To see the lyrics, click on the name of the version you are interested in (on the left).

This song hasn't been played live very often it seems. It was part of the setlist in 2004, and was played at some gigs before in '96-'97, one of which was recorded. On that live performance of the song, you can appreciate Neil's pitch while singing the violin bit. This melody is very important to the song as it suggests the shadows surrounding the heroin.

Indeed, the song is about a girl drowning herself in the sea, hence the allusion to Neptune, the Roman god of sea. She seems to be somehow mesmerised by a power lying in the water. The scene was anticipated in 'Bath'.

In the first verse, the reference to Schubert is very likely to be an echo to A Room With A View.

Within Promenade, the song makes even more sense. The two characters have had a party in the "summerhouse", located "[up] the hill" (cf: 'Going Downhill Fast'). But she's bored of being some sort of a foil to the man and wants to die. In the end, the hero saves her, which comforts their love.