Native Nod was one of the pioneering bands from the early '90s which helped… Read Full Bio ↴Native Nod was one of the pioneering bands from the early '90s which helped define the anxious, inordinately sincere roaring hardcore sound soon known as "emo," before that word fell into disrepute. Fronted by Chris Leo (brother of Ted Leo), who would later go on to form The Van Pelt and The Lapse, Native Nod featured many of the raw elements which would distinguish Leo's later bands: manic, skewed, spoken word and screamed vocals, nervous live-wire guitar playing, steady high-speed percussion, and a feeling of unbridled energy mixed with supreme angst, like these musicians wanted nothing more than to be able to jump out of their skins. Native Nod's legacy consisted of only nine songs, which appeared on three early '90s seven-inches, "Bread," "Answers," and "Lower GI Bleed," and a Vermiform compilation called Fear of Smell. They're all collected on the Gern Blandsten album "Today Puberty, Tomorrow the World". It's a definitive recording from the formative days of the emo scene. In 2022, Numero Group announced that they were reissuing the band's discography as part of their 90s month.

High Tide In Alaska
Native Nod Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

The Aleutian lies
Decaying
And decrepit
At the bottom
Of the Bering Strait.

The force of the waves
Was too much for its walls,

But the captain called for more.
"Pour on another eighty thousand pounds," he cried,

"Come on, bring it on.
Bring on another eighty thousand pounds to our already full load
So I can watch their suffocating bodies

Make one final gasp at freedom before we tear those
Motherfuckers apart."
As the ship sank to the bottom,

The attack took nine unexpected, nine human lives, and it's labeled
A tragedy. I call it revenge. Sweep your water across the hull; I can't stomach the sight.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Native Nod's song High Tide In Alaska depict a tragic incident that took place in the Bering Strait where a ship sank to the bottom, taking the lives of nine people with it. The song describes the Aleutian, which was a decaying and decrepit ship that was unable to withstand the force of the waves. The captain, however, calls for more weight to be added to the already full load, causing the ship to sink. The lyrics suggest that the captain was seeking revenge and enjoyed watching the suffocating bodies of those who were trapped inside the sinking ship.

The song depicts a sense of anger and frustration towards the tragedy that occurred. The use of words like "motherfuckers" and "revenge" indicate the intensity of the emotions being felt by the writer. The lyrics also suggest a deeper message about the cruelty and indifference of the human spirit. The fact that the captain is willing to sacrifice innocent lives for his own gain shows a lack of empathy and compassion for others.

Line by Line Meaning

The Aleutian lies
The Aleutian is inactive and motionless.

Decaying
It is deteriorating and breaking down over time.

And decrepit
It is old, worn-out, and in need of repair or replacement.

At the bottom
It is situated at the bottom of the sea.

Of the Bering Strait.
It is located in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia.

The force of the waves
The strength of the water currents hitting the structure.

Was too much for its walls,
It was too weak to withstand the pressure of the water.

But the captain called for more.
The captain demanded additional weight to be added to the load.

"Pour on another eighty thousand pounds," he cried,
The captain demanded more weight despite the danger.

"Come on, bring it on.
The captain urged the crew to add the weight.

Bring on another eighty thousand pounds to our already full load
Add even more weight to the ship's already heavy load.

So I can watch their suffocating bodies
The captain wants to see the suffering of those on board the ship.

Make one final gasp at freedom before we tear those
The captain wants to see the people suffer before they die.

Motherfuckers apart."
The captain is filled with hate and anger towards those on board.

As the ship sank to the bottom,
The ship eventually sank due to the added weight.

The attack took nine unexpected, nine human lives, and it's labeled
Nine people died as a result of the captain's actions, considered a tragic incident.

A tragedy.
The incident was a sorrowful and unfortunate event.

I call it revenge.
The singer believes the incident was more than a tragedy; it was an act of revenge.

Sweep your water across the hull; I can't stomach the sight.
The singer is repulsed by the sight of the sunken ship and doesn't want to see it anymore.

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS