“Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around.”
“The Ship Song” showcases Cave’s gift as a romantic crooner with his poetic lyrics – and has been widely covered by other artists. It originally appeared on Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds’ 1990 album ‘The Good Son’. and has recently been voted one of the “Top 30 Best Australian Songs”.
“The Ship Song Project” is a love song tribute to Sydney Opera House’s place in Australia’s cultural fabric. It is a celebration of the artists, architecture and interior workings of this building which has arguably the world’s most famous exterior.
It is also a call to arms to the community at large to come and experience ‘The House’, to come and ‘make a little history’ with the artists and performers that inhabit the iconic landmark.
The effort is meant to showcase the Opera House as a contemporary cultural hub, and over a 10-month period, shot artists and groups performing at the center–including performances by Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah Blasko, John Bell, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly, Teddy Tahu Rhodes , Martha Wainwright, Katie Noonan , The Temper Trap, Daniel Johns –singing the classic Nick Cave ballad.
SOH resident companies also appeared – Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Teddy Tahu-Rhodes with Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Bangarra Dance Company, Bell Shakespeare founder and director John Bell, Richard Tognetti and The Australian Chamber Orchestra.
“I like the imagery of the lyricism of the chorus ‘Come sail your ships around me’. We’re in Sydney, in one of the most beautiful harbours in the world and here’s this iconic architectural masterpiece which houses some of the best music and theatre and art and dance in the world,” said Katie Noonan.
All of the artists featured in the participated voluntarily as a statement of the significance of the Sydney Opera House. CEO Richard Evans was quoted by the Opera House as saying, ”We set out to create a tribute to the house’s role in the global creative community – a love song to creativity if you wish.”
Over 12 months all the artists and companies were asked to join the project by award-winning director Paul Goldman. Goldman is a leading figure in music video, having worked with Kylie Minogue, INXS, Nick Cave, Paul Kelly, Elvis Costello and Crowded House throughout his career.
Goldman shot the project over a 10-month period and it takes viewers on a beautiful, voyeuristic journey through the venue’rehearsal rooms and backstage chasms of the House while capturing each artist in an intimate performance of the same song before his or her evening show. Some are in final rehearsal, some in a quiet moment of reflection.
In addition to this, documentary maker Greg Appel who filmed classic Australian documentaries “Long way to the top” and “Bombora” has directed a 30 minute documentary featuring behind the scenes interviews with the artists, residents and creators of The Ship Song project, to be screened this month on FOXTEL.
The story is narrated by Australian actor, Guy Pearce
Come sail your ships around me // And burn your bridges down // We make a little history, baby // Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me // And let your hair hang down // You are a little mystery to me // Every time you come around
We talk about it all night long // We define our moral ground // But when I crawl into your arms // Everything comes tumbling down
Come sail your ships around me // And burn your bridges down // We make a little history, baby // Every time you come around
Your face has fallen sad now // For you know the time is night // When I must remove your wings // And you, you must try to fly
Come sail your ships around me // And burn your bridges down // We make a little history, baby // Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me // And let your hair hang down // You are a little mystery to me // Every time you come around
