Sturgill Simpson Contemplates the Deep Dark Sea in 'Breakers Roar' [Fresh Vid]

As we've noted a time or two, A Sailor's Guide to Earth — Sturgill Simpson's excellent third long-player, released last month via Atlantic Records — is, in the singer's own words, a letter to his young son.

Thusly, the album is loaded with nuggets of advice and observations that, frankly, any clueless baby would be lucky to have as an operator's manual from Square 1. Perhaps the darkest and most sonically foreboding tune on Sailor's Guide is "Breakers Roar": "Heartaches can kill from the inside, so it seems," sings Simpson. "Oh, I'm telling you it's all a dream.

Today, Simpson released his Matt Mahurin-directed video for "Breakers Roar," and you can watch it after the jump. The video, like the song itself, is steeped in metaphor — we follow a surfer on his journey to the bottom of the sea, his downward descent marked by the signs of tragedy and loss and heartbreak all along the way. It's heavy stuff, and beautiful. Give it a look and a listen.

This is the point at which I'd typically link you to the ticket page for Simpson's next in-town gigs — a two-night stand in October at the Ryman — but those are already sold-out.