Building Ships
Lior Lyrics


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We could almost see the distant shore
When my little sweetheart jumped overboard
I threw a line blind into the sea
But she was free
To drift on
The sea is calm the night after the storm
But i know the empty rain awaits at every turn
I fear i had a love and now it's gone
To find new shelter

And i'm building ships to carry me home
Back to where i sailed from
Back to the places i hurt

The rhythm of the rocking is unknown
It takes a while to get used to the motion
I'm moving slowly but i'm full of anger
That there's no one to blame
It's a cruel game

And i'm building ships to carry me home
Back to where i sailed from
Back to the places i...
Now i'm building ships to sail on
Back to where i sailed from
Back to the places i hurt

I fear i had a love and now it's gone
I fear i had a love and now it's gone




To find new shelter
To find new shelter

Overall Meaning

“Building Ships” by Lior is a heart-wrenching song about loss, grief, and the journey of healing. It is a ballad that tells the story of a sailor who lost his love at sea, and is now building ships to return to his homeland and the places where he once felt pain. The song opens with a vivid imagery of the sailor and his sweetheart on a ship, that almost reached the distant shore, when she suddenly jumps overboard. The sailor tries to save her by throwing a line into the sea, but she is already gone, free to drift on. The haunting first verse sets the tone for the rest of the song, which is a contemplative reflection on love, loss, and the pursuit of hope.


In the following verses, the singer reflects on the sailor's inner journey, as he navigates the choppy waters of his emotions. The sea is calm after the storm, but the singer knows that the empty rain of loss can strike at any moment. The sailor fears that he had a love, and now it's gone, as he looks for new shelter. The singer's voice is nuanced and emotive, drawing on the raw emotions of grief and longing. The chorus is a refrain of the lines "Building ships to carry me home, back to where I sailed from, back to the places I hurt", which encapsulates the central theme of the song- the journey of returning home and confronting one's past.


Overall, Lior's "Building Ships" is a poignant song that speaks to the deeper yearnings of the human heart. Through its honest and heartfelt lyrics, the song captures the emotions of grief, longing, and hope in a way that resonates with the listener. By telling the story of a sailor who is building ships to return home, the song speaks to the universal human desire to find a sense of belonging, healing, and closure.


Line by Line Meaning

We could almost see the distant shore
We were so close to achieving our goal


When my little sweetheart jumped overboard
When the person I loved abandoned me unexpectedly


I threw a line blind into the sea
I tried to save our relationship but failed blindly


But she was free
But the person I loved was free to leave


To drift on
To wander and find their way without me


The sea is calm the night after the storm
Everything seems peaceful after a big upheaval


But i know the empty rain awaits at every turn
But I know difficult times are always lurking nearby


I fear i had a love and now it's gone
I am scared I lost a love that was once mine


To find new shelter
To search for someone or somewhere new to belong to


And i'm building ships to carry me home
I am doing everything to find my way back home


Back to where i sailed from
Back to where I started and felt secure


Back to the places i hurt
Back to the places where emotional pain lives


The rhythm of the rocking is unknown
The experience of starting anew is unpredictable


It takes a while to get used to the motion
It takes time to adjust to a new situation


I'm moving slowly but i'm full of anger
I am progressing at a slow pace, but I am fueled by frustration


That there's no one to blame
That the situation is not someone's fault, but rather the result of life's unpredictable nature


It's a cruel game
Life can be harsh and unyielding


Now i'm building ships to sail on
Now I am creating a new path for myself




Contributed by Charlotte D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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