"So come aboard, let's sing a lament. The world isn't round, it's twisted and bent."

The lyrics weave together references to getting "blown off course" and navigating in knots, using nautical metaphors to explore feelings of disorientation and the unpredictability of life. Critics often cite the track as a "sublime" addition to their catalog, even while the rest of the album experimented with murkier production and mandolin overdubs. A Turning Point for the Band

The song is famous for the band's characteristic wordplay and "kitchen-sink drama". The chorus serves as a haunting refrain: