Formed in 2006 over pints of cheap beer at East Vancouver’s notoriously violent Ivanhoe Hotel, The Dreadnoughts cut their teeth in the roughest dive bars in the city. They started by opening for (and earning the praise of) celtic-punk grandfathers The Real McKenzies, and since then have never looked back. Hauling a fiddle, an accordion, a mandolin, a tin whistle, guitars and drums into every venue that would have them, they quickly became known for their powerful, chaotic live performances. In three short years they have slowly but surely joined the ranks of Canada’s punk rock heroes.
Paulina
The Dreadnoughts Lyrics
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Awake tonight, and I know she's coming soon
She's coming soon
The ghost of fair Paulina
I followed you 'till my shoes were rotting thin
I followed you for what you could have been
You could have been
My fair Athena
Soren K. and his Regina
Now I have seen the deepest blue
And nothing else will do
Just you
Paulina
I've seen better days
Paulina
Since you gone away
I watched the days reflected in your eyes
The summer passed and leaves began to die
Began to die, why oh why Paulina
Heart in my throat, my little fingers crossed
I delayed, and that is how I lost
Oh how I lost
My only Seraphima
Mea Regina
Ulysses and Athena
Now I have seen the deepest blue
And nothing else will do
Just you
The Dreadnoughts' song "Paulina" is a hauntingly beautiful tribute to a lost love. The lyrics describe the singer's deep longing and sorrow for a woman named Paulina. The first two lines "Awake tonight in the silence of the moon, Awake tonight, and I know she's coming soon" evoke a sense of anticipation and waiting. The singer's love for Paulina is so strong that he expects her presence even in the quiet of the night.
The chorus "Paulina, I've seen better days, Paulina since you gone away" expresses the deep sense of loss and heartbreak. The singer longingly remembers his time with Paulina and how life was better with her presence. The lines "I followed you 'till my shoes were rotting thin, I followed you for what you could have been" suggest that Paulina was someone the singer deeply believed in. However, something went wrong, and they were not able to be together. The singer's heart is still full of love for Paulina, but she is gone, and he is left with nothing but memories.
The lyric "Now I have seen the deepest blue, And nothing else will do, Just you" suggests the depth of the singer's love for Paulina. He has experienced everything life has to offer, but nothing can replace her presence in his life. The song is a melancholic tribute to a love that was not meant to be.
Line by Line Meaning
Awake tonight in the silence of the moon
I am awake tonight as I wait for Paulina, and the only sound I can hear is the silence of the moon
Awake tonight, and I know she's coming soon
I am awake tonight, and I am certain that Paulina will arrive soon
She's coming soon
Paulina is about to arrive
The ghost of fair Paulina
I refer to Paulina as a ghost because she is no longer with me physically, but I still feel her presence
I followed you 'till my shoes were rotting thin
I pursued Paulina relentlessly until my shoes were worn out from chasing her
I followed you for what you could have been
I was chasing Paulina not for what she was at the moment, but for what she could have become
You could have been
I had great hopes for Paulina's potential
My only Seraphima
Paulina was my only angelic being, my bright spot in a dark world
My fair Athena
I saw Paulina as a wise and powerful goddess
Soren K. and his Regina
Referring to Soren Kierkegaard and his muse, Regina Olsen, who similarly had an unrequited love story
Now I have seen the deepest blue
I have reached the deepest depths of sadness
And nothing else will do
Nothing would make me feel better except Paulina's presence
Just you
Only Paulina can fulfill my longing
Paulina
Addressing Paulina directly
I've seen better days
I used to be happier before Paulina left
Since you gone away
I have been feeling the absence of Paulina since she left
I watched the days reflected in your eyes
The passing of time was evident in Paulina's eyes, which I observed closely
The summer passed and leaves began to die
Just like the summer had to come to an end, everything around me was dying, including my love for Paulina
Began to die, why oh why Paulina
I can't comprehend why Paulina and my love had to fade
Heart in my throat, my little fingers crossed
I was highly anxious and hopeful that Paulina would reciprocate my love
I delayed, and that is how I lost
My procrastination caused me to miss out on the opportunity to be with Paulina
Oh how I lost
I regret missing out on the chance to be with Paulina
Mea Regina
Meaning 'my queen' in Latin, I saw Paulina as a queen-like figure in my life
Ulysses and Athena
Referring to the epic love story of Ulysses and his wise, loyal, and powerful goddess partner, Athena
Contributed by Owen K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.