The Albatross
Sailing Home: Unveiling the Depths of Rickie Lee Jones' Albatross
Lyrics
There, there is my ship
Refers to the speaker's ship arriving.
Finally come in
Expresses relief or accomplishment that the ship has finally arrived.
I see the mast rolling on the steps
Describes the mast rolling, indicating the ship's presence.
Over the garden wall
Suggests an obstacle (garden wall) overcome, emphasizing arrival.
I hear the sailor's call
Highlights the audible call of sailors, signifying the ship's activity.
I see the albatross
Mentions the albatross, a symbol often associated with journeys and challenges.
Over and down now I'll go home
Expresses the speaker's intention to return home.
Home to my children I left behind
Refers to the children left behind, indicating a familial connection.
Long ago with my mother the moon
References the speaker's past with family, invoking celestial imagery (mother the moon).
That's where my father is
Identifies the father's location, implying a sense of loss or separation.
This broken heart is his
Associates a broken heart with the father, suggesting emotional pain.
Archipelago is turning, turning to strangers
Introduces the theme of change, using "Archipelago" to represent life's transformations.
Here in the world, turning to strangers
Reflects on the world evolving and becoming unfamiliar ("turning to strangers").
Oh, they hold on
Acknowledges the resilience of people ("they hold on") amidst change.
Here, here's where we live
Locates the speaker's current position or dwelling place.
Here is a sea, my family
Describes a sea as family, symbolizing a deep and enduring connection.
We'll always be young as we've ever been
Expresses a timeless, youthful quality within the family bond.
Death will not part us again nearer to heaven than
Asserts that death will not separate the family, emphasizing closeness to heaven.
10,000 ancestors who dream of me
References ancestral dreams, connecting the speaker to a long line of predecessors.
Well I hear you dreaming of me
Acknowledges being the subject of someone's dreams.
Yeah sometimes, dream of me!
Encourages dreaming of the speaker, possibly as a form of connection.
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