Noah's Ark
Marit Peters Lyrics
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Daughter, won't you take me
One last time to the harbor
I used to be younger
I used to be a drunkard
But liquor doesn't love me anymore
Can't you see all i ever wanted
From my flood i tried to lift your bodies
What the hell did i expect
From a young fisherman
I was a good girl
Until i met your father
Until i fell enamored, living on the edge
Now his days are numbered
They always were
I tried to kill him once in self defense
Can't you see all i ever wanted
Was to get back out to the ocean
From his flood i tried to spare our daughter
What the hell did i expect from a young fisherman
Here with my father
Drive you to the water
Take you to the harbor
One last time
And i will leave you there pining
The almighty pastime
Dying in the arms of the ocean
Can't you see all i ever wanted
Was someone to stay with me
But i loved a no good man like you
What the hell did i expect
From a young fisherman
The lyrics to Marit Petersen's "Noah's Ark" tell a poignant and nuanced story of love, loss, regret, and the passing of time. The song recounts the final days of an older man, possibly the singer's father, who is dying and wishes to return to the harbor where he lived in his youth. Throughout the song, the singer grapples with the complexity of her feelings for both her father and the man she loved, who is also a fisherman. She reflects on her father's past struggles with alcoholism and attempts to build an ark, and on her own past relationship with a man who she now views as "no good." However, even as she acknowledges the pain and disappointment of these experiences, she is unable to fully let go of the emotional ties they represent. The final lines of the song - "can't you see all I ever wanted/was someone to stay with me/but I loved a no good man like you/what the hell did I expect/from a young fisherman" - capture the singer's sense of loneliness and frustration, but also her inability to truly disentangle herself from the past.
One of the most striking features of "Noah's Ark" is the way the lyrics weave together different themes and motifs - from the story of Noah's ark to the imagery of the ocean and the singer's reflections on love and family - to create a complex and evocative narrative. Through her use of metaphor and imagery, Petersen is able to convey both the beauty and the pain of the human experience, capturing the complicated mix of joy and sorrow that is often at the heart of our most profound emotions. Overall, "Noah's Ark" is a powerful meditation on the passage of time, the challenges of love and loss, and the power of memory and regret to shape our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
My heart is failing
I am physically and emotionally exhausted.
Daughter, won't you take me
I am asking for help and support from my daughter.
One last time to the harbor
I want to revisit a place that holds deep significance for me before I die.
I used to be younger
I am reflecting on my past and acknowledging that I am now old and frail.
I used to be a drunkard
I had a history of alcohol abuse that I have since overcome.
But liquor doesn't love me anymore
I have finally realized that alcohol was never the solution, but rather the problem.
Can't you see all i ever wanted
My desires were simple and pure and revolved around my family and the ocean.
Was to build an ark for my family
I wanted to provide a safe haven for my loved ones to weather life's storms.
From my flood i tried to lift your bodies
I did everything in my power to save my family from harm and suffering.
What the hell did i expect
I realize now that my expectations were unrealistic and naive.
From a young fisherman
I placed my faith and trust in someone who was inexperienced and unable to fulfill my hopes.
I was a good girl
I used to be innocent and pure before I embarked on a dangerous and passionate relationship.
Until i met your father
My life changed drastically when I fell in love with your father.
Until i fell enamored, living on the edge
I lost myself and my sense of safety in my relationship with your father.
Now his days are numbered
My husband is dying and his time is running out.
They always were
I always knew, deep down, that our time together was limited.
I tried to kill him once in self defense
I was pushed to the brink by his destructive behavior and reacted in desperation.
Was to get back out to the ocean
I yearn for the familiarity and comfort that the ocean provides me.
From his flood i tried to spare our daughter
I did my best to protect our daughter from the harmful effects of my husband's actions.
Here with my father
I am now spending my final moments with my own father, seeking comfort and solace.
Drive you to the water
I will help you return to the source of our shared memories.
Take you to the harbor
I will accompany you to the place that brings us both peace.
And i will leave you there pining
I will depart from you, leaving you longing for the past and the ones we have lost.
The almighty pastime
The ocean represents a powerful and all-encompassing force that governs our lives.
Dying in the arms of the ocean
I want to pass away surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the element that has given me so much comfort throughout my life.
But i loved a no good man like you
I made mistakes and fell in love with someone who was wrong for me.
What the hell did i expect
I am now facing the harsh reality of my choices and their consequences.
From a young fisherman
I placed too much faith in someone who was unable to meet my expectations.
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
GourmetPaperMache
goodbye Marit. RIP
WENDY SWYT
I used to go to see her sing in the late 1990's -- such an amazing voice and songs -- was searching to see what she was doing now and saw that she had died. :( This was my favorite song off this album.
KJ Starr
Still a Fan!
Ernie W Lund
Marit and I had a friendship that was beyond who played this song again this morning but I can afford it out and buy her album I recently lost everything I owned value in a car accident among that was a CD she gave me I did love her so and I miss her love you Marit