Fiona Apple — O Sailor
Album: Extraordinary MachineAvg rating:
Your rating:
Total ratings: 639
Length: 5:30
Plays (last 30 days): 0
share
tweet
I'm undecided about you again
Mightn't be right that you're not here
It's double-sided, cause I ruined it all
- But also saved myself, by never believing you, Dear
Everything good, I deem too good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward to
Has a pretty painful and very imposing before
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
- Just cause I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do, but spend my best
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in its wake, appeared the touch and call
Of a different breed
One who set to get me wise, and got me there
And then, got me
And what a thing, to know what could be instead
Oh, what a blessed curse; to see
It took the agenda from its place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Giving me eyes to view it
As it goes by the boards
Mightn't be right that you're not here
It's double-sided, cause I ruined it all
- But also saved myself, by never believing you, Dear
Everything good, I deem too good to be true
Everything else is just a bore
Everything I have to look forward to
Has a pretty painful and very imposing before
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
I have too been playing with fifty-two cards
- Just cause I play so far from my vest
Whatever I've got, I've got no reason to guard
What could I do, but spend my best
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
And after waiting, fighting patiently on my knees
All the other stuff tired itself out first, not me
And in its wake, appeared the touch and call
Of a different breed
One who set to get me wise, and got me there
And then, got me
And what a thing, to know what could be instead
Oh, what a blessed curse; to see
It took the agenda from its place in my bed
Made a merry paramour of me
O' Sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Saying there's nothing to it
And then letting it go by the boards
O' sailor, why'd you do it
What'd you do that for
Giving me eyes to view it
As it goes by the boards
Comments (152)add comment
ok HATE fiona...
I do enjoy Fiona Apple on occasion, but there's a sameness to many of her songs that keeps me from digging deeper into her work. Seriously - isn't this the same melody from "Shadowboxer"?
I have actually never heard this one, I like it! She is one of those artists that are wonderful in small doses.
Mandible wrote:
um, what? A weight problem as in, she weighs 90 pounds and needs to eat a sandwich?
Perhaps anorexia or bulimia is the problem. Your comment speaks to your lack of knowledge and sensitivity in regards to eating disorders. My wife had a bout with anorexia in her twenties. The 'just eat a sandwich' comments get really old, really fast.
If only it were that easy.
um, what? A weight problem as in, she weighs 90 pounds and needs to eat a sandwich?
Perhaps anorexia or bulimia is the problem. Your comment speaks to your lack of knowledge and sensitivity in regards to eating disorders. My wife had a bout with anorexia in her twenties. The 'just eat a sandwich' comments get really old, really fast.
If only it were that easy.
The album I own has different versions of all the songs, including this one. I prefer the one I own. This album was released twice. All songs have 2 versions.
Love to hear some of the better examples of her work - the vocals on O Sailor sound amateurish.
mmmmmmmm...nice
When you pick songs from Fiona's collection, can we go beyond this one? Other than her flop of a most recent CD....she has some great songs that just don't seem to get played here. Just this one over and over. 
Not only my cup of tea, but I'll take it with extra lumps. The opening syncopation kills me every time. I love the off-kilter discordant piano too. The song trips over itself in a way that makes all too much sense to me.
Now i'm listening to Elvis singing "...truthful mirror". more interesting rythms, dark lyrics and crazy piano. Thanks Bill!
What's next? Some Tom Waits, perhaps?
Love it.
Love Fionna Apple. She has a very interesting history, if you're ever inclined to check it out. She has a weight problem and struggles with it daily.
Love Fionna Apple. She has a very interesting history, if you're ever inclined to check it out. She has a weight problem and struggles with it daily.
hanssachs wrote:
Dagnabbit -- what is the Randy Newman song they took this piano riff from ... "Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)" from Little Criminals -- Czech it out!
HA! Good catch!
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Why, when there's an attractive female singer, the guys start gibbering about seeing her naked and seeing vaginas in her album cover art and conjuring images of well-hung horses? Have we really sunk so despicably low? Wait. Don't bother answering that. As the Buddhist masters all assert, we live in degenerate times.
BECAUSE WE CAN, ALWAYS HAVE AND ALWAYS WILL. YOU CAN'T STOP IT OR HUMANS DIE, HELLO!!!!!!!!!!
Please make it stop! 
I don't like the piano. Sounds a bit off key
hippiechick wrote:
This album was a disappointment to me, esp after After the Pawn..., which I love
Amen! I loved Tidal also which I got on sale. My fav heroin-chic performer still. She did a live version of Criminal on Letterman a few years ago that was goose-bump producing IMHO.
Best song: Criminal
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Why, when there's an attractive female singer, the guys start gibbering about seeing her naked and seeing vaginas in her album cover art and conjuring images of well-hung horses? Have we really sunk so despicably low? Wait. Don't bother answering that. As the Buddhist masters all assert, we live in degenerate times.
These the same Buddhists doing the violent uprising thing in Myanmar?
"You most likely know it as Myanmar, but it will always be Burma to me. Bonne chance, Elaine. You there on the motorbike! Sell me one of your melons!"
- J. Peterman
This album was a disappointment to me, esp after After the Pawn..., which I love
Awesome song.
ginger wrote:
I'm sort of a fan, and I'm all for musical experimentation and getting away from the same old expected chords -- but those chords in the verses really hurt my ears!
You know what, those chords are just what makes it interesting to me!
Does it mean I'm an insane man or am I just a lover of "just different of the average crap" music? (excuse my french!)
the glass bells remind anyone else of Nibelheim? ;)
My cup of tea.
Not my cup of tea.
ThePoose wrote:
Love to see that Apple pie. Without or without cream (whipped).
Nice try, Herb Alpert. That kind of thing comes along once in a lifetime...
Odd fact - Fiona is the daughter of Brandon Maggart, forever famous to me as Helen's dad in The World According to Garp.
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0535933/
I agree, this song is very dragging and just doesnt make sense. There is absolutly no feeling or emotion in this song. Like a zombie anthem!! scaryginger wrote:
I'm sort of a fan, and I'm all for musical experimentation and getting away from the same old expected chords -- but those chords in the verses really hurt my ears!
I'm sort of a fan, and I'm all for musical experimentation and getting away from the same old expected chords -- but those chords in the verses really hurt my ears!
Man I don't get the hate . I've only heard a couple of her songs but I haven't heard anything that was bad yet. Am I missing something?
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Why, when there's an attractive female singer, the guys start gibbering about seeing her naked and seeing vaginas in her album cover art and conjuring images of well-hung horses? Have we really sunk so despicably low? Wait. Don't bother answering that. As the Buddhist masters all assert, we live in degenerate times.
Despicably low? We are human beings. We have genitals and hormones and it's perfectly right and natural to get fired up when we see a beautiful person.
I love Buddha and meditate regularly, but I am not into the sexual repression some "Buddhists" (and Hindus and Catholics and...) somehow see as pure or enlightened.
It's repression.
...and I doubt any Buddhist master would despise someone for expressing their sexuality. Remember the great Buddhist value called compassion?
Alpine wrote:
Nice pic. Like to see her naked.
Love to see that Apple pie. Without or without cream (whipped).
Methinks you need to settle down a little bit and find yourself a good man.
Alpine wrote:
Nice pic. Like to see her naked.
Is that a Michael Scott quote or something?
why is she always singing the same song?
Nice BROAD sweeping generalization. Pun intended. I'll take up the sword!
First, I don't find Fiona attractive in the least. I guess you have to like the binge and purge type.
That said, the album cover is very organic and has what appears to be some type of plant reproductive parts.
Methinks you need to settle down a little bit and find yourself a good man.
Odyzzeuz wrote:
Why, when there's an attractive female singer, all the guys start immediately gibbering about seeing her naked and seeing vaginas in her album cover art. Have we really sunk so despicably low? Wait. Don't bother answering that. We live in dark times.
Why, when there's an attractive female singer, the guys start gibbering about seeing her naked and seeing vaginas in her album cover art and conjuring images of well-hung horses? Have we really sunk so despicably low? Wait. Don't bother answering that. As the Buddhist masters all assert, we live in degenerate times.
Alpine wrote:
Nice pic. Like to see her naked.
Yeah. That'll happen.
MrCaps wrote:
That cover photo always conjures up for me an image of a green vagina with teeth.
ahahahahahaha
''By the boards'' is an fun little nautical term. Boards, of course, as a synonym for planks. To send something by the boards is to heave it over the side.
Apparently I've been struck with a sudden case of tone deafness.
This is a good example of the problem I had with the whole album... good idea repeated about seven times too many. Can't decide whether to like it for the good parts or hate it for beating them to death.
Is there ever any doubt when a Fiona Apple song is on? I mean, even before you hear her voice. She's got thirty songs that all sound so much alike. I want to like her, but I want to hear something new.
Fiona fiona fiona...
I've got no problems with your bizarre lyrics and antics, but please. Get a new producer.
Yes, Sailor, you know who you are. Why DID you do it?
"The cover art (a plant which Apple herself cannot even identify) sums up the album in one word: weird... it is an example of an "extraordinary machine" in the way it sprouts its buds, and features what Apple claims resemble "fists." Furthermore, it is an illustrious representation of Fiona herself.
"Be kind to me, or treat me mean/ I'll make the most of it, I'm an extraordinary machine," sings Apple confidently in the title track...."
From an website about the album
________________________________
When I hear the word "sailor" used I think of ladies in adult entertainment trying to get the attention of their potential clients. Like "howdy there sailor/soldier"
(I dont speak from personal experience)
good sound... im really tired of this song half way through though. first time ive heard it....
ChrisG wrote:
A perfect example of someone I've never latched on to. The only song of hers I've ever liked was 'Criminal'.
Perfect summary, my man.
Monotone, repetitive, sludge.
MrCaps wrote:
That cover photo always conjures up for me an image of a green vagina with teeth.
lol.. hilarious!!
Sure love your peaches
Wanna shake your (apple) tree
I Love RP. But I'm not loving the dissonance of this set - Guess I don't have enough depth to appreciate. I expect others do or Bill wouldn't play.
Medeski, Marting, and Wood - Ice
Fiona Apple - O Sailor
Art of Noise - Moments in Love
Beck - The Information
gandalfbmg wrote:
ah, I loves me some Fiona...
Nice pic. Like to see her naked.
Love this song. Creepy, Dark and Groovey.
A perfect example of someone I've never latched on to. The only song of hers I've ever liked was 'Criminal'.
she's a mean elf!
ThePoose wrote:
Yeah, she should have gotten a male pony.
You mean a male pony that's hung like a horse?
beouda wrote:
This song makes me close my eyes and sway back and forth and get a kind of melancholy ache in my stomach and furrow my brow. I'm feeling it. anyone else?
No, but I have some Kaopectate if you'd like.
... Or Put On Yer Sailin' Shoes? Santa Claus Is Coming To Town? Sailin' Into Santa Cruz?
rtkmusic wrote:
"Sail On Sailor" would fit perfectly after this...
I would love to hear it too!!
Dagnabbit -- what is the Randy Newman song they took this piano riff from ... "Kathleen (Catholicism Made Easier)" from Little Criminals -- Czech it out!
I'm so sorry so many of you diss this song and Fiona. This song makes me close my eyes and sway back and forth and get a kind of melancholy ache in my stomach and furrow my brow. I'm feeling it. anyone else?
"Sail On Sailor" would fit perfectly after this...
Yep, I'm in the minority. I love this one.
Really sick of this song. Anything else worth playing on this album?
jeffersonpump wrote:
"oh santa why'd you do it? what did you do that for?"
what happened, did poor fiona get a dildo for xmas when she wanted a pony instead?
hiss. claws. scratchy!
Repetitive 
Repetitive
Repetitive Repetitive
Repetitive
Repetitive Repetitive
On the old wooden tall ships the 'board' was the side of the boat. Anything falling off a ship and lost forever was regarded as gone past the board, or 'by the board'.
jeffersonpump wrote:
"oh santa why'd you do it? what did you do that for?"
what happened, did poor fiona get a dildo for xmas when she wanted a pony instead?
Yeah, she should have gotten a male pony.
"oh santa why'd you do it? what did you do that for?"
what happened, did poor fiona get a dildo for xmas when she wanted a pony instead?
SoundsGoodToMe wrote:
It's pretty sad when you have to de-tune your instrument to get a song to be interesting.
I don't like this song, but that's not a well thought out comment. Plenty of good music, from classical on up through pop, require an alternative tuning of an instrument to make it work or get the effect one is looking for.
Heard it so many times here, I had do downgrade it from 3 to 2.
one of my favorite artists. there's just something about her style/lyrical ability that does it for me. on the whole, not as good as Tidal (which is damn near perfect in my opinion), but this album is in my heavy rotation.
ah, I loves me some Fiona...
radiozep wrote:
She should be feeling like a criminal after this one...
mojoman wrote:
Good joke. I wonder how many people will get it, though.
I'm thinking any of the 3+ million people who purchased her first album or for that matter any of the countless millions of people who heard the top 40 single "Criminal" played repeatedly on the radio or tv. Other than that, I'm not sure who will get it either...
...icky 
fiona has wings.
OVER PLAYED!!
I too never have gotten into this CD but adored the first two...
hahah, I take it to many people don't dig Fiona
love her previous cd's, never could get into this one.
radiozep wrote:
She should be feeling like a criminal after this one...
Good joke. I wonder how many people will get it, though.
Alright, Pout Queen Keyboard Princess!
Oh yeah, Vanessa Carlton is not returning my phone calls either.
Sucks out loud. Barely rates a 1
She should be feeling like a criminal after this one...
I like her voice 
I hate her voice.
https://www.slate.com/id/2116932/
Fiona Apple's third album, Extraordinary Machine, looked like it was headed for the pop scrapheap. Completed in May of 2003, it was rejected by her label, Epic Records, on the grounds that the songs weren't sufficiently commercial to justify the expense of their release. After Apple failed in her attempt to write a more salable single, the album was mothballed—destined to be mythologized by devoted fans but otherwise forgotten and unmissed.
whoops.. not cacophony...i meant Dissonant.
Nice Dissonance.
baltimorelovejoy wrote:
nice cacophony; off the beaten path
I bought this CD hoping the show thing wasn't, as you say, cacophonous. Wrong! Fiona takes a bit getting used to. Not a CD in my high rotation.
The musical equivalent of 'straight to video'
Fiona... sounds too hopeless, here. Get a grip, Sweetie, get on with it.
This tune is set up well out of her lower range. I want to cringe whenever she's got to try one of those low notes. Add the boring chorus and I think I'm being generous giving this a 4. She can do so much better.
bbHappy wrote:
I gave this song a 3. I'm thinking of downgrading it even further. It's just so boring.
I cringe everytime this song comes on. My ratings keep getting lower also.
reznorsgrrl wrote:
I'm in that same boat. I was expecting to be hit like I was with Tidal and When the Pawn...but like you, this one has taken some time. Still though, without question, I'm drawn to her style...her voice.
yep. she is so refreshing from what we are used to hearing from most other female artists. i'm a big fan.
I gave this song a 3. I'm thinking of downgrading it even further. It's just so boring.
nice cacophony; off the beaten path
It's pretty sad when you have to de-tune your instrument to get a song to be interesting.
I'm undecided about this song.
Again.
I like this!
ziggytrix wrote:
i thought i didn't care much for fiona, but this latest album has changed my mind.
the song 'window', which has yet to be played on RP, is prolly my fav. :)
window and red red red are great.
i thought i didn't care much for fiona, but this latest album has changed my mind.
the song 'window', which has yet to be played on RP, is prolly my fav. :)
Please, out of all the songs ever recorded, do we really need to waste time on this one?
Good Song. Great Artist. She'll be around a long time if she wants to.
Talent!
panlad wrote:
I don't know about the dancing but the piano is very much in tune.
If you think these chords sound "out of tune" try listening to Thelonius Monk.
I logged on to make that comment. Gratz on beating me to it. It is an interesting sound, but out of sync with the rest of the song. Monk makes it work, in this....it is just...meh.
I'd rather listen to paint dry!
Tired of this song.Like the song, but don't like the wait Fiona put her fans through...
I love fiona! 
Old Bill would remind me of the Grand Old Duke of York, marching us up Upbeat Hill then slithering us back down Dreary Gulch with boring selfindulgent tat like this.
Must be my ears, but this sounds strange. The Piano sounds like Les Dawson is playing (UK comedian who played very well out of tune !)
cptbuz wrote:
could someone PLEASE tune that piano?
saw her open for coldplay last month...forgettable performance by her, and she dances like Elaine on Seinfeld!
I don't know about the dancing but the piano is very much in tune.
If you think these chords sound "out of tune" try listening to Thelonius Monk.
It's a nice track, but is it just me, or is this track being played too much on RP lately? It seems that everytime I listen, this track comes on by...
hutsman wrote:
She sounds so down and dark...nothing wrong with that but she seems to only explore a small area of emotion.
She actually has a song about that on this album. I've never heard her speaking about the meaning of the lyrics but I get the impression it's about the record company wanting her to just sing sad songs that fit the formula:
Please, Please, Please
Please please please
No more melodies
They lack impact, they're petty
They've been made up already
Please please please
No more maladies
I'm so tired of crying
You'd think I was a siren
But me and everybody's on the sad same team
And you can hear our sad brain screaming
Give us something familiar
Something similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady
Steady going nowhere
Please please please
No apologies
At best they buy you time
Until you next step out of line
Please please please
No more remedies
My method is uncertain
It's a mess but it's working
And maybe if you tried it out
You won't like it when you're crying out
Give us something familiar
Something similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady, steady
Steady going nowhere
Please please please
No more melodies
They lack impact, they're petty
They've been made up already
Please please please
No more maladies
I'm so tired of crying
You'd think I was a siren
But me and everybody's on the sad same team and
You can hear our sad brain screaming
Give us something familiar
Something similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady, steady, steady, steady
Steady going nowhere
Please please please
No apologies
At best they buy you time
Until you next step out of line
Please please please
No more remedies
My method is uncertain
It's a mess but it's working
And maybe if you want to try it out
You won't like it when you're crying out
Give me something familiar
Somethin' similar
To what we know already
That will keep us steady
Steady, steady
Steady going nowhere
LadyLovelyLocks wrote:
I really like Fiona Apple's previous albums, and this one is growning on me too - but it's taken many listenings. I liked her edgier work, ie. When the Pawn Hits. This one is jazzier - almost 'old fashioned', and maybe a bit pretentious as a result.
Still her voice is unique, compelling ... lovely and for that reason alone, I own Extrodinary Machine and count myself a fan 
I'm in that same boat. I was expecting to be hit like I was with Tidal and When the Pawn...but like you, this one has taken some time. Still though, without question, I'm drawn to her style...her voice.
could someone PLEASE tune that piano?
saw her open for coldplay last month...forgettable performance by her, and she dances like Elaine on Seinfeld!
Pyro wrote:
I just don't see what people see in Fiona. I don't hate her stuff, but fail to see the allure.
I get your comment, yet I find myself one of those people who likes her music. I think it's because she's got a unique set of pipes. I just like her voice. Better than the lightweight fare of a Liz Phair for example. Wouldn't mind some more upbeat stuff from her, but then again, maybe that wouldn't work for her.
er, um...that'd be no.
Salvagable....at best