“A Sailor’s Guide to Earth” is a deeply personal and evocative album by Sturgill Simpson, showcasing his evolution as a songwriter and artist. This guide dives into the lyrics of several key songs, exploring their themes and offering a sailor’s perspective on life, love, loss, and finding meaning in a complex world. We will explore themes of fatherhood, dealing with inner turmoil, and societal observations found within the album.
Welcome to Earth (Pollywog)
The album opens with a heartfelt welcome to Simpson’s son. The lyrics, “Welcome to earth / You may not be my last / But you’ll always be my first,” immediately establish the album’s central theme of fatherhood. It is a touching introduction, expressing both love and regret for not experiencing this sooner, but acknowledging that everything happened as it should.
The song also hints at a spiritual element, with the line “Grandfather always said God’s a fisherman / And now I know the reason why,” suggesting a connection between life, faith, and the cyclical nature of existence. The longing to be present is palpable in the lines, “And if some times daddy has to go away / Please don’t think it means I don’t love you,” revealing the sacrifices and challenges of a touring musician balancing career and family. The raw emotion is amplified by the simple, yet powerful declaration, “holding you is the greatest love I’ve ever known.”
Breakers Roar
“Breakers Roar” delves into the darker aspects of life and the struggle to maintain sanity amidst chaos. The opening lines, “Oh, how the breakers roar / They keep pulling me farther from shore,” paint a vivid picture of being overwhelmed by life’s challenges. The song explores themes of escapism and the allure of the unknown, with the lyrics “So enticing, deep dark seas / It’s so easy to drown in the dream.”
The song also contains messages of hope and resilience, advising listeners to shatter illusions and embrace love. Lines like “Shatter illusions that hold your spirit down / Open up your heart and you’ll find love all around” offer a path towards healing and finding peace amidst inner turmoil.
Keep It Between The Lines
This track offers a series of life lessons, framed as advice from a father to his son. The lyrics cover a range of topics, from avoiding trouble to staying true to oneself. The lines “Don’t turn mailboxes into baseballs / Don’t get busted selling at seventeen” offer practical guidance on staying out of trouble.
However, the song also imparts deeper wisdom, urging listeners to “Keep your eyes on the prize / Everything will be fine / Long as you stay in school / Stay off the hard stuff / And keep between the lines.” It’s about making smart choices and finding a balance in life. The advice to “Keep your head out of the clouds / And remember to be kind” is a reminder of the importance of humility and compassion.
Sea Stories
“Sea Stories” offers a glimpse into the life of a sailor, filled with both adventure and disillusionment. The song begins with a cynical observation: “Basically it’s just like papaw says: ‘Keep your mouth shut and you’ll be fine.'” This sets the tone for a narrative that questions authority and the realities of military service.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the sailor’s experiences, from “Sailing out on them high seas” to exploring exotic locations like Thailand and Japan. However, the song also reveals the darker side of this life, with lines like “Seems like a sailor’s paradise / But turns out to be a bad dream.” The song is a reflection on wasted potential and searching for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.
The song suggests a longing for something more, contrasting the excitement of travel with the emptiness of a life built on lies. The lyrics, “But flying high beats dying for lies / In a politician’s war,” underscore the importance of truth and integrity.
In Bloom
Simpson’s cover of Nirvana’s “In Bloom” takes on new meaning within the context of the album. While the original song critiques the superficiality of fandom, Simpson’s version seems to address the challenges of raising a child in a world filled with violence and ignorance. The repetition of the chorus, “He’s the one who likes all our pretty songs / And he likes to sing along / And he likes to shoot his gun / But he don’t know what it means,” serves as a warning about the dangers of blindly embracing harmful ideologies. It suggests a concern about the potential for innocence to be corrupted by societal influences.
Brace For Impact (Live A Little)
This song serves as a powerful reminder of mortality and the importance of living life to the fullest. The opening lines, “One day you wake up / And this life will be over / Every party must break up / For burdens to shoulder,” confront listeners with the reality of their own limited time.
The song urges listeners to embrace life’s experiences, both good and bad, and to make the most of every moment. The chorus, “Go out and live a little / Bone turns brittle / And skin withers before your eyes / Make sure you give a little / Before you go to the great unknown in the sky,” is a call to action, encouraging listeners to live with purpose and compassion.
All Around You
“All Around You” offers a message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The lyrics acknowledge the inevitability of difficult times, with lines like “There will be days / When the sun won’t shine / When it seems like the whole world is against you.” However, the song also offers reassurance, reminding listeners that they are not alone and that love and connection are always present.
The lyrics suggest a spiritual connection to something larger than oneself. The lines, “God is inside you / All around you / And up above,” offer a sense of comfort and guidance.
Oh Sarah
“Oh Sarah” is a deeply personal love song, revealing the singer’s vulnerability and fear of intimacy. The lyrics express a struggle to connect with a loved one, with lines like “I can’t get past the pain of what I want to say to you / I’m too old now to learn how to let you in.” The song explores themes of insecurity and the fear of being hurt, leading to a pattern of running away from emotional connection.
Despite these challenges, the song also expresses a deep and abiding love. The lyrics, “It’s the love that I feel in your arms / It’s the glow you wear around you like a charm / It’s the tender in your eyes / That keeps me safe and warm at night / From this life,” celebrate the power of love to provide comfort and security in a chaotic world.
Call To Arms
“Call To Arms” is a powerful critique of war, consumerism, and societal apathy. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of a world consumed by conflict and distraction, with lines like “I done Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran / North Korea, tell me where does it end?” The song questions the motives behind war and the sacrifices made in its name, asking “Well the bodies keep piling up with everyday / How many more of them they’re gonna send.”
The song also criticizes the distractions of modern life, with lyrics like “Nobody is lookin’ up to care about a drone / All too busy lookin’ down at our phone.” It suggests that people are so consumed by technology and entertainment that they are blind to the real problems facing the world. The song ends with a call to action, urging listeners to “Turn off the TV / Turn off the news / Nothin’ to see here / They’re serving the blues.” It is a plea for awareness and a rejection of the lies and manipulation that perpetuate conflict and injustice.
