Formerly called So Band, they came to be known as Mayday in 1997, with the name originating from Masa's online nickname. Dubbed as “the Beatles of the Chinese-speaking world”, Mayday has won many awards in their career, including the Golden Melody Award for Best Band, an award given by the Taiwanese Ministry of Culture, in 2001, 2004, 2009 and 2012.
Captain
Mayday Lyrics
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Like the times I watched me die.
And my life was all...
It was all I ever had!
Can't return, can't return,
To a world where you live once
One chance to live,
I'm taking one step forward.
So push me two steps back.
So much for the last time...
So much for the light
Battered and broken...
Give me rest.
Look at me now...
Miles behind, where I started.
I'm tired of hurting...
I know you feel the same...
I'm tired of crying.
And dying will never feel the same!
I'll sing about death.
Like the times I watched me die.
And my life was all...
It was all I ever had.
I'm taking one step forward.
So push me two steps back.
So much for the last time...
So much for the lighthouse...
The lyrics to Mayday's "Captain" evoke a sense of desperation and weariness, with the singer singing about death and how their life is all they ever had. The line "like the times I watched me die" suggests a sense of repetition and hopelessness as the singer is forced to confront their mortality over and over again. The chorus reinforces the theme of limited time and one chance to live, with the singer feeling stuck and unable to go back to a world where they could do things differently.
The verses express a sense of frustration and defeat as the singer feels like every step forward is met with two steps back. The line "so much for the last time" suggests a sense of giving up, as if the singer has tried and failed many times before. The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope as the singer declares that dying will never feel the same, perhaps indicating a shift in perspective or a newfound resilience.
Overall, "Captain" is a song that speaks to the human experience of struggling with mortality and trying to find a sense of purpose and meaning in the face of limited time.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll sing about death.
The artist is going to sing about death in this song.
Like the times I watched me die.
The artist has experienced moments in their life where they felt as though they were dying, but not actually physically dying.
And my life was all...
The artist's life is represented by the moments when they have felt as though they were dying.
It was all I ever had!
The artist's life, as represented by the moments when they have felt as though they were dying, is the most significant thing in their life.
Can't return, can't return,
The artist cannot go back to a previous time in their life.
To a world where you live once
The artist is reflecting on the idea that we only live once.
One chance to live,
We only get one opportunity to live our lives.
One chance to do this right.
We have to make the most of our one chance to live our lives as best we can.
I'm taking one step forward.
The artist is attempting to move forward in their life.
So push me two steps back.
Despite trying to move forward, the artist feels like they are being held back.
So much for the last time...
The last time that the artist attempted to move forward was not successful.
So much for the light
The artist's hopes for a better future, represented by the light, have been dashed.
Battered and broken...
The artist is feeling battered and broken emotionally, mentally, or physically.
Give me rest.
The artist is seeking rest, whether it be physical, emotional or mental.
Look at me now...
The artist is reflecting on their current state in life.
Miles behind, where I started.
The artist feels as though they have not progressed much in their life journey since they started.
I'm tired of hurting...
The artist is emotionally, mentally, or physically weary and in pain.
I know you feel the same...
The artist is empathizing with the listener and recognizing that they too have experienced pain.
I'm tired of crying.
The artist is weary of shedding tears.
And dying will never feel the same!
The artist has had an experience with death that has changed their perspective on it forever.
Contributed by Alice V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.