does anyone know the meaning of lyrics song "ship of fools" by bob seger?

Question

i would like to know the meaning of the lyrics of the song "ship of fools" by bob seger with silver bullet band on album "night moves" year 1976.

Answer 1

Ship Of Fools Lyrics
Album : Night Moves
Artist : Bob Seger

"Tell me quick" said Old McFee
"What's this all have to do with me?"
"I've spent all my time at sea a loner."

"Is there something else I should know?"
"Something hidden down below the level of your conversation?"
Well he turned away before the answer
Though I yelled aloud he refused to hear
It became to clear
So it went as we put out
I was left in constant doubt
Everything I asked about seemed private

The captain strolled the bridge one night
I stopped him in the evening light
To ask him would it be all right to join him

But he stood there like some idol
And he listened like some temple
And then he turned away

All along the fateful coast
We moved silent like a ghost
The timeless sea of tireless host possessed us
The wind came building from the cold northwest
And soon the waves began to crest
Crashing cross the forward deck
All hands lost

I alone survived the sinking
I alone possessed the tools
On that ship of fools♥

Answer 2

Bob Seger's "Ship Of Fools" lyrics

Tell me quick said Old McFee
What's this all have to do with me?
I've spent all my time at sea a loner.
Is there something else I should know?
Something hidden down below the level of your conversation?
Well he turned away before the answer
Though I yelled aloud he refused to hear
It became to clear
So it went as we put out
I was left in constant doubt
Everything I asked about seemed private
The captain strolled the bridge one night
I stopped him in the evening light
To ask him would it be all right to join him
But he stood there like some idol
And he listened like some temple
And then he turned away
All along the fateful coast
We moved silent like a ghost
The timeless sea of tireless host possessed us
The wind came building from the cold northwest
And soon the waves began to crest
Crashing cross the forward deck
All hands lost
I alone survived the sinking
I alone possessed the tools
On that ship of fools

Don't know what to make of that.
I could never decipher poetry either.
Might not be a meaning at all, just some words to good music.

Answer 3

I have viewed this song from a hundred different directions: from literal to completely out there. I like some of the comments and interpretations I have seen here. The key, of course, is in the closing words of the song:"I alone survived the sinking, I alone possessed the tools, on that ship of fools." There are always metaphorical storms and and there are always metaphorical casualties resulting from them. I was always curious about the narrator s view that he was the only one to get out alive of at least one of these storms. In some ways, it s the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Coleridge from which comes the often used metaphor of the albatross around one s neck and the oft quoted line of "water water everywhere but not a drop to drink." The mariner survives by pushing through the doldrums and the thirst that has ravaged the rest of the crew. But Seger s mariner is on a ship that sinks; a circumstance that requires a different skill set than mere perseverance. The sailor s earlier curiosity in asking McFee and then the Captain about certain things and getting no answers either means the sailor is resolved to the solitude offered by the two seemingly older gents or that he keeps digging off screen. Either way, he finds the skills he needs when the going gets rough.

Answer 4

Ship Of Fools Lyrics

Answer 5

Hollywood Nights by Bob Seger

Answer 6

Well, as Bob himself said (paraphrased) during an interview in the 70's, people will make whatever meaning that they want to out of a song. With that said, here's my interpretation:
The narrator has recently joined an organization (middle management I imagine). He is trying to figure out where it's going and how solid it is. He talks to both senior line people and the absolute top of management. He only gets silence or very vague responses. The narrator recognizes that this a sign of an organization on the edge of disintegration and prepares accordingly. The organization crumbles, but because of the narrator's escape plan, he continues to do alright. The purpose of the song is to warn people of the signs of an organization about to fall and to admonish them to have a back-up plan.

Like Bob said, that is just my interpretation. There very well may be more meaningful ones out there.

Answer 7

This is a shot-in-the-dark stab at it: He's on a ship with a shipmate who won't listen and a captain who won't talk, so when the rough waters come the singer is the only one with enough sense to take the appropriate action. Seems to be a metaphor about life -- if you can't relate to other people, you'll be taken down once you hit a rough spot in your life because you'll have no one to warn you of the danger or help you against it.

Answer 8

I think it s about Life itself... He was looking for answers and nobody could give them to him, Nobody would listen.. He knew there was more to life and he had he tools to cope and get through, But nobody would listen,, He seen the trouble brewing and it came harsh and crashing into peoples lives... He had the tools and knowledge to survive and was the only one humble and smart enough to use those tools.. Everyone else perished in the storm of Life..

Answer 9

lets see I don't know but gee ask bob seger....doh