Trying to articulate love, much less define it, is nearly as difficult as it is for me to put into words what certain songs mean to me. Often it’s just a feeling that takes me over, filling up all the spaces inside of me, settling in somewhere warm, and permanent. These kinds of songs, well, they stick around and take up residency in my heart – just like certain people in my life have.

I end up wanting to keep them with me forever. 

At least that songs, that is.

“The Ship Song”, originally by Nick Cave, is one of those songs.

“The Ship Song” (live) by Amanda Palmer
from the album, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under (2011)

“Come sail your ships around me,
and burn your bridges down.,
We make a little history, baby
every time you come around.”

“The Ship Song” (live) by Amanda Palmer
from the album, Amanda Palmer Goes Down Under (2011)
Song Of The Day – February 2, 2011

The first time I heard the original “The Ship Song”, by Nick Cave, I was overtaken by it. The live version of Nick Cave singing it was what I first heard. It was breathtaking. It knocked the wind right out of me – like the way I felt as a little girl falling off the jungle gym at the park, landing hard on my back, almost seeing stars. 

It wasn’t stars I almost saw with the song. No. It was memories, the muscle and skin and physical kind that still echo sometimes when a certain scent, taste, or in this case song stirs a long-gone love back again.

I had to sit down. I had to listen, and listen, and listen. 

And just like love, the “little mystery to me” in this song was something both spellbinding, and beautiful.

This cover by Amanda Palmer, recorded live, steals away my breath, too.

The first time I heard the original of this song, by Nick Cave, I was overtaken by it. It was the live version of the song, and I remember it just knocked the breath out of me. I had to sit down. I had to pay attention. I had to listen, and listen, and listen again. And just like love, the “little mystery to me” in this song, is something both spellbinding, and beautiful.

As a bonus, here is the live version I first heard from Nick Cave – the one that had me gasping for air and feeling everything.