Ship of Fools
The Doors Lyrics


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The human race was dyin' out
No one left to scream and shout
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon

Everyone was hanging out
Hanging up and hanging down
Hanging in and holding fast
Hope our little world will last

Yeah, along came Mr. Goodtrips
Looking for a new a ship
Come on, people better climb on board
Come on, baby, now we're going home

Ship of fools, ship of fools

The human race was dyin' out
No one left to scream and shout
People walking on the moon
Smog will get you pretty soon

Ship of fools, ship of fools
Ship of fools, ship of fools
Ship of fools, ship of fools, ship of fools
hey, climb on board now
the ships gon' leave you, and I'm far behind




I gotta find my own boat, yeah
Ship of fools, ship of fools

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Doors' song Ship Of Fools are a commentary on the state of humanity at the time of the song's release in 1970. The first verse describes the idea that the human race is dying out, with no one left to scream and shout – a reference to the lack of passion and energy in society. The line "people walking on the moon" suggests that, while humans are capable of great achievements, they may not be focusing on what is truly important. The mention of smog getting people "pretty soon" illustrates the idea that humans are causing their own demise through pollution and environmental destruction.


The second verse continues this theme, with the idea that people are simply "hanging out" and not taking action to prevent the potential downfall of the planet. The line "hope our little world will last" shows that there is a sense of uncertainty and fear about the future. The arrival of "Mr. Goodtrips" suggests that there is a savior figure coming to rescue humanity from its own destruction. The repeated refrain of "ship of fools" is a commentary on the idea that the human race is blindly following a path that will lead to its own destruction.


Overall, the lyrics of Ship Of Fools are a powerful commentary on the state of humanity and the potential for self-destruction. The song warns us of the dangers of inaction and blind following, and calls for us to take responsibility for our actions and work together to create a better future.


Line by Line Meaning

The human race was dyin' out
The world was in a state of decline and deterioration


No one left to scream and shout
There was nobody left to express their discontent or protest


People walking on the moon
Despite the state of the world, humans had managed to achieve incredible feats of progress, like walking on the moon


Smog will get you pretty soon
The pollution and environmental damage caused by human activity was going to have serious consequences if not addressed


Everyone was hanging out
People were just idly passing time, not taking action to address the world's problems


Hanging up and hanging down
People were feeling stuck, not making progress, and not sure what to do


Hanging in and holding fast
Despite the difficulties, some people were doing their best to hold on and not give up


Hope our little world will last
There was a sense of desperation and fear that the world might not survive for much longer


Yeah, along came Mr. Goodtrips
Despite the bleak landscape, there were people trying to provide solutions and hope to the world's problems


Looking for a new a ship
Mr. Goodtrips was searching for a new way forward, a new solution to save the world


Come on, people better climb on board
Mr. Goodtrips was inviting people to join him in this new solution or movement


Come on, baby, now we're going home
Joining Mr. Goodtrips would be like finding a new home, a new place of safety and security


Ship of fools, ship of fools
The world was full of people who were not taking action to save themselves and the planet


Ship of fools, ship of fools
This refrain is repeated to reinforce the idea that the world was full of people who were blindly and foolishly causing destruction


Ship of fools, ship of fools, ship of fools
The repetition of this phrase creates a sense of frustration and sadness about the state of the world


Hey, climb on board now
The song returns to the invitation to join Mr. Goodtrips in his solution to the world's problems


the ships gon' leave you, and I'm far behind
Without action, people will be left behind and the world will continue to deteriorate


I gotta find my own boat, yeah
Some people will need to find their own solutions and chart their own course to survive and thrive


Ship of fools, ship of fools
The song returns to the central refrain, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the state of the world and taking action to save it




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIM MORRISON, JOHN PAUL DENSMORE, RAYMOND D MANZAREK, ROBERT A KRIEGER

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