The band takes its name from the New Order song "Love Vigilantes," although their sound tends more to folk, Americana, and country rock than New Wave. Their 2001 album Summershine also showed some movement toward Brit-pop and R.E.M.-style college rock, which would be more fully explored in Mallonee's solo career.
S.O.S
Vigilantes of Love Lyrics
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This is it I guess S. O. S.
Slowly took your best as you tried to stay afloat
You swallow what you can and the rest you sugarcoat
The guard just looked away and the moment has her say
She said these storms are too strong on the sea of my winter
Look at me I'm all cursed with this thirst to remember
If my lips touch the host I will be alright
Here's the trapeze act landing in your lap
Kill the safety net S. O. S.
Play hard then we're gone are we still having fun
Then you break for home like jackie robinson
The spirit will take wings adagio for strings
The lyrics of Vigilantes of Love's song "S.O.S" deal with the struggles of life and the need for redemption. In the opening lines, the ticking of the clock crashing upon the rocks symbolizes how time seems to be slipping away from the singer. They realize that this may be their last chance to make things right, hence the use of the phrase "S.O.S." which refers to a distress signal often used in times of danger.
As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is facing some sort of inner turmoil that they are trying to overcome. They speak of feeling overwhelmed and barely staying afloat, but sugarcoating their struggles to others. The guard looking away refers to an authority figure who may have neglected to provide support in a time of need. The singer then speaks of the storms being too strong on the sea of their winter, a metaphor for the harshness of life that is wearing them down.
The song then takes a turn towards the spiritual as the singer speaks of a thirst to remember and the possibility of redemption through their faith. If they can just touch the host, they believe they will be alright. The song ends with a reference to the famous baseball player Jackie Robinson who, like the singer, had to break barriers and fight to be accepted. The final line, "the spirit will take wings adagio for strings," brings together the themes of redemption and liberation as the singer looks towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Ticking of the clock crash upon the rocks
The sound of the clock ticking resembles that of waves crashing on rocks.
This is it I guess S. O. S.
The situation has become critical and help is needed urgently.
Slowly took your best as you tried to stay afloat
Despite trying to hold on, you have been slowly losing your strength and resources.
You swallow what you can and the rest you sugarcoat
You try to make the best of the situation by putting a positive spin on things.
The guard just looked away and the moment has her say
The person in charge has ignored the situation and it has escalated to a critical point.
She said these storms are too strong on the sea of my winter
The storms in her life are too powerful and overwhelming, making it hard to cope.
Look at me I'm all cursed with this thirst to remember
Despite the pain and hardships, the person cannot let go of the memories and experiences.
If my lips touch the host I will be alright
If I engage in religious practices, I will find comfort and peace.
And (don't) we all feel the crush of velvet glove starlight
We all experience the pressure and expectations of society and our own desires.
Here's the trapeze act landing in your lap
Unexpected events and opportunities have presented themselves to you.
Kill the safety net S. O. S.
In order to succeed, you must take risks and let go of your safety net.
Play hard then we're gone are we still having fun
Life is short, so we should make the most of our time and enjoy ourselves.
Then you break for home like jackie robinson
You are determined to succeed and push forward, no matter the obstacles.
The spirit will take wings adagio for strings
The person's spirit will take flight, accompanied by a slow, peaceful melody.
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.