Land Ho!
The Doors Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Grandma loved a sailor
Who sailed the frozen sea
Grandpa was a whaler
And he took me on his knee

He said, son, I'm going crazy
From livin' on the land
Got to find my shipmates
And walk on foreign sands

This old man was graceful
With silver in his smile
He smoked a briar pipe and
He walked four country miles

Singing songs of shady sisters
And old time liberty
Songs of love and songs of death
And songs to set men free

Yea!

I've got three ships and sixteen men
A course for ports unread
I'll stand at mast, let north winds blow
'Till half of us are dead

Land ho!

Well, if I get my hands on a dollar bill
Gonna buy a bottle and drink my fill
If I get my hands on a number five
Gonna skin that little girl alive




If I get my hand on a number two
Come back home and marry you
Marry you
Marry you, alright!

Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!

Well, if I get back home and I feel alright
You know, babe, I'm gonna love you tonight
Love you right
Love you right

Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!
Ey, land ho!

Overall Meaning

The Doors’s song “Land Ho!” is a track that was composed in 1969 for their album Morrison Hotel. The song is recounted from the perspective of a sailor, who is singing about the sea and the adventures he has had there. The first verse of the song reflects on the sailor’s ancestors, who were also seamen, and the stories they told him. The sailor decides that he needs to find “shipmates” and look for new experiences in foreign lands because he feels like he is losing his mind from spending so much time on the land. The second verse describes an “old man” who used to sing songs about love, death, liberty, and freedom. The chorus talks about the sailor's journey as he sets off to sea on his ship with sixteen men and explores new ports.


The song is filled with a nostalgic feeling that gives it a timeless quality. The nostalgic quality is helped by the inclusion of lyrics about sailors and the sea. The phrase "Land Ho!" is a call of excitement from a person who has been at sea for a long time finally sighting land. Besides, the lyrics also seem to draw on the adventurous spirit of the 1960s, with its themes of freedom and exploration. The overall atmosphere is a celebration of the spirit of adventure and a love for the sea, which is conveyed through the catchy chorus and Morrison's excellent vocals.


Line by Line Meaning

Grandma loved a sailor
The singer's grandmother had an affection for a man who sailed across the sea.


Who sailed the frozen sea
The man Grandma loved was a sailor who traveled across the frozen sea.


Grandpa was a whaler
The singer's grandfather was a whaler, who hunted marine animals for a living.


And he took me on his knee
The singer's grandfather spent time with him, and made him sit on his lap.


He said, son, I'm going crazy
The grandfather stated that he was becoming insane.


From livin' on the land
The cause of grandfather's insanity was his life on dry land.


Got to find my shipmates
The singer's grandfather wants to reunite with his fellow sailors.


And walk on foreign sands
Grandpa plans to travel to other lands and beaches.


This old man was graceful
The singer's grandfather had a calm and elegant disposition.


With silver in his smile
The grandfather had shining teeth or maybe was even wearing dentures.


He smoked a briar pipe and
Grandpa used to smoke a briar or tobacco pipe, which was an act of leisure.


He walked four country miles
The grandfather enjoyed long walks, and could walk for four miles at length.


Singing songs of shady sisters
Grandpa liked to sing songs about deceitful women.


And old time liberty
The songs he sang talked about an era when freedom was prioritized.


Songs of love and songs of death
The songs were not restricted to any particular theme and covered everything from love to death.


And songs to set men free
Some of the songs he sang wanted freedom for people.


I've got three ships and sixteen men
The singer implies he is a sailor with three ships in which sixteen men sail.


A course for ports unread
The singer is sailing towards an unknown port.


I'll stand at mast, let north winds blow
Singer affirms that he will stand at the mast, braving the harsh north winds.


'Till half of us are dead
The crew of the ship must face the prospect of the untimely death of half of them during the journey.


Land ho!
The crew spots land, and it arouses excitement and hope among the sailors.


Well, if I get my hands on a dollar bill
The singer says that upon receiving a dollar bill in his hands,


Gonna buy a bottle and drink my fill
he would buy a bottle of drink and drink it to his heart's content.


If I get my hands on a number five
If he gets his hands on five dollars,


Gonna skin that little girl alive
he would outcast someone, hatefully referring to them as a little girl.


If I get my hand on a number two
If he has two dollars,


Come back home and marry you
He promises to come home and marry the woman he loves.


Marry you
He echoes double affirmation of his promise.


Marry you, alright!
He adds emphasis to his promise and affirmation.


Ey, land ho!
The excitement and joy of the sailors continue at the sight of land.


Well, if I get back home and I feel alright
The singer suggests that upon reaching home, if he feels okay,


You know, babe, I'm gonna love you tonight
he would be with his loved woman, showering her with love.


Love you right
He added reassurance and affirmation of his love.


Love you right
he repeats his promise of loving her right.


Ey, land ho!
Like a shout of joy and relief, sailors exclaim eye, land ho! and their adventure comes to a close.


Ey, land ho!
The sight of land rejuvenated the sailors, and they cry out in excitement and joy for the last time.


Ey, land ho!
The sailors continue to shout in exhilaration, their adventure was coming to a happy end.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: Jim Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Raymond D Manzarek, Robert A Krieger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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