According to the Nantucket Sleighride (To Owen Coffin) Songfacts, in Britain, "Nantucket Sleighride" was used as the theme music (instrumental only) for the political/current affairs TV programme Weekend World.
it also features (respectively) on love child timeless cd album although not originally on the eighties record replaced child in time on the recently mastered cd version as a bonus track
Nantucket Sleighride
Mountain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't try following me
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
'Cause you know I'm coming home soon
My ships' leaving on a three-year tour
The next tide will take us from shore
Windlaced, gather in sail and spray
Fly your willow branches
Wrap your body round my soul
Lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets
There are years behind us reaching
To the place where hearts are beating
And I know you're the last true love I'll ever meet
Starbuck's sharpening his harpoon
The black man's playing his tune
An old salt's sleeping his watch away
He'll be drunk again before noon
Three years sailing on bended knee
We found no whales in the sea
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
'Cause we'll be in sight of land soon
The song "Nantucket Sleighride" by the rock band Mountain is a poetic and melancholic tale about a sailor leaving his lover behind as his ship heads out to sea on a three-year tour in search of whales. The opening lines of the song, "Goodbye, little Robin-Marie, don't try following me" are a heartbreaking goodbye, urging his lover not to follow him and continue to live her life while he is away. He reminds her to not cry, as he will be coming home soon.
The lyrics describe the harsh reality of life at sea as the ship sets sail in search of the mighty sperm whale. The sailor urges his lover to "fly your willow branches, wrap your body round my soul, lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets" as a symbol of their love, which will sustain him while he is away. The sailor also reflects on the years gone by, reaching the place where hearts are beating, and acknowledges that his lover is the last true love he will ever meet.
The second half of the song shifts back to the realities of life on the ship. "Starbuck's sharpening his harpoon, the black man's playing his tune, an old salt's sleeping his watch away, he'll be drunk again before noon" paint a picture of sailors going about their daily routines while they are on the hunt for whales. The song ends on a hopeful note, as the sailors are in sight of land again and the sailor urges his lover not to cry, as they will be reunited soon.
Overall, "Nantucket Sleighride" is a powerful and emotional song about love and loss, set against the backdrop of the harsh realities of life at sea.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodbye, little Robin-Marie
I'm leaving, Robin-Marie.
Don't try following me
Don't try to stop me from leaving.
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
Don't be sad, Robin-Marie.
'Cause you know I'm coming home soon
I'll be home before you know it.
My ships' leaving on a three-year tour
I'm going on a long sea voyage that will last three years.
The next tide will take us from shore
We will leave when the next tide comes in.
Windlaced, gather in sail and spray
The wind is strong, and we need to prepare the ship for the journey.
On a search for the mighty sperm whale
We are sailing to find and hunt the sperm whale.
Fly your willow branches
Wave goodbye using willow branches.
Wrap your body round my soul
Hold me close and never let me go.
Lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets
Put your musical instruments down and come to bed with me.
There are years behind us reaching
We've been together for a long time.
To the place where hearts are beating
A place where two hearts beat as one.
And I know you're the last true love I'll ever meet
I know I'll never love anyone as much as I love you.
Starbuck's sharpening his harpoon
Starbuck is preparing to hunt whales.
The black man's playing his tune
The black man is playing his music.
An old salt's sleeping his watch away
An old sailor is sleeping when he should be on watch.
He'll be drunk again before noon
He'll start drinking again soon.
Three years sailing on bended knee
I've been sailing for three years.
We found no whales in the sea
We haven't found any whales to hunt.
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
Don't be sad, Robin-Marie.
'Cause we'll be in sight of land soon
We'll be able to see land soon.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FELIX PAPPALARDI, GAIL COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ChuckDeFuque
Goodbye, little Robin-Marie
Don't try following me
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
'Cause you know I'm coming home soon
My ships' leaving on a three-year tour
The next tide will take us from shore
Windlaced, gather in sail and spray
On a search for the mighty sperm whale
Fly your willow branches
Wrap your body round my soul
Lay down your reeds and drums on my soft sheets
There are years behind us reaching
To the place where hearts are beating
And I know you're the last true love I'll ever meet
Starbuck's sharpening his harpoon
The black man's playing his tune
An old salt's sleeping his watch away
He'll be drunk again before noon
Three years sailing on bended knee
We found no whales in the sea
Don't cry, little Robin-Marie
'Cause we'll be in sight of land soon
@michaelkearney2186
How is this song not hailed as one of the all time great classic rock songs??
@hughjarrse
It is by the people who like it๐
@tonysharples6233
It is. I say so. Mountain's claim to immortality.
@mtntime1
Because all they knew how to do was play Mississippi Queen, over. And over. And over again.
@michaelkearney2186
@mtntime1 uh, no. Not sure where you're getting that from dude
@mtntime1
@Michael Kearney How many times did you hear this song on classic rock? (none).
It was always Mississippi Queen, they played it to death!
@pegasusmetalman4354
This song is a symphony, I've probably listened to it here on YouTube more than 100 times. It brings visions of sailors battling waves, restless tides, & ultimate love which one is unsure of seeing again. This song is a masterpiece & definitely underrated & should be heard by more.
@tbrother3494
Absolutely!!!
@experiencewoodstock4884
The genius of Felix Pappalardi
@Booker775
Felix's bass lines are incredible, the phrasing is outstanding!