Windward is the direction upwind (toward where the wind is coming from) from the point of reference. Leeward is the direction downwind (or downward) from the point of reference. The side of a ship that is towards the leeward is its lee side. If the vessel is heeling under the pressure of the wind, this will be the "lower side". During the age of sail, the term weather was used as a synonym for windward in some contexts, as in the weather gage.
The traditional nautical pronunciations are the elided forms /ˈljuːərd/ and /ˈwɪnərd/, but this is regarded as old-fashioned. The literal pronunciations, /ˈliːwərd/ and /ˈwɪndwərd/, are more common. The pronunciation for the Leeward and Windward Islands and the Leeward Antilles is normally the latter form.
The term lee derives from Old English hleo, shelter, and was in use at least as early as 900 AD.
The word aloof is a related term derived from loof, old English for "weather gage" or "windward direction", probably from the Dutch word loef, “the weather side of a ship." Aloof was originally a nautical order to keep the ship's head to the wind, for example to avoid a lee-shore, but it has since taken a figurative meaning of "at a distance, or reserve suggesting consciousness of superiority." It is still in use in German sailors' language as "LUV." Note also the wind-related words loft in English and luft in modern German.
The time has come for you to sit this out
To fit inside your mold
Would be to sell myself short
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
Is now filling up to our necks
(We see everything)
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
Is filling up to our necks
(We see everything)
Oh, my story's growing and growing, it is
(On my last request)
Don't make me feel so contradicting
There's no room for cheating and being yourself
Failure leaves such a bitter taste in their mouth
And on the last hour
We write so many new chapters again
And on the outside
Where there are no surprises
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
Now filling up to our necks
(We see everything)
Oh, it's getting longer and longer, come on
To see it through their eyes
Would bring me so much closer
You can do this night after night after night
Failure leaves such a bitter taste in my mouth
Taste and see, I swear I know what's good
Be still and know that they won't lie to you
Every single time you're facing lies
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
Is now filling up to our necks
Come on, this ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
Is now filling up to our necks
(We see everything)
We see, we see, we see everything
We see, we see, we see everything
I know why you never take your eyes off from me
I've used my lungs for everything but breathing
I know why you never take your eyes off from me
I've used my lungs for everything but breathing
I find myself dried up in this conversation
So pull me out, pull me aside
I find myself dried up in this conversation
So pull me out, pull me aside
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
This ground we tread upon
(We see everything)
This ground we tread upon
(We turn the pages left to right)
This ground we tread upon