I think she knows
Oh my God, I think she knows
I think she knows
Joshua Cabe Johnson
I have no idea what you are saying, but the melodies, the mix, wow!
One of the best songs I've ever had my ears be blessed with. Thank you,