After a short period of playing in local bars and clubs, The Prayer Boat had attracted a cult following in Dublin. Their two albums, Oceanic Feeling and Polichinelle received high praise and commendation from music journals but unfortunately sales were meagre.
Despite not having performed for several years, The Prayer Boat still have a website which is visited by afficionados of the band. The band's achingly beautiful music has found devotees around the world and frontman Emmett Tinley regularly receives emails from passionate lovers of his voice and The Prayer Boat's unique music. Emmett is a truly gifted singer and songwriter, and Melody Maker summed this up when they said of him, 'the man can make a cat's cradle of your heart strings.'
As Emmett has now embarked upon a solo career, releasing his first album, Attic Faith in 2005, and only occasionally sees the other members of The Prayer Boat (with the exception of his brother Patrick) it remains doubtful whether the band will play together in the near future. However, this has never been ruled out, and fans of The Prayer Boat continue to remain steadfast in their loyalty to this highly talented Irish band.
Band members are:-
Emmett Tinley (vocals, guitar, piano, hammond organ)
Patrick Tinley (guitar, charango)
Tony Byrne (bass guitar)
Tim Houlihan (drums)
Polichinelle
The Prayer Boat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said you have a friend in me who knows
That running's not the same for everyone
'Cause if you stay there has to be someone to hold you
Every day, someone to need you
To make a fire out of the gray confusion
You've gone as far as you can go
Everywhere is emptiness
And everyone is loneliness
But I'll help you if you want me to
I'll help you if you let me through
I'll be the one you tell
Let it go Polichinelle
Where's my funny girl?
Are you ready to believe it's true
That everything we love we lose?
Only in your mind can you choose
Not to live again
And you could find your smile tomorrow
Remember what was beautiful
Not the dark inventions of your burning sorrow
There's nothing on the radio
You've gone as far as you can go
Everywhere is emptiness
And everyone is loneliness
But I'll help you if you want me to
I'll help you if you let me through
I'll be the one you tell
Let it go Polichinelle
Run, abandon your name
The lies, the hurt and the blame
Tonight you're standing on the edge
In hopeless tears that only I can hear
The telephone can't bring you here
The Prayer Boat's song Polichinelle is a song about offering comfort and support to someone who is struggling with their emotions. The opening lines reveal the singer's desire to help, to be someone who can understand and offer reassurance. The line "running's not the same for everyone" suggests that people have different responses to difficult situations, and that it's important to recognize and respect those differences.
The chorus reinforces the sense of emptiness and loneliness that seems to be causing the person distress. The repeated line "there's nothing on the radio" suggests a sense of futility, as if there is no escape from the pain. However, the singer offers to be a source of support: "I'll help you if you want me to / I'll help you if you let me through."
The verse beginning with "where's my funny girl?" seems to address the person directly, and the lines "only in your mind can you choose / not to live again" suggest that the person is contemplating giving up. The final lines of the song, "the telephone can't bring you here," reinforce the sense of distance and separation, but also suggest that the singer is trying to find a way to bridge that distance.
Overall, Polichinelle is a song about empathy, about recognizing the pain of others and offering support in the hope of bringing comfort and healing.
Line by Line Meaning
I said the first thing that came into my head
I spoke without thinking deeply about what I was going to say
I said you have a friend in me who knows
I assured you that I am a friend who understands you
That running's not the same for everyone
I explained that not everyone finds solace in running from their problems
'Cause if you stay there has to be someone to hold you
I suggested that if you choose to stay and face your problems, you'll need someone to support you
Every day, someone to need you
You should have someone in your life who relies on you and gives you purpose
To make a fire out of the gray confusion
That person could help turn your confusion into clarity and ignite a passion within you
There's nothing on the radio
There's a lack of meaningful content broadcasting on radio waves
You've gone as far as you can go
You've exhausted all of your options for seeking comfort outside of yourself
Everywhere is emptiness
You feel a sense of void and meaninglessness all around you
And everyone is loneliness
Even those around you may feel isolated and alone
But I'll help you if you want me to
I'm offering my assistance for support
I'll help you if you let me through
But you need to allow yourself to receive that help
I'll be the one you tell
I'll be the person you confide in
Let it go Polichinelle
You need to release your pain and sorrow, named Polichinelle, to move forward
Where's my funny girl?
I'm searching for the person who can uplift my spirits and bring joy to my life
Are you ready to believe it's true
Are you prepared to accept that something can be true despite your reservations?
That everything we love we lose?
Is it possible that everything we hold dear ends up slipping away from us?
Only in your mind can you choose
You have the ability to choose how you perceive the world around you
Not to live again
You can choose not to engage or participate in your life
And you could find your smile tomorrow
But, if you keep an open mind, you might rediscover the joy in life and smile again soon
Remember what was beautiful
Reflect on the beauty you've experienced in your life thus far
Not the dark inventions of your burning sorrow
Don't dwell on the negative or fabricated stories your mind tells you amidst your sorrow and grief
Run, abandon your name
Escape from the identity that is causing you pain and redefine yourself
The lies, the hurt and the blame
Let go of the deceit, pain, and fault-finding that keep you weighed down
Tonight you're standing on the edge
At this moment, you are in a vulnerable and uncertain position
In hopeless tears that only I can hear
You are crying and feeling hopeless, but I'm here to listen and support you.
The telephone can't bring you here
You can't solve everything over the phone; sometimes, you need to be physically present.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EMMETT TINLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind