Harbour
O' Connor Sinead Lyrics
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When everybody's fighting
The street bears no release
With life so hard and biting
I run the stairs away
And walk into the night-time
The sadness flows like water
And washes down the heartache
[Chorus:]
My heart is full
My heart is wide
The saddest songs are played
On the strings of my heart
The heat is on its own
The roof seems so inviting
A vantage point is gained
To watch the children fighting
So lead me to the harbor
And float me on the waves
Sink me in the ocean
To sleep in a sailor's grace
To sleep in a sailor's grace
[Chorus x2]
My heart is full
My heart is wide
The saddest songs are played
On the strings of my heart
In this song, "Harbour", Sinead O'Connor portrays a feeling of wanting to escape from the harsh realities of life by finding solace in the beauty of nature, specifically the ocean. The street represents the everyday problems that people face, and nobody seems to find any release or peace in any of it. It's all just hard and unforgiving, and the sadness it brings seems to be inescapable. Hence, the singer decides to "run the stairs away" and walks into the night, hoping to find some relief.
The lyrics of the chorus suggest that the singer's heart is full and wide, indicating a deep sense of feelings within her. The saddest songs played on the strings of her heart are likely referring to the tragedies and hardships she's been through in life. The heat's own, and the roof seems inviting, indicates that the singer is most likely in a city with its hustle and bustle. The vantage point she mentions means that she takes refuge on the rooftop to watch the children fight. It's mundane to watch children fight, but it seems that the singer associates it with innocence and simplicity, something that is missing in her life.
Finally, she urges to be taken to the harbour to find peace. The ocean symbolizes vastness, beauty, and freedom. She wants to be taken to the point where she can float on the waves, "sink me in the ocean, to sleep in a sailor's grace." It's a metaphorical way of saying that she wants to be absorbed into the vastness of the ocean to find peace and calmness.
Line by Line Meaning
The street bears no release
Despite everyone's conflicts, there is no escape or relief from the struggles of life
When everybody's fighting
Amidst the chaos and conflict in the streets
With life so hard and biting
The difficulties of life are severe and painful
I run the stairs away
O' Connor seeks to flee her troubles by running up the stairs
And walk into the night-time
She seeks refuge in the darkness of night
The sadness flows like water
The pain and sorrow that she feels is overwhelming and constant like the flow of water
And washes down the heartache
The sadness that she experiences helps to heal the pain in her heart
My heart is full
Despite the pain and sorrow, O' Connor's heart is full of emotion
My heart is wide
Her heart is open and receptive to the world and other people
The saddest songs are played
The music that she creates expresses her deepest emotions and sadness
On the strings of my heart
Her music is an expression of the emotions that reside within her heart
The heat is on its own
The heat of the moment and violence in the streets is isolated and alone
The roof seems so inviting
She seeks refuge and escape from the violence on the roof of a building
A vantage point is gained
From the high point of the roof, she has a clear view of the conflicts below
To watch the children fighting
She observes the violence and conflict amongst young people
So lead me to the harbor
O' Connor seeks refuge and peace in a harbor
And float me on the waves
She wants to be carried away by the waves and the calming power of the water
Sink me in the ocean
O' Connor desires to be completely immersed and swallowed up by the ocean
To sleep in a sailor's grace
She seeks the peaceful and grace-filled rest of a sailor who has found calm in the midst of the unpredictable sea
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD MELVILLE HALL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind