• Track: Almost Prayed
• Artist: The Weather Prophets
• Album: Mayflower
• Year: 1987

Lyrics:

Down by the harbor with my back to the land
I felt my feet sink down in the sand
Down by the harbor standing all alone
I felt my heart grow heavy as a stone
I watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night

Down by the harbor standing all alone
I felt my heart grow heavy as a stone

I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I almost prayed

I traced my steps back through the night
Back through the day all the way to the light
Boats full of cargo ready to unload
Arms of the cranes all ready to hold
l watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night

I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I almost prayed

Back in the same place but everything’s changed
I walk the same roads but they’e not the same
Back by the harbor with my back to the land
Block out the sadness with the palm of my hand.
l watched the swans in diesel river
And struck a match and watched it burn against the night

I almost prayed
I almost prayed
I almost prayed

Get It:

Mayflower is no longer available new (though if you must have it, you could spend $50 for a used copy). However, Blue Skies & Free Rides: The Best of the Weather Prophets is available for far less:

If you could’ve peeked into my living room window in 1987, you’d have seen a lanky, dorky high school kid flailing around his living room, dancing to this song and other new wave/modern tracks on MTV’s 120 Minutes.

The Weather Prophets were a short-lived band fronted by Peter Astor, who later went on to solo fame, particularly in Europe. The jangly, infinitely happy melody hides a dour message (something new wave bands of the day excelled in doing) that isn’t exactly clear.

Turn it on, turn it up and pretend you still have your inner Flock of Seagulls haircuts, my babies.

Video: 

Check out She Come from the Rain, another jangly British pop song, which also appears on Mayflower:

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