Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: singer-songwriter
Song Meaning of “Ships In The Night” by Mick Flannery
‘Ships In The Night’ is a bittersweet folk-rock song from Irish singer-songwriter Mick Flannery. It tells the story of a relationship in which two lovers feel so alienated by one another that they feel like two ships passing in the night.
The song is reflective and melancholic in nature, as it captures the lonely feeling of love that feels completely distant. It’s one in which two people seem almost like strangers, even though they’re still connected in some way. The narrator expresses his longing for something more in the relationship, a sign that they are actually still connected, but it seems impossible because of their current circumstances.
The narrator’s wistful lyric speaks to the idea that, despite our best efforts, love can slip through the cracks and disappear into the darkness of the night. Just like these two people, so many of us have experienced the same frustrating and isolating sensation of being in a relationship with someone and yet feeling hopelessly alone.
Ultimately, ‘Ships In The Night’ speaks to the struggles we face in our relationships; sometimes, it can feel like we are just passing ships, doomed to a never ending journey of solitude. But, as the narrator hints, even in these moments of despair there is still the hope for something better, something real, in the dawning of the morning light.