Here Comes the Flood (Live) [Athens 1987]

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of impending doom, beginning with subtle "early warnings" on the radio that escalate into a full-blown catastrophe. The "stranded starfish" and the inability to "choose a side" suggest a pervasive sense of helplessness and inevitability, as if the characters are already caught in forces beyond their control. This sets a tone of resigned dread, where the only perceived action is passive waiting. The central tension arises from the contrast between the natural world's decay and a violent, almost industrial "flood." The "swollen Easter tide" and "waves of steel" create a jarring juxtaposition, implying that the destruction isn't purely natural but perhaps man-made or amplified by human actions. The image of the "nail sunk in the cloud" is particularly striking, suggesting a piercing, almost biblical finality to the event. The chorus delivers the most potent imagery, framing the flood as a force that demands the abandonment of humanity itself – "goodbye to flesh and blood." The survival strategy is grim: giving up one's "island" implies sacrificing personal space, identity, or perhaps even life itself for a chance at existence. The final line, "Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry," offers a bleak, ironic comfort, urging those who cling to hope or illusion to face their imminent depletion. This lyrical landscape is effective because it builds a palpable atmosphere of dread through unsettling natural and unnatural imagery. The narrative moves from quiet unease to overwhelming disaster, leaving the listener with a sense of profound loss and the chilling realization that survival might require shedding one's very essence.