Good Morning, Captain Lyrics

"Let me in," the voice cried softly
From outside the wooden door
Scattered remnants of the ship could be seen in the distance
Blood stained the icy wall of the shore

"I'm the only one left
The storm took them all,"

He managed as he tried to stand
The tears ran down his face
"Please, it's cold"

When he woke, there was no trace of the ship
Only the dawn was left behind by the storm

He felt the creaking of the stairs beneath him
That rose, from the sea to the door

There was a sound at the window then
The captain started (His breath was still)
Slowly, he turned

From behind the edge of the windowsill
There appeared the delicate hand of a child
His face was flushed and timid
He stared at the captain through frightened eyes

The captain reached for something to hold on to
"Help me," he whispered, as he rose slowly to his feet
The boy's face went pale
He recognized the sound

Silently, he pulled down the shade against the shadow
Lost in the doorstep of the empty house

I'm trying to find my way home
And I'm sorry
And I miss you

I miss you
I've grown taller now

I want the police to be notified
But I swear, with this song, I'll make it up to you
I'll make it up to you
I'll make it up to you

I miss you
I miss you
Ah, I miss you
I miss you

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About

Genius Annotation

The closing song to Slint’s final record, McMahan words a narrative of a captain who lost everything, with an explosive coda that drove McMahan off the edge before the bands initial demise.

Alternatively, the song is the capstone to an album about the loss of childhood, and the move to adulthood. The song tells the story of the “Captain” a young man, being the only one among his crew (peers) who lingers after the storm (the switch from childhood to adulthood). He makes one last appeal to his childhood, “the boy”, before having to accept becoming an adult.

The song’s lyrics allude to the Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’, in which a sailor recounts his tale as the sole survivor of a devastating sea voyage that kills the other crew members on board.

“Good morning, Captain” is also the first line of the song “Muleskinner Blues”

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did Slint say about "Good Morning, Captain"?
Genius Answer

Coming of age in Louisville was not easy. For all the liberties we enjoyed as kids, there’s not a creative class. I was just trying to figure out: ‘How am I going to do this?’ My father’s father was a musician. Great guy, but didn’t seem to have two pennies together. Once I started leaving to do tours my parents were not at all happy. My dad in particular was like: ‘This is a huge mistake.’ I have a brother, five years younger. I’m not saying Good Morning Captain’s about him, but those lines, ‘I’m sorry. I miss you’, are informed by leaving Louisville and him behind. I was thinking about my brother having to go through the same experiences as me, when everything was just becoming too much. I don’t even remember being sick. That whole part is just a blur.

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