The song marks a new direction for Jones. She explained in publicity materials: "For this record, I just had a sound in my head. I wanted the grooves to be more present and heavy. And I also just wanted to do something different." She added that the new sound began to present itself on this song, which was one of the first numbers that Jones wrote for the project. "About a year ago, I did some demos in my home studio," she said. "I had some friends come in and we figured out a cool arrangement for 'Chasing Pirates,' with a cool drum part. It went somewhere I didn't expect it to go, and that became a direction to look in."
Jones told Rolling Stone that unlike previous albums, she wrote the songs for The Fall including this one on an acoustic guitar instead of a piano. "It just felt more natural for me to play it on these songs," Jones explained: "I knew I wanted to play with grooves more than I have on previous albums. Some of these new songs lent themselves to having driving rhythms underneath."
Chasing Pirates
Norah Jones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm not done with the night
So I stayed up and read, but your words in my head
Got me mixed up so I turned out the light
And I don't know how to slow it down
My mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
Now an ambulance screams while the silliest things
Are floppin' around in my brain
And I try not to dream up impossible schemes
That swim around, wanna drown me insane
And I don't know how to slow it down
Oh, my mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
And I don't know how, to slow it down
Oh, my mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
My mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
My mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
Norah Jones’s Chasing Pirates is about an individual who cannot slow down their mind, and as a result, they are chasing after "pirates" that are ideas or thoughts that enter their mind. The song starts with a message from a lover that they are going to bed. The individual cannot shut their mind off, so they stay up reading and mulling over every word of the message. The words get mixed, and they eventually turn off the light. The character then hears an ambulance and silly thoughts start to roam around in their brain. The character tries not to get lost in impossible schemes that could drive them insane.
The song's lyrics seem to be about a struggle that many people can relate to, a racing mind that cannot slow down. The person in the song is struggling to control their thoughts, and they feel like they are chasing pirates. The song touches on the fear of being alone and not having anyone to share their thoughts with, which could exacerbate the feeling of anxiety and racing thoughts. One could argue that the singer is struggling with depression or anxiety, and they cannot seem to get out of their head.
Line by Line Meaning
In your message you said, you were goin' to bed
You told me you were ending your day, but I am not ready for it to be over yet.
But I'm not done with the night
I am not ready to let go of the time we have together.
So I stayed up and read, but your words in my head
I tried to occupy myself with something else, but I cannot stop thinking about you.
Got me mixed up so I turned out the light
Your words have made me confused about what I want, so I gave up trying to figure it out.
And I don't know how to slow it down
I am struggling to keep my thoughts and emotions calm.
My mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
My thoughts are running wild, like trying to catch elusive thieves.
Now an ambulance screams while the silliest things
Even though there are important things happening around me, my mind is still preoccupied with trivial matters.
Are floppin' around in my brain
My thoughts feel scattered and disorganized, making it hard to focus on anything.
And I try not to dream up impossible schemes
I am attempting to avoid fantasizing about unrealistic scenarios or outcomes.
That swim around, wanna drown me insane
But even with my attempts to stay grounded, my thoughts are overwhelming and consuming me with madness.
Oh, my mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
I cannot escape the feeling that my thoughts and emotions are constantly slipping away from me, like trying to capture cunning thieves.
My mind's racin' from chasin' pirates
The chaos in my head refuses to calm, like an uncatchable band of pirates fleeing into the night.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Norah Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jennmad10
In your message you said
You were going to bed
But I'm not done with the night
So I stayed up and read
But your words in my head
Got me mixed up so I turned out the light
And I, don't know how
To slow it down
My mind's racing
From chasing pirates
Well, I'm having the squeems
While the silliest thing's
Floppin' around in my brain
And I try not to dream
But them possible schemes
Swim around, wanna drown me in sync
And I don't know how
To slow it down
Oh, my mind's racing
From chasing pirates
And I don't know how
To slow it down
Oh, my mind's racing
From chasing pirates
My mind's racing
From chasing pirates
My mind's racing
From chasing pirates...
@deeyannady7214
2024 anyone? ♥️☕️
@user-ju1xc3to3h
🙋🏾
@diegohb.9155
13 years later and I still love this song
@redpinkynail
Heard this song for the first time while watching House series. Took me 11 years and a covid virus to get here. Merry Xmas everyone.
@pepperpattynaise
Omg same! I knew the song but I completely forgot about it and House brought it to my attention again a few months ago. Nice little coincidence!
@ankitakhadkar739
Same 😝
@Brimujo
@@pepperpattynaise That's what brought me here! 😅
@Jangocat
I generally listen to metal, but when I'm stressed and aggravated nothing calms me down better then Norah Jones. She's just got this smooth mellow vibe to her.
@elnabi7577
same here lol
@metallicafan931
me 3 🤘