Song to the Siren – English Lyrics

• By: This Mortal Coil
• Album: It'll End In Tears

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the ethereal world of This Mortal Coil's "Song to the Siren," where haunting melodies and poignant lyrics explore the depths of longing and heartache. This iconic cover, featuring Elizabeth Fraser's mesmerizing vocals, offers a unique opportunity to explore the nuances of dream pop and gothic rock while immersing yourself in a timeless tale of love and loss. Discover why this song continues to captivate listeners with its otherworldly beauty and emotional resonance.

[English]

Long afloat on shipless oceans

I did all my best to smile

'Til your singing eyes and fingers

Drew me loving to your isle

And you sang

"Sail to me, sail to me

Let me enfold you"

Here I am, here I am

Waiting to hold you

Did I dream, you dreamed about me?

Were you here when I was full sail?

Now my foolish boat is leaning

Broken lovelorn on your rocks

For you sing

"Touch me not, touch me not

Come back tomorrow"

Oh, my heart

Oh, my heart shies from the sorrow

Well, I'm as puzzled as the newborn child

I'm as riddled as the tide

Should I stand amid the breakers?

Or should I lie with death my bride?

Hear me sing

"Swim to me, swim to me

Let me enfold you"

Here I am, here I am

Waiting to hold you

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
afloat /əˈfloʊt/ B2	adjective - floating on water; not sinking
oceans /ˈoʊʃənz/ A2	noun - the vast body of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface
singing /ˈsɪŋɪŋ/ A2	noun - the act of making musical sounds with the voice verb - to produce musical sounds with the voice
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - organs used for seeing
fingers /ˈfɪŋɡərz/ A1	noun - one of the five digits of the hand
isle /aɪl/ B2	noun - an island, especially a small one
sail /seɪl/ A2	verb - to travel on water in a ship or boat noun - a piece of material extended on a mast to catch the wind and propel a boat or ship
dream /driːm/ A2	noun - a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep verb - to experience dreams during sleep
foolish /ˈfuːlɪʃ/ B1	adjective - lacking good sense or judgment; unwise
boat /boʊt/ A1	noun - a small vessel for traveling on water
leaning /ˈliːnɪŋ/ B1	verb - to be in or move to a sloping position
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order
rocks /rɒks/ A1	noun - the solid mineral material forming part of the surface of the earth and other similar planets, exposed on the surface or underlying the soil
heart /hɑːrt/ A1	noun - a hollow muscular organ that pumps the blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation
sorrow /ˈsɒroʊ/ B2	noun - a feeling of deep distress caused by loss, disappointment, or other misfortune suffered or encountered by oneself or others.
child /tʃaɪld/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or full physical development
tide /taɪd/ B1	noun - the alternate rising and falling of the sea, usually twice in each lunar day at a particular place, due to the attraction of the moon and sun.
death /dɛθ/ A2	noun - the end of the life of a person or organism

Key Grammar Structures

• Long afloat on shipless oceans

  ➔ Adjective placement before noun (poetic license). Normally, "afloat on shipless oceans for a long time".

  ➔ The sentence uses a more poetic and evocative word order, placing "Long" at the beginning for emphasis. This deviates from standard sentence structure, making it sound more lyrical.

• I did all my best to smile

  ➔ Past simple tense + infinitive of purpose. "Did my best *to* smile" indicates the intention or purpose of the action.

  ➔ "To smile" functions as an infinitive of purpose, explaining why the subject "did all my best".

• Drew me loving to your isle

  ➔ Causative verb "Drew" + Object + Participle. "Drew me loving" implies a powerful attraction. "loving" here functions almost like an adjective describing the *manner* of the drawing.

  ➔ The phrase "drew me loving" is not standard English and a poetic construction. It is more common to say "drew me with love" or "drew me in a loving way". The original phrasing adds to the song's ethereal and slightly unsettling tone.

• Did I dream, you dreamed about me?

  ➔ Past simple interrogative (twice) with embedded prepositional phrase. Questioning the reciprocity of a dream.

  ➔ The line questions whether the speaker dreamed *about* the other person, and if the other person dreamed *about* the speaker, suggesting a deep, perhaps subconscious connection.

• Now my foolish boat is leaning

  ➔ Present continuous tense (is leaning) describes an action happening now. "Foolish boat" is metaphor for the self.

  ➔ The present continuous emphasizes the current state of vulnerability. The "foolish boat" represents the speaker's vulnerable self, metaphorically tilting or on the verge of capsizing.

• Broken lovelorn on your rocks

  ➔ Compound adjective (broken lovelorn). "on your rocks" is a prepositional phrase.

  ➔ "Broken lovelorn" describes the state of being both emotionally shattered and lovesick. "On your rocks" implies destruction or ruin caused by the object of affection.

• Should I stand amid the breakers?

  ➔ Modal verb "Should" expresses suggestion or uncertainty in a question. "Amid" means 'in the middle of'.

  ➔ The question conveys the speaker's indecision whether to confront the turbulent situation or give up. "The breakers" symbolize the tumultuous emotions or obstacles.

• Or should I lie with death my bride?

  ➔ Modal verb "should" expressing uncertainty, an alternative is offered. "Death my bride" is an example of hypallage (transferred epithet) and a metaphor.

  ➔ "Death my bride" is a metaphorical personification of death as a desirable partner, offering an escape from emotional pain. Hypallage is used, as death itself isn't a bride, but rather the concept of being with death is presented in this way.