"Todd's Ship Gods (Above All Things)" is a song by Type O Negative, included on their sixth album Life Is Killing Me, released in 2003. The song contains melodic, upbeat elements reminiscent of Rush. It is about Steele's father and the title is named after the shipyard he worked in (Todd Shipyard, Brooklyn NY). The first 24 seconds of this track has sounds of eagles and a ship horn recorded from the aforementioned shipyard in Brooklyn not far from the studio where this song and the album were recorded. The most repeated phrase in the lyrics is "I won't cry - Above all things boy, be a man", which is sung nine times, including the last seven lines right before the song ends.
There is a fan-made music video for this song.
Lyrics[]
Grease, sweat, coffee, faded shipyard pictures
Giant living there I used to know
Author of the testosterone scriptures
Where did you go?
Now I remember what he told me that time
Falling from my bike, scraping my knee:
"If you're gonna weep, keep it from sunshine, so no one sees"
[Choir]
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
See little boy hiding amongst shadows
Ashamed of tears exposing ancient pain
From the storms predicted by the Tarot: Pray for the rain
[Choir]
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
[Choir]
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
I won't cry - "Above all things boy, be a man"
Personnel[]
Group performers
- Peter Steele – lead vocals, bass
- Kenny Hickey – guitar, backing vocals, choirs
- Josh Silver – keyboards, backing vocals
- Johnny Kelly – live drums
Enginucers
- Peter Steele – writing, mixing, production
- Josh Silver – engineering, effects, drum programming, mixing, production
- Mike Marciano – engineering, mixing
- George Marino – mastering