Let Her Go Down
The Hollies Lyrics


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Sometime in October
we sailed from England's shore
When we sailed into a raging storm
like I never ever seen before
And all of the crew they were brave men
but the captain he was braver
and he said
"Never mind the ship me boys
There's none of us here can save her"

Let her go down Swim for your lives
Swim for your children swim for your wives
Let her go down Let her go down

Lost in the open ocean
there was some of the crew and me
while the captain steered our wounded ship
to the bottom of an angry sea
And with his dying breath
we all heard him say
"It's just the fortune of sailor"
and he said
"Never mind the ship me boys
There's none of us here can save her"

Let her go down Swim for your lives
Swim for your children swim for your wives
Let her go down Let her go down

He wondered if his shipmates
were ready to just pray and give in
so he called their names out one by one
but there was no one else around but him
He saw the ship go down the fading light
and he knew that they could have saved her
He said
"The captain lied when the captain cried
'There's none of us here can save her' "

Let her go down Swim for your lives
Swim for your children swim for your wives
Let her go down Let her go down

Swim for your lives
Swim for your children swim for your wives




Let her go down Let her go down
Swim for your lives

Overall Meaning

The Hollies's song "Let Her Go Down" is a story of a group of sailors who set sail from England's shore in October and encounter a raging storm like they've never seen before. Despite the bravery of the crew, the captain knows that they cannot save the ship and instructs them to abandon it and swim for their lives, their children, and their wives.


As the ship sinks, the captain steers it to the bottom of the sea, sacrificing his life for his crew. The remaining sailors watch as their shipmates drown and the ship disappears into the fading light. The singer questions the captain's decision to let the ship go down and believes that they could have saved her. He also implies that the captain lied when he said none of them could save the ship.


The lyrics of the song convey a sense of terror and desperate action that is expected in such a situation. The captain's sacrifice for his crew and the singer's questioning of his leadership abilities are poignant elements that make the song memorable.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometime in October
At some point during the month of October


we sailed from England's shore
We departed from the shores of England on our vessel


When we sailed into a raging storm
As we were sailing, we entered into a severe storm


like I never ever seen before
The storm was unlike anything I had ever witnessed


And all of the crew they were brave men
Every member of the crew was courageous


but the captain he was braver
However, the captain stood out as even more courageous


and he said
The captain spoke the following words


"Never mind the ship me boys
"Do not worry about the ship, my fellow shipmates


There's none of us here can save her"
There is none amongst us who can salvage the vessel


Let her go down Swim for your lives
Abandon the ship and save yourselves by swimming


Swim for your children swim for your wives
Swim for the ones you love, particularly your kids and spouse


Lost in the open ocean
We found ourselves adrift in the vast ocean


there was some of the crew and me
Some members of the crew, together with me, was present


while the captain steered our wounded ship
Amidst all this, the captain guided our damaged ship


to the bottom of an angry sea
Until it eventually sank to the depths of an angry sea


And with his dying breath
As he was taking his final breaths


we all heard him say
He said these words that we all heard


"It's just the fortune of sailor"
"This is just the luck of a sailor"


He wondered if his shipmates
He questioned whether his fellow crew members


were ready to just pray and give in
Were ready to just give up and hope for divine intervention


so he called their names out one by one
So he called out each crew member's name individually


but there was no one else around but him
However, no one responded as there was no one else present


He saw the ship go down the fading light
He observed the ship as it sank into the depths, as daylight was fading


and he knew that they could have saved her
He realized that together they could have salvaged the ship


He said
He expressed the following words


"The captain lied when the captain cried
"The captain spoke falsely when he said


'There's none of us here can save her' "
"That none of us present can rescue the ship"


Swim for your lives
Swim for your lives


Swim for your children swim for your wives
Swim for your loved ones, especially your children and spouse


Let her go down Let her go down
The ship is doomed and should be left to sink




Contributed by Asher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jackophil

I've just discovered this gem; I'd never heard it before. They kept it well hidden. A superb vocal by Mr. Clarke, a great Tony Hicks guitar riff, wonderful harmony singing,, and the usual commanding drumming from Mr. Elliott.. I listened to the Steeleye Span version and enjoyed it, but I prefer this interpretation. I admit however that for me The Hollies can do no wrong. I would love to have heard Clarkey sing it live.

veraluciasc

Muito bom, como tudo que os Hollies fazem e a voz linda de Allan Clarke, obrigada por postar.

ne007ne

10 out of 10 brill group underated in 70s till now

David Purcell

The other B side from this era, Musical Pictures, was also a little known gem. I wish they could have stayed together for another album.

kallioney

Love this version, I like Steeleye 's rendering too, but The Hollies is the better version.

Kelda Ogg

I tear up every time I hear this song. Makes me think of the sinking of the Pride of Baltimore in 1986.

dissy diss

brilliant bit of folk by the hollies ty for this clip

Nancy Benefiel

I've loved the Steeleye Span version for decades but this is good too

b44ts

As a Hollies fan I would have to say the Steeleye span is probably the best version because of its simplicity. However, I think there is room in the world for both versions and I will not be cutting my throat over it ({+ )

Fred Cooper

Only released on the B side of Stop in the Name of Love in Australia. Better than most of the tracks they did with Nash in 1983; didn't deserve its obscurity.

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