I'm a big fan of "Extraordinary Machine." Great album.
Here's the lyrics:
I'm undecided about you again
MIGHTN'T be right that you're not here
It's double-sided, cause I ruined it all
- But also saved myself, BY never believing you, Dear
Everything good, I deem to good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward too
Has a pretty painful and very imposing BEFORE
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' IT go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' IT go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
- Just cause I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do but spend my best
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then letting IT go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' IT go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in ITS WAKE, APPEARED the touch and call
Of a different breed
One WHO SET TO GET ME WISE, AND GOT ME THERE,
AND THEN, GOT ME.
And what a thing to know what could be instead
Oh, what a blessed curse; to see
IT took the agenda from ITS place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' me go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
GIVING ME EYES TO VIEW IT
AS IT GOES by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' IT go by the boards
Oh sailor why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
AND then lettin' IT go by the boards
OH SAILOR,
WHY'D YOU DO IT?
WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?
GIVING ME
EYES TO VIEW IT
AS IT GOES
BY THE BOARDS
OH SAILOR,
WHY'D YOU DO IT?
WHAT'D YOU DO THAT FOR?
GIVING ME
EYES TO VIEW IT
AS IT GOES
BY THE BOARDS
Here's what others have said about the lyric meaning:
user1:
This song obviously has a lot to do with a painful relationship, but it is still ambiguous. Does anyone have ideas about the "by the boards" stuff? What does that allude to?
Btw, her new album is a lot less bitter piano-pounding, more mature reflection. I love both so much. Thank you Sony for finally freeing Fiona!
User 2:She's the "other woman" in this song. She waited patiently for him, probably assuring her that he was leaving his wife, all the while dragging her deeper into love with him. Eventually he's had enough of his paramour (his adulterous lover) and let's her go by the boards (discards her, like something fallen overboard and carried away, thus the sailor reference.)
User 3:I dont think she is necessarily the "other woman", and waiting for him to leave anyone for her. In factm one of the most important point is that sailors tend to never settle down with one woman, and she KNEW this. Basically he was making her empty promises. She won't let herself believe him, cuz its simply "too good to be true" and she was trying to protect herself from being hurt. Obviously she was correct in doing so, because she does say that it ultimately saved her in the end. However, I think you're meant to assume she DID believe him, and thats why it hurts. She feels that he was bound to hurt her, and wise her up to these harsh realities. The card reference is saying she is taking a gamble on the love a sailor, but she's basically "going all in" as they say and spending her best...setting herself up for heartache and dissapointment. A paramour is actually ANY type of ellicit lover, not nesessarily of a married person. Something "going by the boards" is a reference to jetsam, which is something lost at sea.I liken it to when you're with a guy that you know you should be wary of, but you eventually let yourself become vulnerable and trust him, and then of course you get hurt. You knew better, but you took that gamble. The song is much easier to understand if you replace every "by the boards" with "lost".
Personally I think User 3 is probably the most accurate. The guys referred to as a sailor, an illusion to "have a woman in every port" the by the boards was explained by User 3. Anyway, hope this helps.