The song "Mary Celeste" by Keaton Henson is about feeling lost and hopeless at sea. The lyrics describe a family who is full of alcohol and vapours of ethanol, which suggests they are drowning in their problems and addictions. The Mary Celeste was a ship that was found abandoned with no explanation, and the song uses this reference to underline the idea of being lost and abandoned. The protagonist in the song seems to be contemplating suicide, as they jump to their death from their house. The lyrics imply that their life has become so unbearable that they would rather die than continue living. However, the song also suggests that there is hope for the protagonist. They ask to be pickled in whiskey and to have a song written without lyrics when they die. This could be a way of expressing a desire to leave behind their troubles and start anew in the afterlife. The final lines of the song ask for someone to visit the protagonist every day and not walk away, implying that they still want to be saved and to connect with someone. Overall, "Mary Celeste" is a deeply introspective and melancholic song about feeling lost, isolated, and hopeless, but with a glimmer of hope for a better future.
