Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: folk
Song Meaning of “Drunken Sailor” by The Irish Rovers
The song “Drunken Sailor” by the Irish Rovers tells the story of a sailor struggling with alcoholism and his subsequent loss of identity. The song begins with a descriptive image of his bleak life aboard the ship: “What’ll we do with a drunken sailor? What’ll we do what’ll we do? Early in the morning?” This image paints a vivid picture of an individual in dire straits, dependent on the indulgence of alcohol.
The sailor is described as having “lost his way”: “Away, way, way, way,” he sings, with a plaintive plea for clarity. The chorus speaks to the futility of trying to help a man who has become trapped by his addiction: “So early in the morning put him in the longboat ’til he’s sober.” The seafaring imagery speaks to the mysterious and inevitable nature of fate.
The sailor is not the only character in the song. A group of class-conscious “gentlemen” is introduced, trying to offer aid and struggling to make sense of the tragedy: “What shall we do with a drunken sailor? Till we get him sober! Heave of ho!” Through these voices, the song provides a cautionary tale about the dangerous consequences of excess.
The final verse reinforces the theme of impermanence. “Let him sleep all night and he’ll be sober in the morning,” the sailor sings, a reminder that even in the bleakest of lives, there can always be hope. The last line of the song conveys the idea that redemption can be found, even in the depths of despair: “What will we do with a drunken sailor? Let him go and let him stay away.”
“Drunken Sailor” presents a moving and thought-provoking story about the power of addiction and the potential for salvation. Through haunting imagery and subtle lyricism, it captures the tragedy of an individual in thrall to their demons, while ultimately offering hope for much-needed healing.