John Frusciante - Song To The Siren Lyrics

Open this in two tabs; start the second one playing when the first gets to 1:02. Thank me later.

Best song ever!!!After John's cover all the rest covers sound uninteresting at best.

dude ,with all due respect, have you listened Elisabeth Frazers version?

wow, this dog sux arse!

Oh, this one hurts.

Beautiful Voice and great Song. !

Couldn’t believe it when I seen John Done a cover of this song such a talented person an absolute beautiful cover of an absolutely beautiful song✨🥰✨

Thank you, John!!!!!

He died in March, just a week before his birthday and listening to this I am really thinking about him. I really miss him😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

I am tearing up right now because I am thinking about my brother

I ♥️ this!!

Never knew that this was a cover until today. These words are so tender it hurts.

I did all my best to smile

Man, 10 years ago. Seems like 5 or 6.

@SM your comment makes me sad

Does john ever tour?

You could hear the salt water bubbles reaching the surface from deep , imagine their Journey through all of life and death ocean has to offer, picture lost soul drifting with the current Wind blowing above his head like a wistle almost visible, recognizing that sound he has heard it constantly, this time it has meaning it has hope, only just

mavacagare

This is like a lullaby

Best version of this song by a guy - but nothing beats This Mortal Coil <3

the voice is too much .. - At the beginnig - , but a masteriece after all, use other filters?

This song is fuckin' deep, so many meanings...

This is beyond beautiful.

The best coverversion of this song....... Great.

Not saying what is "best". I know what I prefer, which is my favorite. We can't discard Tim Buckley who is the daddy of the the tune; I first heard him do it on a DVD of classic tv series "The Monkees" of all things. George Michael recorded a gorgeous cover. That's the one I love.

This Frusciante is not for me, especially the weird sounds peppered in, and his voice is kind of flat. I didn't dig Sinead O'Connor, she sounded like she was trying for an Enya vibe. I tried Dead Can Dance, Bryan Ferry. I do enjoy This Mortal Coil (and was amused to hear a snippet of their version in the 2003 trailer for the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" reboot).

But it is such a haunting song. They don't write lyrics like this these days. Fun to sample every version.

You can feel the doubt and struggling of Hamlet with doubt and death...Mortal Coil is frased in Hamlet!

ummm, nope.

best version

It moves me ,in feelings like 1986....Riding in the back of a truck , laying watching warm wind and neon stars, facing nothing but my own existance and the future....

Love this version Down the shore brought me here.....

So heartbreaking

Sério mano, eu vi geeente pra caralho cantando essa música com suas versões próprias, eu vi até o Robert Plant(meu vocalista favorito) cantando e eu realmente, sem a menor dúvida prefiro a versão do Frusciante !... 😍

Wesley Harrison concordo plenamente com você

PRO TIP: Open this in two tabs; start the second one playing when the first gets to 1:00. Thank me later.

this is the single most useful comment ive ever read on YT

it's a year "later" but, thank you

very cool, thank you

maybe even delay it for 2 seconds.

Never really felt this song until now

this is the most gorgeous vrs of this song i ever heard. this somehow even beats tim buckley himself. although i do love tim buckley acoustic vrs too! i think mortal coil vrs is becoming overrated. this vrs gives me the most feels. i also think the czar's vrs is very interesting too!

Waiti g to hold you ....

5his is my down phase song.

why does it sounds like a phil collins song???

There are similar reverb effects on his voice

Timmy fuckin buckley

A magic song ...and John did the best version ever. But I love it so much that I did my own version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=v6TQ_Z15l-Y please enjoy and share

Mortal coil maybe made this famous and there are some good versions. Give this a listen it is the songwriter with his acoustic version https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vMTEtDBHGY4 or check out his version on Starsailor https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2pxvXI1i9cw an amazingly talented singer and songwriter along with Larry Becket who I am sure shares credits.

suspiros

my fav version, Mr Fruciante is REAL

"I don't know. Don't really care. Let there be songs to fill the air."

A stab to the heart, this song. Beautiful. Tragic.

it's great

wait.. been following this thread.. I fell in love with song from mortol coil (liz frazer) Tim Buckley ( no relation to Jeff Buckley) ?

WHO WROTE this originally?

cut wait what? Tim was Jeff's dad. This song was originally Tim's, but I don't believe he wrote the lyrics.

thanks Chris.. I feel like this song has been around for hundreds of years somehow.. maybe centuries ..

cut Np! And it was Larry Beckett who co-wrote it. It sucks when original authors don't get their proper recognition. From lady gaga, to Elvis to guns and roses...you won't believe how many songs were actually just covers done by famous people whose original authors remain nameless. (Jeff's cover of Hallelujah gets a pass in my book, though lol)

cut Tim Buckley was Jeff Buckleys dad

I appreciate each artist interpretation of this master piece, George Michael just takes me to an outer world with his voice.

Is the view counter broken?

This is one of the covers where I feel things that the Original could never give me. John is for me the most inspirational Being ever, be it together with Flee, Chad and Anthony, with Josh or just as himself. His music has shaped myself and my music so much, its simply unbelievable. His spirit will forever reside within my soul, till the end of time

MrMirko101 I feel the same way

"Did I dream, you dreamed about me? Were you hair when I was fox?"

Good cover! Didn´t see this one coming!

The Lovely Bones Soundtrack .......listen to it :)

This Mortal Coil ....the best version!

Love this one and the original so much. The other versions are not that good to me

well...seen a few comments on various versions........that shows what a great song this is..........who's version you like...does it matter?....x

On the floating, shapeless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving into your eyes

And you sang, "Sail to me, sail to me let me enfold you"
Here I am, here I am waiting to hold you

Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you here when I was full sail?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken love lost on your rocks

For you sang, "Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow"
Oh my heart, oh my heart shies from the sorrow

Well I'm as puzzled as a newborn child
I'm as riddled as the tide
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Or should I lie with death my bride?

Hear me sing, "Swim to me, swim to me, let me enfold you"
Here I am, here I am, waiting to hold you

Your lyrics are not quite right... :-) Here are the actual lyrics...

Long afloat on shipless oceans
I did all my best to smile
'Til your singing eyes and fingers
Drew me loving to your isle

And you sang
Sail to me
Sail to me
Let me enfold you
Here I am
Here I am
Waiting to hold you.
Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?
Now my foolish boat is leaning
Broken lovelorn on your rocks,
For you sing, "Touch me not, touch me not, come back tomorrow:
O my heart, O my heart shies from the sorrow"

I am puzzled as the newborn child
I'm as troubled as the tide:
Should I stand amid the breakers?
Should I lie with Death my bride?
Hear me sing, "Swim to me, Swim to me, Let me enfold you:
Here I am, Here I am, Waiting to hold you"

It's "to your isle" not "to your eyes" since sirens called ships to crash on the shore of islands.

Did I dream you dreamed about me?
Were you hare when I was fox?

i think different artists sing a different version at times.

This song always makes me cry 💗

Actually, with respect, not technically true: Buckley's lyrical collaborator, Larry Beckett, wrote the lyrics and all the lyrics on Buckley's album Starsailor on which it first appeared. Beckett has had a fascinating career, writing all the lyrics for Buckley's first and second albums, "Tim Buckley" and "Hello Goodbye". On those records, Buckely sang and wrote the music (and melodies for the lyrics).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Beckett

reminds me how she lured me into love, and fooled. what a dumb man i am.

Me tooo

Gente, namoral. Parem de discutir qual versão é melhor. Cada um tem sua opinião. Ao invés de discutir, tentem pensar o quanto Buckley sentiu pra fazer essa música, e o quanto isso influenciou os músicos posteriores a regravarem ela. Na minha opinião, eu acho que a versão de John me toca mais porque eu conheço um pouco da história dele na música e acho que ele é super sincero com o que ele produz. A demais, não sabia que essa música não era dele, mas isso que é foda, ele colocou um sentimento a mais na música, somando com os outros músicos que fizeram sua própria versão.

E John é amadurecimento, porque, porra, olha as letras do álbum, a harmonia PQP É TUDO FODA P CARALHO!!!

I have some to the conclusion that's it's a waste of time arguing whose version is better. Taste and time change things...

Yet-
Time and tide wait for no man...

Well I mean the original version is, as always, in a class apart, as it is the original vision stemming from the artist's mind. But after that it's preference.

hold my heart

I rarely say stuff like this but honestly i cannot for the love of god understand how you could think the cover from This Mortal Coil is better than this. I think John's version really captured more the feel of song with a more ghostly, haunting theme. The high-notes sang on TMC cover really do not fit the atmosphere of the song. TMC's cover is pretty boring honestly, but this version has a build-up that's so subtle and satisfying, added with a piano track that sounds like water running... you can't get more spot on. Well this is all my opinion, but i think TMC is just a boring 80's version with bad sounding instrumental and weirdly timed vocals.

Prisms Edits Amen Dunes cover hurts the best..to me.

Robert plants version is my favourite

Seems like you aren't familiar enough with music and singing to appreciate the TMC version, not that I am arguing that it is better, but you seem to really not have appropriate criticisms. Listen to it again, and consider any other time you've heard a mainstream singer from the 80's using voice intonation similar to the muslim call to prayer.

easy to say when his version came so much later than This Mortal Coil's... so honestly his is a cover of a cover (I feel it has more In common with the TMC version that the Buckley version) SHE inspired this version.. not Buckley.

And honestly? What is that hokey whispering of "here I am" in this version. I think this version pales to Elizabeth's terribly.. her vocals are piercing.. his.. underwater background noise. not fond of it.

Agree with you!!

He's ok now right?

j Nakhjo I don't think your ever okay after living like that. Maybe he's made some peace with himself by now. He's a private person it's hard to know for sure.

I hope he is doing fine and he is happy .

he is back in chili :p

respect fursante

i know, i know, but from Chiquita, xx

My favourite cover of this Tim Buckley classic, love John Frusciante.

+Beth Vendetta it's my favorite cover too

Really good version of a stunning song.

the most beautiful music in the world

i love Shinead O'Connor version!

this song makes me feel like I'm peacefully floating in the ocean and outer space at the same time

Sounds like Peter Gabriel is making out with Vangelis.

nailed it!

RufusDinaricus Good Analysis

Frusciante amor de mi vida

"I'm as puzzled, as a new bourn child. I'm as troubled, as the tide."

alan sparhawk vibe

There are really two versions of this song that all other covers stem from, and each of those is really a hybrid of both. Of course, the original was a simple folk version solo'd by Buckley and a 12-string acoustic guitar, then he reimagined the song lavishly on his album Starsailor. This Mortal Coil (in this incarnation, the same duo at the Cocteau Twins), covered the Starsailor version choosing to scale up on some notes rather than down, and add quite a few runs where there weren't any before, giving the song a very new atmosphere but keeping the spirit the same.  This version is closer to Tim's version in melody and pace, but channels the Cocteau Twins in ghostliness, that new Amen Dunes version follows the melody of the Cocteau Twins, but seems inspired by the droning pastoral of Buckley's versions in the deceivingly simple-but-complex guitar work. I've never been able to pick a favorite and I really like them all, and everyone under the sun has covered this song. The original folk version, the Starsailor version, and this new Amen Dunes one are currently all on top for me.

Amen Dunes' version is gorgeous.... He's an artist (new to me) that I'm quite excited about. His new album "Freedom" promised to be one of the best of the year (if you judge it by the two released songs- "Blue Rose" and Miki Dora"). Such a unique voice and style....

Nothing beats the version of "Amen Dunes"! Even better than the original.

oh my lord.. stunning

Meh, this version is okay. I'm a big John Frusciante fan so I'm disappointed. Not that I was expecting it to be better than the original Tim Buckley version, nothing could beat that for me.

 This mortal coil's version is to 80's a really bad version. This version is even better than the original, not because it's John's, is about music.

@Sebastián Reyes I think Tim Buckley would disagree with you on that one, sir.

@Sebastián Reyes Now it's you judging good music as bad...

Each one with its own style and I prefer this one cause is the first one I've listenned

+TwistedJayy listen to this mortal coils version

listen to the Czars version. excellent. 

they haven't captured the emotion from the original... and i think frusciante did manage to do just that

Tim Buckley's version way way better both in singing and music arrangement.

Steven Mellon cool

Yeah, TLC,  the original by Tim Buckley and then this.

This beautiful song is featured in James Gandolfinis 2011 film Down The Shore.  Makes it even more sad since he died.

It's about 3rd on my list of versions after The Czars and This Mortal Coil.

This is by far my favourite version of this song

Marina Petričević
I love this one too

oh man, i was listening to different Song to the Siren covers and came across this one... none will be better

same here, i laughed so hard that i almost fell of my chair!

@Joe Tao shhh, Dont tell anyone...

@basejump I completely disagree. I HATE when they feel entitled to change the original melody, as if they could do better.

I found This Mortal Coil version super lame and uninteresting, after I listened to a John's version.

@T. I. N Mateus your used to crap now...sorry dawg!

Yep, Plant's version is predictable... but this is Frusciante's heart laid bare. Makes me think of a line I heard "the Devil" say in a film once "Music...the only thing that makes me feel humble"

Agreed, robert plant just made it sound too country lol, Frusciante really got across that forlorn hopelessness in it.

youwinoneinternets country? It sounds like the rain song to me... it’s a great rendition

This is the only version I've heard that captures the majesty of the song. This song seems to have a life of it's own... Ethereal, monumental and unattainable. Those who enter her waters must be true in heart. John Frusciante is a strong swimmer...

A beautiful cover of a beautiful song by an beautiful artist

what a voice..

love the artwork, anyone know who its by?

The pic is fantastic

ooooooouuuu es filete :'(

Starsailor version. Tomorrow? Probably this one...yours truly,
" confused but blessed to have heard either".com

when john frusciante covers your song its no longer your song!

Had the nearly exact same expirience - a nice, warm day and night at the sea and the forest (while tripping on acid), and one girl just walked along the beach singing this song... At that time I swear I thought she was the siren form the song...

It matters... It's JOHN MOTHERFUCKING FRUSCIANTE

Wow, this is magnificent.

I prefer Tim and Robert version

John frusciante is Jesus

this song always make me tears

masterpiece, magic... I can't find the right words to describe this amazing song.

He sometimes sings it as an intro for Everything in its right place. They played it when they came to Buenos Aires /watch?v=wY4Z53n7Od4

cincincincin when was this?