In an interview for the Austin Chronicle in 2007, James Mercer says about “Girl Sailor” :
“That song is loosely based on a relationship with a girl, but there’s a lot of elaboration and fiction to it as well. Musically, it was a song based on a hook: It’s that first [singing], “Da da da dum, bum ba...
The gutter may profess its love
Then follow it with hesitation
But there are just so many of
You out there for rent
A stronger girl would shake this off in flight
And never give it more than a frowning hour
But you have let your heart decide
Loss has conquered you
You've won one too many fights
Wearing many hats every time
But you won't win here tonight
You've made it through the direst of straits alright
Can you help it if plain love now seems less interesting?
You haven't changed an ounce in my eyes
And I cannot lecture you
And does anything I say seem relevant at all?
You've been at the helm since you were just five
While I cannot claim to be more than a passenger
But, you've won one too many fights
Wearing all of your clothes at the same time
Let the good times end tonight
Oh girl, sail her, don't sink her
This time
Just a moment or two from now
Not a mind will retain even a trace
Of the thoughts that I struggled to tell
And how our stack of cards just fell
So settle this once and for all
The light no longer shows the cracks around my door
And I have no lantern to light your way home tonight
You are not some saint who's above
Giving someone a stroll through the flowers
You've got so much more to dream of
Oh girl, sail her, don't sink her
This time
This time
This time
Girl Sailor was written by James Mercer.
Girl Sailor was produced by Phil Ek & Joe Chiccarelli.
The Shins released Girl Sailor on Tue Jan 23 2007.