Midnight Choir were a Norwegian band that sounded a little like Tinderstick… Read Full Bio ↴Midnight Choir were a Norwegian band that sounded a little like Tindersticks or The Walkabouts. Walkabouts member Chris Eckman actually produced all Midnight Choir albums with exception of the self titled debut record.
Members were Al DeLoner (born Atle Byström), Paal Flaata and Ron Olsen.
Midnight Choir were founded - as Hashbrowns - in 1992.
The band's name stems from the Leonard Cohen song "Bird on the Wire".
The 1998 album "Amsterdam Stranded" won the band a best rock album of the year award in their native Norway.

Besides producing Midnight Choir's albums, Chris Eckman also collaborated with Midnight Choir member Al DeLoner, under the common project name Höst. Höst released one album, "The damage suite", in 2001.

Midnight Choir split in 2004 with the individual band members pursuing solo careers afterwards. 2005 saw the release of a double best of album called "All tomorrow's tears: The best of Midnight Choir".

Sailing Dark Waters
Midnight Choir Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sailing dark waters
Amid rocks of despair
Sailing dark waters
Through a stormy affair
Sailing dark waters
I ain't goin' nowhere
Sailing dark waters

Set adrift on the river of dreams
Between the devil and the deep blue sea
I've thrown my love amid the rocks of despair
Trying to redeem a little small born affair

But baby if you want me to
I cross every ocean on a ship of fools
To get back home to you
But baby if you want me to
I cross every ocean on a ship of fools
To get back home to you

Sailing dark waters
Amid rocks of despair
Sailing dark waters
Through a stormy affair
Sailing dark waters
I ain't goin' nowhere
Sailing dark waters

The face of an angel appeared to me
By the moonlight in my hour of need
Down by the water I was taken by storm
Beaten of, burned out and torn

But baby if you want me to
I cross every ocean on a ship of fools
To get back home to you
Yeah, but baby if you want me to
I cross every ocean on a ship of fools
To get back home to you, to you, to you, to you
Yeah, but baby if you want me to
I cross every ocean on a ship of fools
To get back home to you
Get back home to you (*2)
Home to you (*2)

Get back home to you
Home to you..........

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Midnight Choir's song "Sailing Dark Waters" is a poetic representation of the turmoil and struggle that comes with the journey of love. The first verse talks about sailing through the rocky waters of despair, signifying the difficulties that come with a relationship. Nevertheless, the singer has thrown his love into the rocks of despair, trying to fix the broken pieces of the relationship. However, he seems to be stuck in the middle - "Set adrift on the river of dreams, between the devil and the deep blue sea," unable to decide whether to give up or hold on to the relationship.

The second verse talks about the singer being taken by storm, a metaphor for the emotional turbulence that comes with the pain of love. He, however, professes his willingness to do anything to save the relationship, including crossing every ocean on a ship of fools to get back home to his lover. Ultimately, the song is a powerful expression of the struggles that come with love and the lengths one is willing to go to fix it.

Line by Line Meaning

Sailing dark waters
Navigating through a difficult situation

Amid rocks of despair
Facing obstacles and difficulties

Sailing dark waters
Continuing to push through the tough times

Through a stormy affair
Dealing with a tumultuous romantic relationship

Sailing dark waters
Persisting despite the odds against success

I ain't goin' nowhere
Determined to see things through to the end

Set adrift on the river of dreams
Feeling lost and unsure about the future

Between the devil and the deep blue sea
Caught between two difficult choices

I've thrown my love amid the rocks of despair
Invested in a relationship that is facing challenges

Trying to redeem a little small born affair
Working to make things right and restore a damaged relationship

But baby if you want me to
Willing to do whatever it takes