The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
Battleships
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When will you carry me home take it back to the start when you knew me
'Cause when you talk to me that way, I'll be a million miles away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
When will you figure it out that you aren't always right little darlin'
When will you figure it out that it's not worth the fight little darlin'
'Cause when you can't think what to say, you go and throw it all away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
But you're too smart and I'm too dumb
With no heart in the middle
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, falling into the ocean
Ship to shore, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
The song "Battleships" by Travis is a heart-wrenching ballad that speaks of the struggles of a failing relationship. The lyrics use the metaphor of battleships in a river, drifting and sinking, to describe the ups and downs of the relationship. The singer begs the other person to carry them home and take them back to the beginning, when things were simpler and they knew each other better. However, despite their efforts to communicate, they feel like they are a million miles apart, unable to truly connect. The chorus repeats the image of the battleships taking hits and sinking, pointing to the inevitable end of their relationship. The final lines of the song suggest that both parties played a role in the dissolution of their love, and there is no going back.
The lyrics of "Battleships" are powerful, capturing the complex emotions involved in a relationship that is falling apart. The battle metaphors used throughout the song evoke feelings of loss, desperation, and regret. The phrase "battleship down" is particularly poignant, suggesting an irrevocable end to what was once a powerful force. The lyrics also highlight the difficulty of communicating effectively in a relationship, as both partners struggle to make themselves understood. The song ultimately speaks to the pain of accepting that sometimes relationships fail, despite our best efforts.
Line by Line Meaning
When will you carry me home like the wounded star in the movie
Asking when the person will take them back to the time when things were good and they felt valued and loved.
When will you carry me home take it back to the start when you knew me
Asking the person to go back to the early days of their relationship when they were happy and in love.
'Cause when you talk to me that way, I'll be a million miles away
When the person communicates in a negative or hurtful manner, it emotionally distances them from their partner.
I guess it's just another day in love
Implying that their relationship is not going well and that arguments and difficulties are a regular part of their daily life.
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Comparing themselves to battleships, which are powerful but can also be destroyed, suggesting they are strong but also fragile as a couple.
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Describing their relationship as being hit by various problems and difficulties, and losing the battle. It's critical to turn things around before it's over.
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
They are close to drowning with negative emotions as they can't separate their feelings of love and hate. Although they both know it's too late to make things right.
When will you figure it out that you aren't always right little darlin'
Asking their partner to realize and accept that they are not always correct.
When will you figure it out that it's not worth the fight little darlin'
It's not worth engaging in pointless or meaningless arguments.
'Cause when you can't think what to say, you go and throw it all away
Whenever their partner runs out of options for resolving a problem or expressing emotions, they end up just giving up entirely and ruining everything.
But you're too smart and I'm too dumb
The whole problem is because the other person is smart, and they are not smart enough to figure things out or resolve conflicts.
With no heart in the middle
Empty space exists between them, with no consideration for each other's feelings or emotions.
Overboard, falling into the ocean
A metaphor for giving up altogether and falling into despair and hopelessness.
Ship to shore, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Using the ship to shore radio to signal they have given up fighting and it’s too late to save their relationship. They are drowning in a sea of conflicting emotions.
Battleship down
Their relationship has now sunk and failed to survive - this is referenced repeatedly to signify the end.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: FRANCIS HEALY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Raymond Wal Parulian Siahaan
still one of the sweetest sounds out there.
ahh.
i ever gave this song to someone special.
until i did her wrong, and we decided to "sail" again.. .
i wonder how do you do,
my missed battleship...
Ali Sende
When will you carry me home like the wounded star in the movie
When will you carry me home take it back to the start when you knew me
'Cause when you talk to me that way, I'll be a million miles away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
When will you figure it out that you aren't always right little darlin'
When will you figure it out that it's not worth the fight little darlin'
'Cause when you can't think what to say, you go and throw it all away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
But you're too smart and I'm too dumb
With no heart in the middle
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, falling into the ocean
Ship to shore, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
Dylan
This is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard, period.
Marta Zambruno
Fran's voice is simply delicious
Jeremy Jenner
Can't believe he was just a random arts student brought into the band by chance, man was born to be a singer
JD
@Milena Lubińska da ima bas lep glas :p
Milena Lubińska
His voice is like velvet
Patricia Louzada
Tenho sensações incríveis com Travis. A maior banda da minha vidaaaaa
Ultari
I'm rediscovering Fran's beautiful vocals once again 💛
Rob D
Forgot how much I liked getting drunk to Travis in the nutty 90s
Daniel Raymond Wal Parulian Siahaan
still one of the sweetest sounds out there.
ahh.
i ever gave this song to someone special.
until i did her wrong, and we decided to "sail" again.. .
i wonder how do you do,
my missed battleship...
Ali Sende
When will you carry me home like the wounded star in the movie
When will you carry me home take it back to the start when you knew me
'Cause when you talk to me that way, I'll be a million miles away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
When will you figure it out that you aren't always right little darlin'
When will you figure it out that it's not worth the fight little darlin'
'Cause when you can't think what to say, you go and throw it all away
I guess it's just another day in love
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down
But you're too smart and I'm too dumb
With no heart in the middle
We're battleships, driftin' in our wee river
Takin' hits, sinking it's now or never
Overboard, falling into the ocean
Ship to shore, drownin' in a sea of love and hate but it's too late
Battleship down