"Port of Morrow, you know, I don't know too much about what the actual place is," Mercer said to Spinner about the titular port of call. "I know it's an industrial port over here in Portland, Oregon. What I do know is at the end of every tour when we return home to Portland, in eastern Oregon you pass this little sign and it says 'Port of Morrow' and it's something about the mood that you're in at the end of the tour and just the strange evocative nature of that phrase.
It ended up being a line in the song 'Port of Morrow' that, to me," he added, "ended up symbolizing the exit point of everyone's life... which is death. So that's what 'Port of Morrow' is about: death and mortality and understanding that's what awaits you and the strange dichotomy of life being beautiful and engaging and fascinating and wonderful, but also dark."
Mercer concluded: "I think that's something in the last few years that I've come to realize - that strong artistic experiences are always coupled. There's always a moment of beauty with its fragile and transient nature."
Port of Morrow
The Shins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under the Fremont bridge I saw a pigeon fly
Fly in fear from the raptor come to take its life
And as it closed in for the capture
I funneled the fear through my ancient eyes
To see in flight, what I know are the bitter mechanics of life
A fact of life I know to hide from my little girls
I know my place amongst the bugs and all the animals
And it's from these ordinary people you are longing to be free
My hotel and on the TV
A preacher on a stage like a buzzard cries
Out a warning of phony sorrow, he's trying to get a rise
The cyanide from an almond
Let him look at your hands, get the angles right
Ace of spades, port of morrow, life is death is life
I saw a photograph: Cologne in '27
And then a postcard after the bombs in '45
Must've been a world of evil clowns that let it happen
But now I recognize, dear listeners
That you were there and so was I
Under my hat I know the lines are all imagined
A fact of life I must impress on my little girls
I know my place amongst the creatures in the pageant
And there are flowers in the garbage, and a skull under your curls
The Shins’ “Port of Morrow” is an insightful contemplation of life, death, and the beauty and brutality of the world around us. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of a rainy day under the Fremont bridge, where the singer observes a pigeon fleeing from a predatory raptor. Inspired by this interaction, the singer reflects on the harsh realities of life, and the way we all struggle to survive in a world that can be cruel and unpredictable. The chorus of the song, “life is death is life,” underscores this sentiment and emphasizes the cyclical nature of existence.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more philosophical tone, pondering the nature of reality and the ways in which we construct our own perceptions of the world. The singer notes that “the lines are all imagined,” suggesting that our understanding of the world is shaped by our own perceptions, biases, and assumptions. This realization is both liberating and overwhelming, as it forces us to confront the limitations of our own knowledge and the vastness of the unknown.
Throughout the song, The Shins use vivid imagery and poetic language to explore these complex themes, ultimately leading to a haunting and enigmatic conclusion. Despite— or perhaps because of— the harsh realities of life, there is beauty to be found in unexpected places, “flowers in the garbage and a skull under your curls.”
Line by Line Meaning
Through the rain and all the clatter
Despite the noise and chaos around me, I noticed something significant.
Under the Fremont bridge I saw a pigeon fly
I saw a bird flying in fear under the bridge, trying to escape its predator.
Fly in fear from the raptor come to take its life
The bird was afraid of the raptor that was chasing it to kill and eat it.
And as it closed in for the capture
As the raptor was getting closer to the bird for the attack,
I funneled the fear through my ancient eyes
I observed the scene with my wise and experienced eyes.
To see in flight, what I know are the bitter mechanics of life
I recognized the harsh reality of life represented by the bird trying to survive and the predator trying to kill for survival.
Under my hat it reads "The lines are all imagined"
I have a message written under my hat that reminds me that many things that seem real are actually just illusions.
A fact of life I know to hide from my little girls
I try to protect my young daughters from the harsh truth of life.
I know my place amongst the bugs and all the animals
I am aware that I am part of the natural world where everything has a place and purpose.
And it's from these ordinary people you are longing to be free
I understand that sometimes people want to escape from their everyday life and seek something extraordinary.
My hotel and on the TV
I was in my hotel room watching TV.
A preacher on a stage like a buzzard cries
I saw a televangelist preaching in a manner that seemed like a vulture preying on innocent people for their money.
Out a warning of phony sorrow, he's trying to get a rise
The preacher was pretending to be sympathetic and caring, but he was only trying to manipulate people's emotions for his benefit.
The cyanide from an almond
The poison from a seemingly harmless almond.
Let him look at your hands, get the angles right
The preacher was asking people to show him their hands to examine their lines and angles to make predictions about their future.
Ace of spades, port of morrow, life is death is life
Life and death are intertwined and unpredictable, just like a game of cards or a journey to an unknown destination.
I saw a photograph: Cologne in '27
I saw a picture of Cologne from 1927.
And then a postcard after the bombs in '45
I saw a postcard of the city after it was bombed in 1945.
Must've been a world of evil clowns that let it happen
I speculate that the reason for the war and destruction must have been due to the collective foolishness and wickedness of humanity.
But now I recognize, dear listeners
I have come to a realization that I want to share with my audience.
That you were there and so was I
We are all part of the history and the events that shaped the world.
There are flowers in the garbage, and a skull under your curls
Amidst the ugliness and decay, there is still beauty and life to be found, and we all have our own mortality to face.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES MERCER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bluewolf
The greatest album closer I've ever heard the way it contextualises and ties the whole album together is unsurpassed. All while still being a banger.
Mango Soda
This song resurrects some memories, I remember it was my best friends favorite song. What some of us would give for the old times back, eh?
Kristian Kebbe
I saw a photograph: Cologne in '27 And then a postcard after the bombs in '45 Must've been a world of evil clowns that let it happen But now I recognize, dear listeners That you were there and so was I Brilliant lyrics
Are We Still Doing Phrasing
Its more relevant now with people forcing people to do things out of fear
MarkOfTheNorth
This song is as dark, haunting, and mysterious as a rainy autumn afternoon in the Pacific Northwest.
The Egostist
+Mark GP Atherton That reminds me of my ex. Because I'd spent those with her. Damn, song has a sense of lost nostalgia
Tai Thang Cong
MarkOfTheNorth that’s very specific
Violet Lahr
What the fuk
Frank McGovern
@Tai Thang Cong If you've ever spent a November afternoon at Cape Kiwanda you'd know it's very accurate too!
oddfernco
My favorite Shins song. I'm too drunk to handle this gold rn.