Drunken Sailor
Slow Gherkin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What do you do with a fucked up flailer
Swabbing the deck and mopping up the boat
With a forty shoved halfway down his throat?
You were drunker (drunker), bolder (bolder),
Slobbering (slobbering) on your shoulder.
Running all around, thinking that you're vogue.
Zack kicks back drinking a Rogue.
Chris starts yelling, "What the hell have I done?"
So Chris kicked you out, said, "You're too damn smashed."
You drove that little Bug home--my God, you nearly crashed!
We should have helped you out, but instead we just laughed.
Now I'll take that crutch away from you
And break it right in half
The song Drunken Sailor by Slow Gherkin is a lively and upbeat song that explores the consequences of excessive drinking. The first two lines of the song pose a question: "What do you do with a drunken sailor? What do you do with a fucked up flailer?" These lines introduce the central theme of the song: the plight of someone who has had too much to drink. Subsequent lines describe the state of the drunk sailor, who is tasked with swabbing the deck and mopping up the boat while struggling to keep a forty-ounce bottle of alcohol down his throat. The song presents a clear and vivid picture of the destructive effects of excessive drinking on an individual's physical and mental well-being.
The chorus of the song is both catchy and memorable, featuring repeated phrases that emphasize the drunken sailor's state of mind: "You were drunker (drunker), bolder (bolder), slobbering (slobbering) on your shoulder. Running all around, thinking that you're vogue. Zack kicks back drinking a Rogue." The singer of the song describes the scene in detail, highlighting the fact that everyone around the drunken sailor is relaxed and having a good time, except for one individual named Chris, who becomes increasingly agitated as he watches the drunken sailor's behavior. The song ends on a bittersweet note, with the singer expressing regret that they did not do more to help their friend, who nearly crashed his Bug on the way home after being kicked out of the party.
Overall, the song Drunken Sailor is a poignant commentary on the dangers of excessive drinking and the negative impact it can have on a person's life. Through vivid and descriptive lyrics, the song effectively conveys the physical and emotional toll that heavy drinking can take on an individual, as well as the impact it can have on those around them.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you do with a drunken sailor?
How to handle a sailor who's intoxicated?
What do you do with a fucked up flailer
What to do with someone who's messed up and flailing around?
Swabbing the deck and mopping up the boat
Cleaning up the boat and doing the necessary chores
With a forty shoved halfway down his throat?
With a forty-ounce bottle of alcohol partly down his throat
You were drunker (drunker), bolder (bolder), Slobbering (slobbering) on your shoulder.
You were even more intoxicated, daring, and drooling on your shoulder
Running all around, thinking that you're vogue.
Running around, thinking you're fashionable or cool
Zack kicks back drinking a Rogue.
Zack relaxed and drank a Rogue beer
Everybody's layed back except for one.
Everybody's relaxed except for one person
Chris starts yelling, "What the hell have I done?"
Chris got angry and shouted, questioning his actions
So Chris kicked you out, said, "You're too damn smashed."
Chris expelled you, saying that you were too drunk
You drove that little Bug home--my God, you nearly crashed!
You drove your small car home, and you nearly had a car accident
We should have helped you out, but instead we just laughed.
We should have helped you, but instead, we just laughed at you
Now I'll take that crutch away from you And break it right in half
I'll take your crutch and snap it in half
Contributed by Xavier K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.