Mott the Hoople - Sea Diver

[veatch]

 

 

[veatch]

Beautiful song. Has always been my favorite song on a *very* good album. But I never fully understood the lyrics. Kind of ambiguous, which is fine for art. It leaves it open and personal.

If you do a Google search for the lyrics, you'll get something like this:

On morning shadows you were ill-spent

"It's time", you said, or is it time you went

I tried so hard to leave you

I tried to sleep

The hours you keep

Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil

Ride on my son

Ride on my son

Ride until you fail

Something comes and something goes

And something dies before it grows

And I'm like a sea diver

Who's lost in space

Sweet savage grace. 

Oh Lord I wish I could escape this iron veil

Ride on my son

Ride on my son

Ride until you fail

Edited December 19, 2025 by veatch

[veatch]

This is where it gets fun, at least for me.

I was today years old when I realized he's not saying "Ride on my son."  He's saying "Write on my son."

That completely changes the song.

It's a conversation between him and his muse. Now every line to me makes sense. Somebody prove me wrong...  : )