About the song
There are songs that entertain, and then there are songs that reach deep into the soul and speak truths many of us carry but rarely say aloud. Joe Diffie – Ships That Don’t Come In falls firmly into the latter category. Released in 1992 on his album Regular Joe, this deeply reflective ballad reveals a side of Joe Diffie that’s introspective, wise, and quietly powerful. While he was often celebrated for his upbeat, lighthearted hits, this song showed he was just as capable of delivering a message filled with gravity, humility, and grace.
Ships That Don’t Come In tells the story of two men—one a weathered stranger at a bar, the other the narrator—sharing a moment of quiet reflection over life’s unfairness, broken dreams, and the battles people silently fight. Instead of complaining or wallowing, they raise a toast “to all the soldiers who have ever died in vain, the insane locked up in themselves, the homeless down on Main.” It’s a simple line, but in that moment, it feels like the entire weight of life is captured with raw dignity and heartfelt clarity.
Joe Diffie’s delivery is masterful. His voice, strong yet gentle, brings just the right amount of emotion—never theatrical, never forced. He lets the story unfold naturally, like a conversation between two old souls who’ve seen enough of life to understand that not everyone gets what they’re hoping for. But within that understanding is something beautiful: empathy, connection, and respect for the battles we don’t always see in others.
The arrangement is understated, allowing the lyrics to shine. Soft acoustic guitar, subtle steel, and a tender melody carry the emotional tone without ever overwhelming the message.
For older listeners especially, Joe Diffie – Ships That Don’t Come In may feel like a companion piece to their own life stories—a reminder that while not every dream is fulfilled, there is dignity in endurance, strength in acceptance, and wisdom in recognizing that we’re all waiting on something. And sometimes, just acknowledging that truth is enough to make peace with the past.
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Lyrics
I could tell he’d had a tough life
By the way he sat and stared
And me, I’d come to push and shove
So I pulled up a chair
We talked of roads untraveled
We talked of love untrue
Of strings that come unraveled
We were kings and kindred fools
And just when I’d hit bottom
That old man raised his glass
Said at least we’ve had our chances
There’s those who never have
So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
And the homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in
He said it’s only life’s illusions
That bring us to this bar
To pick up these old crutches
And compare each other’s scars
‘Cause the things we’re calling heartaches
Hell, they’re hardly worth our time
We bitch about a dollar
When there’s those without a dime
As he ordered one last round
He said, I guess we can’t complain
‘Cause God made life a gamble
And we’re still in the game
So here’s to all the soldiers
Who have ever died in vain
The insane locked up in themselves
The homeless down on Main
To those who stand on empty shores
And spit against the wind
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in
And those who wait forever
For ships that don’t come in
