Land Ho

Album: Morrison Hotel (1970)
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  • Grandma loved a sailor, who sailed the frozen sea
    Grandpa was that whaler and he took me on his knee
    He said: 'Son, I'm going crazy from livin' on the land
    Got to find my shipmates and walk on foreign sands'

    This old man was graceful with silver in his smile
    He smoked a briar pipe and he walked four country miles
    Singing songs of shady sisters and old time liberty
    Songs of love and songs of death and songs to set men free
    Ya

    I've got three ships and sixteen men
    A course for ports unread
    I'll stand at mast, let north winds blow till half of us are dead
    Land ho

    Well, if I get my hands on a dollar bill gonna buy a bottle and drink my fill
    If I get my hands on a number five gonna skin that litlle girl alive
    If I get my hand on a number two come back home and marry you
    Marry you, marry you
    Alright
    Land ho
    [improv out]
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 2

  • Mark from Byrdstown, TnDamn I love it when Morrison screams 'LAND HO!' in the middle of the song.....what a pure voice he had even when screaming at full volume.Ive read he started out with a rather thin timid voice but built it up trying to sing over the din in the clubs The Doors started out in.He built it into the definitive rock voice of all time.
  • Dustin from Waycross, GaThis song represents a return to adventure that has come after years of living in boredom and enduring an unadventurous lifestyle. It reminds me of someone like Ulysses, who when returned to Ithaca found that he entirely missed the adventures he once had and decided that he wanted to venture out once again in his elder age. Perhaps the numbers at the end of the song "If i get my hands on a number 5 gonna skin that little girl alive" refer to grading women on a number scale. 5 being the best or most attractive and 2 being an average looking woman whose best characteristic is that of her provisions, such as making a good wife. Thats why "if i get my hands on a number 2, come back home and marry you". Perhaps the elder adventurer, "grandpa", will find a new love on his new adventures.
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