Swim to the Star
Navigating Despair: Swim to the Star's Poetic Odyssey
Lyrics
The ship went down in calm water
The ship sank in calm waters.
The band played on
Despite the tragedy, the band continued playing.
Women and children float away
Women and children are floating away, possibly in lifeboats or in the water.
Nearer my god to thee
A reference to the hymn "Nearer, My God, to Thee," suggesting a plea for spiritual closeness in the face of danger.
The crew the black gang and men who made her
Refers to the crew, engine room staff, and builders of the ship who are now nameless and gone.
Nameless gone all gone
Everyone mentioned before is gone, emphasizing the loss.
Cry out to the world
An urgent cry to the world, possibly for help or to bear witness to the tragedy.
We're going down we're going down we're going down
Repetition emphasizes the imminent sinking of the ship.
Dead sons lost lovers fathers and brothers gone
Mourns the loss of various family members, emphasizing the human toll.
Belfast Southampton weeping weeping women
References specific locations (Belfast, Southampton) and grieving women.
Over and over and over
Repetition suggests the continuing grief and sorrow.
Ships of state ships of fools
Metaphorical mention of different types of ships, possibly representing societal structures.
Lower the lifeboats the rich sail away
Instructions to lower lifeboats, with the wealthy able to escape while others cannot.
Nearer to god are they
Suggests that those who are closer to God through wealth or status are escaping the disaster.
No power no glory only hope remains
Describes a situation of powerlessness and loss, with only hope remaining.
Swim to the star
An enigmatic line, possibly suggesting a desperate attempt to reach salvation or safety.
Down down in dark water the show goes on
Describes the sinking continuing in dark water, and the show (tragedy) persists.
Cry out to the stars we're going down we're going down
A repeated cry about the impending sinking.
The stars listen
Addresses the stars, possibly symbolizing distant cosmic entities that might be indifferent to human suffering.
The stars listen
Reiteration, emphasizing the stars' passive role in the unfolding tragedy.
And drift away
Concluding line, suggesting a drifting away of hope or life.
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