oh captain
dandelion hands Lyrics


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oh captain where are we going
i'm too far from home
oh captain your blood is showing
i pray to god we win this war
(and i don't pray for anything anymore)

oh captain my thoughts are sinking
much like this ship
oh captain what were you thinking
i sure will miss the rain on my window
(and i don't miss anything anymore)

all is fair in love and war
glass bottles outside the corner store




and if they ask we'll give them more
that's what our bad habits are good for

Overall Meaning

The song "Oh Captain" by Dandelion Hands describes the thoughts and fears of soldiers during wartime. The opening verse alone conveys feelings of being lost and unsure about the destination. The use of "oh captain" is meant to indicate that the soldiers are looking to the person in charge for guidance and direction, but the captain himself is flawed and vulnerable, "your blood is showing". The singer, or perhaps one of the soldiers, are praying to God for a victory in the war, yet his skepticism is apparent when he says "and I don't pray for anything anymore".


In the following stanza, the singer compares his thoughts to sinking just as the ship seems to be sinking as well. He questions the captain, asking what he was thinking when they set out to sea. The line "i sure will miss the rain on my window" is a poignant expression of homesickness and nostalgia. The repeated phrase "and I don't miss anything anymore" emphasizes the toll that the war has taken on the singer.


The following lines may seem a bit disconnected from the rest of the song, but upon closer examination, it shows the soldiers acknowledging the sacrifices they may have to make. They understand that in wartime, boundaries are often blurred, as seen in the line "all is fair in love and war". "Glass bottles outside the corner store" could be alluding to the violence often seen in urban areas. They will do what they need to do to survive and protect themselves and their country, regardless of moral codes.


Line by Line Meaning

oh captain where are we going
Asking the leader where the destination is


i'm too far from home
Feeling homesick and far from familiar surroundings


oh captain your blood is showing
The captain is wounded and showing signs of injury


i pray to god we win this war
Expressing hope for victory in the conflict


(and i don't pray for anything anymore)
Acknowledging a loss of faith and trust in prayer


oh captain my thoughts are sinking
Feeling overwhelmed and sinking like a ship


much like this ship
Drawing a comparison to the sinking ship


oh captain what were you thinking
Questioning the leader's decision-making


i sure will miss the rain on my window
Reflecting on the simple pleasures of life that will be missed


(and i don't miss anything anymore)
Acknowledging a loss of ability to appreciate life's small pleasures


all is fair in love and war
Justifying extreme actions in the name of love or conflict


glass bottles outside the corner store
References to common items that can be used as weapons


and if they ask we'll give them more
Willingness to continue the fight and provide more weapons


that's what our bad habits are good for
Implying that the violent tendencies of the soldiers are put to good use in war




Contributed by Anthony D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Rómeó Horváth

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anthony

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