Island of Souls Lyrics
Billy was born within sight of the shipyard
First son of a riveter's son
And Billy was raised as the ship grew a shadow
Her great hull would blot out the light of the sun
And six days a week he would watch his poor father
A working man live like a slave
He'd drink every night and he'd dream of a future
Of money he never would save
And Billy would cry when he thought of the future
Soon came a day when the bottle was broken
They launched the great ship out to sea
He felt he'd been left on a desolate shore
To a future he desperately wanted to flee
What else was there for a shipbuilder's son
A new ship to be built, new work to be done
[Chorus]
One day he dreamed of the ship in the world
It would carry his father and he
To a place they would never be found
To a place far away from this town
[Verse 2]
Trapped in the cage of the skeleton ship
All the workmen suspended like flies
Caught in the flare of acetylene light
A working man works till the industry dies
And Billy would cry when he thought of the future
Then what they call an industrial accident
Crushed those it couldn't forgive
They brought Billy's father back home in an ambulance
A brass watch, a cheque, maybe three weeks to live
And what else was there for a riveter's son
A new ship to be built, new work to be done
That night, he dreamed of the ship in the world
It would carry his father and he
To a place they could never be found
To a place far away from this town
A Newcastle ship without coals
They would sail to the island of souls
About
A ballad from the perspective of a young Englishman from a generation of shipbuilders who pines for a better future away from the trials and tribulations of a hard life. It tells the story of his father, a riveter, who works long hours in the shipyard while giving the listener images of the dangers of the occupation. Furthemore, it shows how people get stuck working in the job and can never make enough money to save and escape it. The protagonist, Billy, sees his future-self in his father, and turns to drinking to cope with accepting his fate. He dreams of one day escaping to a better life with his father. Unfortunately, his dad dies tragically in a work accident, and Billy is left to hope to finally escape and reunite with his father in Heaven someday. It’s a great story that most of us can universally grasp and apply to our own lives, for who of us doesn’t pine for a better life at times? And who of us has never felt stuck in a rut? Master storytelling from Sting…as usual. :)
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 1.Island of Souls
- 10.Vengo del sur
- 11.Muoio per te
