or
A Progressive Metal band from Omaha, Nebraska w… Read Full Bio ↴jimmy webb
or
A Progressive Metal band from Omaha, Nebraska with influences including Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Mastodon.
or Indie Rock band from Melbourne Australia actu\ive in the mid nineties and released a cd called "Pick Me Up"
with artwork by Leanne Kingwell
Galveston
Webb Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I still see her dark eyes glowing
She was twenty-one
When I left Galveston
Galveston, oh Galveston
I still hear your sea waves crashing
And I clean my gun
And I dream of Galveston
I still see her standin' by the water
Standin' there lookin' out to sea
And is she waiting there oh for me?
On the beach where we used to run
Galveston, oh Galveston
I am so afraid of dyin'
Before I dry the tears she's cryin'
Before I see, your sea birds flyin'
In the sun at Galveston
At Galveston
Oh, at Galveston
Oh, at Galveston
At Galveston
Hmm, hmm, hmm
Ooh, ooh
The lyrics to "Galveston" by Webb convey a sense of longing and nostalgia for a place and a person that the singer has left behind. Galveston, a coastal city in Texas, serves as a symbol of both the physical location and the memories associated with it. The opening lines depict the lingering presence of Galveston in the singer's mind as they hear the sea winds blowing and see her dark eyes glowing. It suggests that even though they are physically separated from Galveston, the memories and emotions attached to the city are still vivid.
The chorus further emphasizes this by expressing the singer's yearning for Galveston. They hear the sea waves crashing and watch cannon flashes, possibly referring to some kind of military conflict, where they clean their gun. These images create a contrast between the harshness of the present situation and the memories of Galveston, where they dream of being instead.
The lyrics also touch upon the presence of a loved one in Galveston. The singer remembers seeing her standing by the water, looking out to sea, and wonders if she is still waiting for them. The beach where they used to run together is mentioned, evoking a sense of cherished moments shared in Galveston. The fear of dying before reuniting with their loved one and the desire to see the sea birds flying in the sun at Galveston express the emotional depth of their longing and the fear of time slipping away.
Overall, "Galveston" is a wistful and introspective song that captures the lingering emotions and memories associated with a place and a person left behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Galveston, oh Galveston
I am addressing Galveston, a place that holds deep meaning for me
I still hear your sea winds blowing
I can still vividly recall the sound of the winds blowing across the sea in Galveston
I still see her dark eyes glowing
The image of her mysterious and captivating dark eyes still remains in my memory
She was twenty-one
She was a young woman of twenty-one years old
When I left Galveston
It was the time when I departed from Galveston
I still hear your sea waves crashing
The crashing sound of the sea waves in Galveston still resonates with me
While I watch the cannon flashing
As I observe the cannon firing, creating flashes of light
And I clean my gun
I am occupied with the task of cleaning my gun
And I dream of Galveston
My dreams are filled with thoughts and memories of Galveston
I still see her standin' by the water
In my mind's eye, I can still see her standing near the water
Standin' there lookin' out to sea
She was standing, gazing out at the vastness of the sea
And is she waiting there oh for me?
I wonder if she is waiting for my return
On the beach where we used to run
Back on the beach where we spent time joyfully running together
I am so afraid of dyin'
I am filled with fear and apprehension about the prospect of dying
Before I dry the tears she's cryin'
Before I have the chance to comfort her and wipe away her tears
Before I see, your sea birds flyin'
Before I have the opportunity to witness the graceful flight of the seabirds in Galveston
In the sun at Galveston
Underneath the radiant sun in Galveston
At Galveston
In the presence of Galveston
Oh, at Galveston
Ah, the profound impact Galveston has on me
Hmm, hmm, hmm
An expression of reflective contemplation
Ooh, ooh
An expression of deep emotion or longing
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Jimmy L Webb
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Carbon Crank
god, I love this version so much. open guitar tuning and progression full of dissonant sounds and tension, release, tension, and sonically confusing sounds that perfectly reflect the madness of the era. The tuning conveys fear and dread and madness. This is the intent he had behind the song, not Campbell's flag-waving patriotic march. Per Webb, it's "about a guy who's caught up in something he doesn't understand and would rather be somewhere else." and honestly portrayed the feelings of a majority of draftees around the time of the 4000 killed in the 4 months of the Tet Offensive in 1968 (the year I registered for the draft) This is recorded after he had taken home the Grammy's so he keeps the changes to his original lyrics Glen made, but clearly, the intent of this song is the polar opposite to Campbell's version. For those who might be curious here is the verse Webb original wrote.
Galveston oh Galveston
Wonder if she could forget me.
I'd go home if they would let me
Put down this gun and go to Galveston.
Glen changes it to the bravado of "watch the cannon flashing and clean my gun".
By the way. I've been playing a kind of in-between version of this in standard tuning for decades using as many suspensions as I can come up with to create the tension. If someone knows or can figure out the tuning he is using please let me know. I'm a better guitar player than I was when I first tried learning this version.
kathryn linkjendal
I've never heard this version of Galveston sung by the lyricist. It is so much more haunting than the Glen Campbell recording, almost heartbreaking to listen to it sung in this style. Chills.
Plenti Nough
Though I love the popular versions of his songs, I have more so enjoyed him singing his songs.
Nixer Doyle
Jimmy's not just the lyricist. He wrote it. This is the original and Glen Campbell covered it.
Brown 25
He is not just the lyricist, he wrote the music too.
Paul Krupa
I always remember the Glen version growing up as a pop song. Hearing this and listening to the words I am floored. Voice, arrangement, sentiment, so good!
Mary Krupa
I agree, Paul. However, I will always remember Glenn's version as part of the good music memories of my childhood. His uptempo and soaring quality of his voice as it fit this song will always stir me.
Steven Barton
I must have listened to this album a thousand times. It is woven deep into the fabric of my life.
matt jackson
Jimmy Webb has been regarded as one of the greatest pop/country/ballad songwriters for the last 50 years. Time to wake up kids,,,the good stuff is timeless
ReallyInterestingName
what loads of bol locks
ReallyInterestingName
u r saying he is shyte