Ships

The lyrics describe a quiet walk by the sea between a child and his father, followed by a sense of emotional distance. At first, they share the same place and moment, but their conversation suggests that closeness has become difficult. The repeated refrain sounds both comforting and sad: they reassure each other that they are still present, even though they rarely seem to meet emotionally.

The central image, “two ships that pass in the night,” compares their relationship to vessels that come near but continue on separate paths. The distant light and the boats far out at sea reinforce the feeling of separation. “Love’s easier when it’s far away” suggests that affection may feel less complicated when people are apart, though the line could also express regret or self-protection.

The song does not explain why the father and child have grown distant, or whether either has chosen that distance. “We only read you when you write” hints at limited contact, but writing may be a meaningful connection rather than no connection at all. Their smiles and repeated claim that things are all right may be sincere, an attempt to comfort each other, or both. The lyrics leave that tension unresolved.