levitation

LEVIT (Latin levis, levitas -"lightness; buoyancy; act of making light") + -ATION (through action). Light represents a reaction enacted upon. Before perceivable light comes motion enacting PERCEP (sense) -TION (through action).

You could not lift a ship with it

Ship represents an allegory for form (life) within flow (inception towards death). Form (resistance) can only temporary exist within the momentum (balance) of ongoing flow (velocity). Now ask yourself...does water represent ongoing flow or temporary form within momentum of ongoing flow, hence finding level?

the energies required to raise it would also burn it up

a) velocity (flow) meeting resistance (form) causes friction; vibration; resonance...heat. Form within flow represents a "burned offering" (holocaust). A sleight of hand for this goes "the roof (interior of a vault aka form within momentum) is on fire (a burned offering within heat)"; which is followed by the suggested inversion "we don't need no water; let the mf burn"

b) flow represents the force of velocity; form represents the force of resistance (choice) at the center (balance) of velocity...flow/form aka velocity/resistance aka ongoing/temporary aka loss/growth represent the inside of EN'ERGY, noun [Gr. work.] - "internal or inherent power"

c) require aka RE (response) QUERO (seek; want; will; choice) MENT (mind; memory).