When the Ship Comes In

Bob Dylan

About When the Ship Comes In

"When the Ship Comes In" is a folk music song by Bob Dylan, released on his third album, The Times They Are a-Changin', in 1964. Joan Baez states in the documentary film No Direction Home that the song was inspired by a hotel clerk who refused to allow Dylan a room due to his "unwashed" appearance (he was not famous outside of the folk movement at this time). The song then grew into a sprawling epic allegory about vanquishing the oppressive "powers that be". Another inspiration was the Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill song, "Pirate Jenny". According to biographer Clinton Heylin, "When The Ship Comes In" was written in August 1963 "in a fit of pique, in a hotel room, after his unkempt appearance had led an impertinent hotel clerk to refuse him admission until his companion, Joan Baez, had vouched for his good character". Heylin speculates that "Jenny's Song" from Brecht and Weill's Threepenny Opera was also an inspiration: "As Pirate Jenny dreams of the destruction of all her enemies by a mysterious ship, so Dylan envisages the neophobes being swept aside in 'the hour when the ship comes in'." Dylan's former girlfriend Suze Rotolo recalls that her "interest in Brecht was certainly an influence on him. I was working for the Circle in the Square Theater and he came to listen all the time. He was very affected by the song that Lotte Lenya's known for, 'Pirate Jenny'."Shortly after Dylan wrote the song, he and Baez performed it together at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963, as heard on Dylan's Live 1962-1966: Rare Performances From The Copyright Collections album (2018). Dylan later performed the song at Carnegie Hall on October 26, 1963; this performance was included on The Bootleg Series Vol. 7: No Direction Home: The Soundtrack (2005). 


Year:
1964
3:18
315 
#9

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Oh, the time will come up
When the winds will stop
And the breeze will cease to be breathin'
Like the stillness in the wind
Before the hurricane begins
The hour that the ship comes in

And the seas will split
And the ship will hit
And the sands on the shoreline will be shaking
Then the tide will sound
And the wind will pound
And the morning will be breaking

Oh, the fishes will laugh
As they swim out of the path
And the seagulls they'll be smiling
And the rocks on the sand
Will proudly stand
The hour that the ship comes in

And the words that are used
For to get the ship confused
Will not be understood as they're spoken
For the chains of the sea
Will have busted in the night
And will be buried at the bottom of the ocean

A song will lift
As the mainsail shifts
And the boat drifts on to the shoreline
And the sun will respect
Every face on the deck
The hour that the ship comes in

Then the sands will roll
Out a carpet of gold
For your weary toes to be a-touchin'
And the ship's wise men
Will remind you once again
That the whole wide world is watchin'

Oh, the foes will rise
With the sleep still in their eyes
And they'll jerk from their beds and think they're dreamin'
But they'll pinch themselves and squeal
And know that it's for real
The hour when the ship comes in

Then they'll raise their hands
Sayin' we'll meet all your demands
But we'll shout from the bow your days are numbered
And like Pharaoh's tribe
They'll be drownded in the tide
And like Goliath, they'll be conquered

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan ( /ˈdɪlən/; born Robert Allen Zimmerman; May 24, 1941) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, poet and artist. He has been an influential figure in popular music and culture for more than five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly reluctant figurehead of social unrest. A number of Dylan's early songs, such as "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They Are a-Changin'", became anthems for the US civil rights and anti-war movements. Leaving his initial base in the culture of folk music behind, Dylan's six-minute single "Like a Rolling Stone" has been described as radically altering the parameters of popular music in … more »

32 fans

Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


13 facts about this song

Song Inspiration
"When the Ship Comes In" was inspired by an incident where Bob Dylan was denied a room in a hotel.
Album Debut
The song first appeared on Dylan's third studio album, "The Times They Are a-Changin'" which was released in 1964.
Lyric Poetry
Dylan's lyrics in the song are regarded as a poetic tale which features numerous sea and ship imagery.
Similarity to Irish Folk Song
It’s been noted that Dylan's composition has strong similarities with a traditional Irish folk song called 'The Clancy Brothers'.
Live Fortitude
The live version of the song was featured in the concert film "The Other Side of the Mirror: Bob Dylan Live at the Newport Folk Festival 1963–1965."
Civil Rights Era
The poetic justice in "When the Ship Comes In" is believed to have been heavily inspired by the Civil Rights Movement in America, as Dylan was active in the movement.
Chorus Mystery
The chorus of the song is left open-ended when sung, with multiple interpretations for what it could mean.
In Popular Culture
The song was used in the 2006 movie, 'Inland Empire,' directed by David Lynch.
Cover Versions
Various artists have covered "When the Ship Comes In" including Peter, Paul and Mary who also performed the song at the 1963 March on Washington.
Literary Reference
The song makes a reference to the poem "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, particularly in its use of sea imagery.
Use in Protests
The song, due to its powerful and poetic justice portrayal, is often used in protests and demonstrations.
Accolade
Rolling Stone magazine ranked Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin'" album, where "When the Ship Comes In" debuted, at number 123 on its list of the 500 greatest albums of all time, highlighting its timeless relevance.
Song Construction
Unlike many of Dylan's other songs, "When the Ship Comes In" follows a traditional verse-chorus structure.

Discuss the When the Ship Comes In Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "When the Ship Comes In Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 29 Mar. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/812829/Bob+Dylan/When+the+Ship+Comes+In>.

    Missing lyrics by Bob Dylan?

    Know any other songs by Bob Dylan? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    When the Ship Comes In

    265.5K
    2,538     43

    Browse Lyrics.com

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    The song "Delilah" by Queen was about Freddie Mercury's...
    A Girlfriend
    B Role Model
    C Mother
    D Cat

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Don't miss Bob Dylan's

    Upcoming Events

    »
    Bob Dylan tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io


    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!

    Movies soundtrack

    When the Ship Comes In

    »