Okkervil River — A Girl In Port
Album: The Stage NamesAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 276
Length: 6:22
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Marie's gone blonde and lost a stone
She lay on her lawn, spun and alone
And, when the morning sun it rose
Upon Marie in her lacy clothes
It lit her up, and she walked around
The winding streets of Camden Town
She don't know who she wants to be
And if I knew, I'd tell Marie
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
And Cindy tells me she's had fun
Sitting backstage, someone's plus one
Up in her room the records spin
Needle in the grooves that she's worn thin
Well, she lifts a sleeve and she sees a name
And she's got a smile on her face
And she's got a story you can't see
That's just between that name and Cindy
And before Holly made her way
Over the sea and far away
She's telling me, inside her car
Driving us back from the Crystal Corner bar
''"I lost it there, I fell from health
Cut some fresh pieces from myself.
And then, for a second, something in me
Said, 'Leave today. It's time, Holly.'"''
Well, I'm a weak and lonely sort
Though I'm not sailing just for sport
I've come to feel, out on the sea
These urgent lives press against me
I'm just a guest. I'm not a part
With my tender head, with my easy heart
These several years out on the sea
Have made me empty, cold, and clear. Pour yourself into me
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Marie's gone blonde and lost a stone
She lay on her lawn, spun and alone
And, when the morning sun it rose
Upon Marie in her lacy clothes
It lit her up, and she walked around
The winding streets of Camden Town
She don't know who she wants to be
And if I knew, I'd tell Marie
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
And Cindy tells me she's had fun
Sitting backstage, someone's plus one
Up in her room the records spin
Needle in the grooves that she's worn thin
Well, she lifts a sleeve and she sees a name
And she's got a smile on her face
And she's got a story you can't see
That's just between that name and Cindy
And before Holly made her way
Over the sea and far away
She's telling me, inside her car
Driving us back from the Crystal Corner bar
''"I lost it there, I fell from health
Cut some fresh pieces from myself.
And then, for a second, something in me
Said, 'Leave today. It's time, Holly.'"''
Well, I'm a weak and lonely sort
Though I'm not sailing just for sport
I've come to feel, out on the sea
These urgent lives press against me
I'm just a guest. I'm not a part
With my tender head, with my easy heart
These several years out on the sea
Have made me empty, cold, and clear. Pour yourself into me
Let fall your soft and swaying skirt
Let fall your shoes, let fall your shirt
I'm not the ladykilling sort
Enough to hurt a girl in port
Comments (64)add comment
This is just drivel! Make it stop.....
Has potential...a bit raw
A boring song sung by a bored band
haresfur wrote:
I don't find the lyrics to be so bad, but the delivery is less than pleasant to me.
Not even a river of port could make these lyrics palatable.
I don't find the lyrics to be so bad, but the delivery is less than pleasant to me.
AlienRelic wrote:
Absolutely. I've got some paint that I need to watch drying......
Well, there is some horrendously boring powerpoint presentation that my boss has been bugging me about checking out. Now's a good time....
Absolutely. I've got some paint that I need to watch drying......
Not even a river of port could make these lyrics palatable.
love this!
kfarrnd wrote:
*Takes the arrow and shoots it in the general direction of Okkervil river in the hope that it puts it out of its misery*
I had no idea the PSD could resurrect songs that are no longer in the rotation. Another arrow in the quiver for RP. Great tune.
*Takes the arrow and shoots it in the general direction of Okkervil river in the hope that it puts it out of its misery*
We need more Okkervil River on RP. Love this song.
I was thinking recently that Okkervil River seems to have dropped from the playlist. This is a terrific album.
JesseJ wrote:
A website that dreadful would *have* to have this in the header:
name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0"
A website that dreadful would *have* to have this in the header:
name="GENERATOR" content="Microsoft FrontPage 4.0"
I had no idea the PSD could resurrect songs that are no longer in the rotation. Another arrow in the quiver for RP. Great tune.
fredriley wrote:
Still with us Freddy?
There's nothing wrong with a sad dirge - as an ex-fan of The Smiths I know that only too well - but for it to catch the ear rather than just drone along you need something interesting going on in the background instrumentals. The (in)famous Smiths song which starts "Oh mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head" (can't remember the title) is the very essence of dirge, but the guitar of Johnny Marr in the background doing interesting things rescues it from sheer drudgery. Sadly, no such interest is evident in the background of this dirge, at least to my ears, so it's off to the mute button before I reach for the scissors to stab myself in the neck to put an end to existential torment...
Still with us Freddy?
There's nothing wrong with a sad dirge - as an ex-fan of The Smiths I know that only too well - but for it to catch the ear rather than just drone along you need something interesting going on in the background instrumentals. The (in)famous Smiths song which starts "Oh mother, I can feel the soil falling over my head" (can't remember the title) is the very essence of dirge, but the guitar of Johnny Marr in the background doing interesting things rescues it from sheer drudgery. Sadly, no such interest is evident in the background of this dirge, at least to my ears, so it's off to the mute button before I reach for the scissors to stab myself in the neck to put an end to existential torment...
Huh? What? Oh, I fell asleep there for a bit.
mandolin wrote:
...this grows on me...
There's medication for that!I liked them better when they were called Counting Crows.
Jamunca wrote:
hahaha!
I heard their concerts are just the band going onstage and crying for an hour and a half.
hahaha!I heard their concerts are just the band going onstage and crying for an hour and a half.
Jimi_the_Saint wrote:
same. it's actually very lovely.
I am not swayed by your negativity, peoples. In fact, I am digging this song. Hard.
same. it's actually very lovely.
I really don't care for this band overall, but I have to say, this song is quite nice.
I note a ten month gap in playing this. Next time go for eleven.
Alexandra wrote:
SPOT ON!
There is a Ray Davies quality to his vocal style. 
SPOT ON!
8.
me likey
There is a Ray Davies quality to his vocal style.
dirge like, a sentient pass at irish meets mariachi after chasing the dragon. last sign at the end of the road.
I am not swayed by your negativity, peoples. In fact, I am digging this song. Hard.
Well, there is some horrendously boring powerpoint presentation that my boss has been bugging me about checking out. Now's a good time....
Overkill!
huebdoo wrote:
It's like 1994 all over
My God why is that Website hidden from the World?
It's like 1994 all over
I can't take much more weeping from this song.
...this grows on me...
joeychick wrote:
This song is at least 4 times better than their other song, "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe."
Let's see, so that's 1 x 4 = 4. Yup.
Yeah, but you said at least 4 times better (up to 10 times better), so you really could have given it anywhere from 4-10, and the chances of a 4 should be 1/7. 7 is the median, and that would give you a reasonable rating of the song, good job!
This is like elevator music to me.
my ratings distribution was getting a bit light on 3's, this fit the bill perfectly.
Nice.
RP introduces me to yet another band I like...
This song is at least 4 times better than their other song, "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe."
Let's see, so that's 1 x 4 = 4. Yup.
Austin Rocks! Three cheers for the Live Music Capital of the World!! much luv to my homeland... 
I want a girl in every port!!! 
Hmmm. Languid, melancholic, alt country. I think I like it.
morgsy67 wrote:
Sounds like Robert Plant on 'ludes
I was thinking it sounded like The Kinks...on 'ludes.
JesseJ wrote:
For those of you from Madison wondering about the line
Yes it's our crystal corner bar they are referring to.
That line gave me pause, I had to come here and see if this had been mentioned. I can't decide if I'm surprised that the Crystal Corner would pop up in a song on RP or not.
this sux big time
Boooooooringyawn
I prefer mine in cognac but that's just me
JesseJ wrote:
For those of you from Madison wondering about the line
Yes it's our crystal corner bar they are referring to.
My God why is that Website hidden from the World?
I can hear sorrow in his voice, it shakes a little ... there is some thought to the lyrics, celtic blues kind of thing going on here... the horns rolling in was a nice touch
Would like to have heard sax and trombone added rather than just all trumpet
That would give it a Van Morrison kind of groove
aprilgirl1457 wrote: 
Note to Aprilgirl: Try Home Slice on South Congress for a pretty decent pie.
morgsy67 wrote:
Sounds like Robert Plant on 'ludes
I'd have to hear more to make an intelligent opinion.
You nailed it!
Sounds like Robert Plant on 'ludes
I'd have to hear more to make an intelligent opinion.
Yay CC Bar! That's my neighborhood:)
I like some of their other stuff but I could do without this one. Cracker does this style of music much better.
For those of you from Madison wondering about the line
"Driving us back...
From the Crystal Corner bar"
Yes it's our crystal corner bar they are referring to.
Good stuff! This is an excellent album.
What a band...
The reference to a record being played with a needle in a groove was surprising... Only us old-timers know what that's about anymore...
FINALLY some Okkervil River on RP....These guys are genius.... I always wondered why they were never played here...I am happy to see that has been corrected. The singer Will Sheff writes for the The Austin Chronicle and his work can be seen here (click here) I am overjoyed to hear one of my favorite groups finally make it to my favorite radio station...well done Bill....
Pretty good sounding. Like Coldplay, I don't know if I could listen to a whole album, I'd give it a go though.
Never heard of this guy but it immediately made me listen up. Thanks for another great discovery RP!