The "classic" lineup of Jefferson Airplane, from October 1966 to February 1970, was Marty Balin (vocals), Paul Kantner (guitar, vocals), Grace Slick (vocals), Jorma Kaukonen (lead guitar, vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Spencer Dryden (drums). Marty Balin left the band in 1971. After 1972, Jefferson Airplane effectively split into two groups. Kaukonen and Casady moved on full time to their own band, Hot Tuna. Slick, Kantner, and the remaining members of Jefferson Airplane recruited new members and regrouped as Jefferson Starship in 1974, with Marty Balin eventually joining them. Jefferson Airplane was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996 and was presented with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
Spencer Dryden died on January 11, 2005.
Both Signe Anderson and Paul Kantner died on January 28, 2016.
Marty Balin died on September 27, 2018
Wooden Ships
Jefferson Airplane Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
In the same language
I can see by your coat my friend that you're from the other side
There's just one thing I got to know
Can you tell me please who won
You must try some of my purple berries
Haven't got sick once
Probably keep us both alive, yeah
Wooden ships on the water very free and easy
Easy you know the way it's supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline leave us be
Very free and easy
Sail away where the morning sun goes high
Sail away where the wind blows sweet and young birds fly
Take a sister by her hand
Lead her far from this barren land
Horror grips us as we watch you die
All we can do is echo your anguished cry
Stare as all you human feelings die
We are leaving
You don't need us
Oh
Go and take a sister by her hand
Lead her far from this foreign land
Somewhere where we might laugh again
We are leaving
You don't need us (need us, no)
You don't need us
Sailing ships on the water very free and easy
Easy you know the way it's supposed to be
Silver people on the shoreline leave us be
Very free
And gone
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh) no, no, no, no, no, no, no
(Oh)
Ride the music, ride the music, ride the music
Go ride the music (oh ride), oh ride the music (oh ride), oh, ride the music, c'mon
"Wooden Ships" is a song by Jefferson Airplane with lyrics that deal with an imagined end of civilization, possibly caused by nuclear war. The song was written by David Crosby, Stephen Stills, and Paul Kantner. The opening lines, "If you smile at me you know I will understand, 'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does, In the same language" suggest that regardless of any differences between individuals, they are all human and share similar experiences and emotions. The song goes on to describe the aftermath of the destruction of society, with the singer encountering someone from "the other side" and asking them who won. The reference to "purple berries" suggests that the singer and his companion have found some sort of food source that may keep them alive in the post-apocalyptic world.
The chorus, "Wooden ships on the water very free and easy, Easy you know the way it's supposed to be, Silver people on the shoreline leave us be, Very free and easy" describes the freedom of being at sea in a wooden ship, away from the horrors of civilization. The reference to "silver people" could be interpreted as the survivors of the apocalypse who remained on land.
The final verse, "Horror grips us as we watch you die, All we can do is echo your anguished cry, Stare as all you human feelings die, We are leaving, You don't need us" suggests that the survivors have witnessed the death of the world and humanity and are now leaving, believing that they are no longer needed.
Line by Line Meaning
If you smile at me you know I will understand
I understand the joy that comes with a smile, no matter where you come from.
'Cause that is something everybody everywhere does
Smiling is universal and transcends all boundaries, uniting everyone.
In the same language
Smiling is a nonverbal expression, and it communicates the same meaning to everyone, regardless of language.
I can see by your coat my friend that you're from the other side
Your attire reveals that you're from a different place or culture.
There's just one thing I got to know
I'm curious to know one thing.
Can you tell me please who won
Can you inform me who won in a contest or conflict?
You must try some of my purple berries
I strongly recommend you taste some of my purple berries.
I been eating them for six or seven weeks now
I have been eating them for quite some time.
Haven't got sick once
Despite the regular consumption, I haven't become ill.
Probably keep us both alive, yeah
Eating these berries could be beneficial to both of us in maintaining good health and vitality.
Wooden ships on the water very free and easy
Wooden ships on water look remarkably effortless and relaxed.
Easy you know the way it's supposed to be
This is the ideal state to be in, as everything flows naturally.
Silver people on the shoreline leave us be
People on the shoreline who are dressed in silver outfits should let us be and not cause any trouble.
Very free and easy
These ships seem incredibly free and natural, as if following their natural path.
Sail away where the morning sun goes high
Let's depart for places where the morning sun shines bright and hope is high.
Sail away where the wind blows sweet and young birds fly
Let's journey to a place where wind is pleasant, and young birds glide through the air.
Take a sister by her hand
Let's assist a sister by holding her hand and guiding her.
Lead her far from this barren land
Let's guide her beyond this inhospitable landscape.
Horror grips us as we watch you die
We feel anguished watching you die in a terrible, painful way.
All we can do is echo your anguished cry
We are helpless to offer any solace or aid and can only echo your cries of despair.
Stare as all you human feelings die
We remain keen observers, watching with bated breath as all human emotion and feeling fades away.
We are leaving
We're leaving this place behind and moving on to a new one.
You don't need us
You don't require us or our resources to thrive and survive.
Go and take a sister by her hand
Go lead another sister away from this gloomy setting.
Lead her far from this foreign land
Guide her away from this country or territory.
Somewhere where we might laugh again
Let's go to a place where we can genuinely laugh and be happy again.
Very free
Feeling unrestricted and liberated, unencumbered like the wooden ships we saw earlier.
And gone
Vanished, departed, like the wooden ships that sailed away.
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
Experiencing shock or disbelief, with each 'no' emphasized.
(Oh) no, no, no, no, no, no, no
An intense expression of concern and disbelief.
(Oh)
Exclamation of astonishment or surprise.
Ride the music, ride the music, ride the music
Lose yourself in the music and let it lead and guide you towards your destination.
Go ride the music (oh ride), oh ride the music (oh ride), oh, ride the music, c'mon
Experience and follow the music, enjoying every aspect of it and letting it elevate your spirit.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Paul Kantner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
b Mukherjee
So easily the greatest version. A whole new dimension that captures the feelings of the age. And Grace Slick's soaring take offs. Everything gels to create a masterpiece. Have listened to it so many times and come out inspired to feel rebellious.
Kelly Jones
I love this one sooooo much more than the CSN&Y version, there's just something magical about it
Why Yes
@Winfield Ritzert Don' refer to them as 'we' as if to say you were there with them.
mac man
Mr Young was on vacation .
Ivan Ickovits
Yeah, there is something magical and dreadful encapsulated in the Jefferson version that I love, maybe cause I worked on the Star Wars projects at the same time. 😎
Robert Woodward
Exactly. CSN did not emphasize "who won" which has a very strong message in this beautiful song..
Bill Alexander
The music from the late 60s is so good. I was just a little kid but heard it a lot on the radio later on. Even 50 years later it still has so much impact.
mac man
From acorns tall oaks grow ,we just gotta let them .
Claire Donaldson6
Was introduced to this version 10 months ago by an amazing soul. This track has seen me through many evenings, headphones on, immersed in its beauty.
keep smilin
late sixties to the early seventies,a renaissance of passion,originality,freedom of thought,musical genius..never to be surpassed in my lifetime