☝️ Key Points
- The song tells the story of a fisherman who sails on his boat, the 'Downeaster Alexa', at sea.
- The fisherman sold his home to make ends meet and afford the boat.
- He sails into deeper waters where the fish stocks are no longer as abundant as before.
- Despite the difficult circumstances, the fisherman clings to his profession and tries to provide for his family.
- The song addresses the decline of the fishing industry and the challenging economic situation of fishermen.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song "The Downeaster" by
Billy Joel tell the story of a fisherman who is out at sea on his boat, the "Downeaster Alexa". It starts by saying that he's sailing through Rock Island Sound and has charted a course to Vineyard. But tonight, he's headed to Nantucket.
The fisherman tells that yesterday he fueled up with diesel in Montauk and this morning he departed from the bell in Gardner's Bay. Like the locals here, he had to sell his home to make ends meet. He was too proud to leave and worked hard to afford the "Downeaster Alexa".
He's sailing to where the sea is deep and there are giant creatures in the canyons. As a captain, he can't just fall asleep, he must always be vigilant. He has bills to pay and children who need clothes. He knows there are fish out there, but no one knows exactly where they are. The waters are not as plentiful as they used to be, but his family relies on his income.
If anyone sees the "Downeaster Alexa" and also works as a fisherman, they should tell his wife that he's fishing in Atlantis and still has the helm in his hand. The fisherman keeps going further from the shore because he was told he can't sell stripers and swordfishing here doesn't bring luck.
He used to be a bayman, just like his father, but now a fisherman can't make a decent living anymore. There's no future for a man who works at sea. There's no island left for islanders like him.