Sail On, Little Girl, Sail On
Sailing Away from Love's Turmoil
Lyrics
My gal gon' sail
Expresses that the speaker's romantic partner is going to sail away.
To some foreign distant land
Specifies that the destination of the partner's journey is a distant foreign land.
My gal gon' sail
Repeats the idea of the partner sailing to a foreign distant land.
To some foreign distant land
Reiterates the partner's journey to a foreign distant land.
An' I'm gon' be
States the speaker will become another woman's man in the partner's absence.
Some other woman's man
Repeats the idea that the speaker will be involved with another woman while the partner is away.
Said on, sail on, little girl, sail on
Encourages the partner to sail on despite the circumstances.
Go on, sail on, little girl, sail on
Reiterates the encouragement for the partner to keep sailing.
You gon' keep on sailin'
Indicates that the partner should continue sailing until the loss of their happy home.
Till you lose yo' happy home
Emphasizes that the partner will continue sailing until the home becomes unhappy or is lost.
When that mean old train
Describes the departure of the partner through the metaphor of a mean old train carrying them away.
Carried my gal away, befo'
Reiterates the departure of the partner via a mean old train.
When that mean old train
Restates the idea of the partner being carried away by a mean old train.
Carried my gal away, befo'
Echoes the departure of the partner by the mean old train.
I was young and wild
Reflects on the speaker's past, emphasizing youth and ignorance.
People, I didn't know
Clarifies that the speaker didn't know much during their young and wild days.
I could change my mind
Expresses the speaker's ability to change their mind and love someone else.
And love somebody else
Repeats the speaker's capacity to change their mind and love another person.
I could change my mind
Emphasizes the speaker's potential to change their feelings and love someone else.
And love somebody else
Reiterates the idea that the speaker can change their mind and love a different person.
I lived in misery
Confesses that the speaker lived in misery and takes responsibility for it.
But I brought it on, myself
Admits that the speaker brought misery upon themselves.
But I'm so glad
Expresses relief and happiness that the speaker no longer feels the way they used to.
I don't feel that way, no mo'
Reiterates the speaker's gladness for not feeling the same way anymore.
But I'm so glad
Emphasizes the speaker's joy at not experiencing the previous feelings anymore.
I don't feel that way, no mo'
Repeats the idea of the speaker no longer feeling the way they did before.
If she can stand to leave me
States that if the partner can leave, the speaker can endure seeing them go.
I can stand to see her go
Reiterates the speaker's ability to withstand the departure of the partner.
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