[Intro] [Ambient open sea, distant wind] [Old wooden hull creaking, loose metal fitting knocking irregularly] [Detuned acoustic guitar, very sparse] [Whispered male baritone, close and intimate] The bridge is empty… Helm left alone to turn… [Brief silence, distant water against the hull] [Whispered, almost spoken] Where has the Skipper gone? [Verse 1] [Fragile low male baritone, restrained and weary] [Sparse acoustic guitar, subtle tape warble] We sailed on charts our fathers drew Compass true, the wind it knew Harbors marked with steady hands Dreams that held like anchor lands [Verse 2] [Soft vintage organ enters, faint distant creaking] [Melancholic, almost nostalgic vocal] Mothers sang the old sea shanties Told us storms would make us strong Every tide had purpose in it Every dusk led back to dawn [Verse 3] [Low fuzzy bass slowly emerges] [Voice grows more tired, not louder] [Metallic rattling somewhere below deck] Now the maps are torn and faded Rudder spins without a guide We drift in circles, salt-stained faces Chasing lights that slip aside [Chorus] [Slow, hypnotic pulse] [Soft muffled drums, fuzzy bass, distant doubled vocals] [Melody simple, weary and circular] [Vocals clearly in foreground] Golden hulls have rusted through Time keeps spinning, nothing new We chase the same old ocean blue Round and round, round and round Ooh-ooh, nowhere bound [Instrumental Interlude] [No vocals] [Detuned guitar repeats a small broken melody] [Wooden timbers groan in the rhythm] [Loose chain knocks irregularly] [Low sea wind swells, then recedes] [Music remains sparse and uneasy] [Verse 4] [Drums nearly disappear] [Close, fragile baritone, almost spoken] The wheel keeps turning slowly Though no hands are holding on We were told the sea would take us home But the stars have all gone wrong [Bridge] [Voice nearly breaks, restrained and exhausted] [Single wavering organ note, distant hull creaks] [Long pauses between lines] There's a voice inside the engine There's a knock beneath the floor Someone's walking on the upper deck But no one's there anymore And the wheel keeps turning slowly Though no hands are holding on We were told the sea would take us home But the stars have all gone wrong [Break] [All instruments stop] [Only dark water and faint wind] [Whispered, distant, almost lost] Skipper? [Long silence] ...Skipper? [Final Chorus] [Soft drums and fuzzy bass return, subdued and distant] [Weary doubled vocals, no powerful climax] [The music feels worn out, slowly falling apart] Golden hulls have rusted through Time keeps spinning, nothing new We chase the same old ocean blue Round and round, round and round Ooh-ooh, nowhere bound [Outro] [Instruments gradually fall away] [Only distant guitar harmonics, wind and creaking wood] [Whispered male baritone, almost inaudible] Ooh-ooh, nowhere bound Ooh-ooh, nowhere bound [Long pause] [One final wooden creak] [Whispered] Where has the Skipper gone? [Sea ambience continues alone] [No resolution, no fade into hopeful music]
