Gonna revive this thread because I am studying Buckley at the moment.

On the floating, shapeless oceans
I did all my best to smile
til your singing eyes and fingers
drew me loving into your eyes.

Should be "On the float on shipless oceans" and "drew me loving to your isle"

Also I think "hare and fox" does not make sense in the middle of a sea metaphor. My poet sense says that fo'c's'le (forecastle) the front part of a ship is correct to the rest of the lyrics.

NOW for another question.

Originally heard this song perfomed by Tim Buckley on John Peel festive fifties compilation. It was obviously a studio recording, and wrenched my soul it was so lovely and haunting.

Now listening again and having searched on you tube found the live performance, found it did not strike me as strongly as the studio recording with it's electronic embellishment and female vocal.

Wondering why that is, since normally I prefer a live performance to studio recording. I usually prefer a clean unadulterated version to one fancied up in studio. What happened here? Oh the shame!