Steve's Boy
The Lemonheads Lyrics
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Your son again
I'll let myself in
Back to save your life
Back to ruin your day
I can't make you well
I can't make you love me
But I'm not leaving here without you
Steve's boy won't let you die
Alone in the desert with fear in your eyes
You can't break me
You can't make me go away
Stop trying to push me out
I'll never say when, you never showed me ow
You can't break me
You can't make me go away
Life run it's course
No shame in that
Just let me stay a while
Try to ease your pain
Maye try to let you see me
You won't let me be your son
You won't be my father
But I'm not leaving here without you
Steve's boy won't let you die
Alone in the desert with fear in your eyes
You can't break me
You can't make me go away
Stop trying to push me out
I'll never say when, you never showed me ow
You can't break me
You can't make me go away
I'm not gonna go away
Be back tomorrow with the things you need
You don't have to hate me
We could try to make believe
Hello it's me
I'm back again
I'll let myself in
Today I'll find a way
To try again another day
The Lemonheads’ song Steve’s Boy is an emotional and deep expression of someone's love for their father who is seriously ill, perhaps on his deathbed. The singer is pleading with their father to allow them to stay and care for him, and to stop trying to push them away. Despite all the pain and conflict between them, the son still loves the father deeply and is determined to make things right before it's too late. The line "back to save your life, back to ruin your day" implies that the father may not want to be saved, or that healing may come at the cost of further pain and suffering.
The verse, "you won't let me be your son, you won't be my father" refers to the vagaries of their once-affectionate relationship, now tainted by long-standing resentments and misunderstandings. The son is finding it hard to come to terms with the rift that has grown between them over time, which is evidenced by the line "stop trying to push me out." Nevertheless, the son remains steadfast and willing to try again: "Today, I'll find a way to try again another day."
The chorus, "Steve's boy won't let you die, alone in the desert with fear in your eyes, you can't break me, you can't make me go away" implies the father may feel abandoned, rejected, and alone, and that the son is determined to be with his father to offer him comfort and support, even in death. Overall, the song is an emotional meditation on the fragility of life, and the intricate bonds that connect and separate us.
Line by Line Meaning
Hello it's me
The singer is introducing himself to the person he is addressing
Your son again
The singer is the son of the person he is addressing
I'll let myself in
The singer is familiar with the place and has permission to enter
Back to save your life
The artist wants to help the person he is addressing
Back to ruin your day
The artist acknowledges that he may not be welcomed and may be seen as a burden
I can't make you well
The singer is aware that he cannot cure the person he is addressing
I can't make you love me
The singer is aware that he cannot force the person he is addressing to love him
But I'm not leaving here without you
The artist is determined to help the person he is addressing and will not give up
Steve's boy won't let you die
The artist refers to himself as Steve's boy and pledges to save the person he is addressing
Alone in the desert with fear in your eyes
The artist envisions a worst-case scenario in which the person he is addressing is stranded in a hostile environment
You can't break me
The singer is resolute and cannot be discouraged by the person he is addressing's negative reaction
You can't make me go away
The artist is determined to stay and help the person he is addressing, even if it is unwanted
Stop trying to push me out
The singer is aware that the person he is addressing may try to push him away
I'll never say when, you never showed me ow
The singer is not deterred by the lack of emotional connection he shares with the person he is addressing
Life run it's course
The singer acknowledges that life is not always fair
No shame in that
The artist does not blame the person he is addressing for being sick or helpless
Just let me stay a while
The artist wants to comfort the person he is addressing for as long as possible
Try to ease your pain
The singer's main goal is to alleviate the suffering of the person he is addressing
Maybe try to let you see me
The singer hopes that the person he is addressing will come to understand and accept him
You won't let me be your son
The artist recognizes that the person he is addressing may not see him as a true son
You won't be my father
The artist acknowledges that the person he is addressing may never see him as a real child
But I'm not leaving here without you
The artist is determined to stay with the person he is addressing and provide emotional support
I'm not gonna go away
The singer reiterates his commitment to staying with the person he is addressing
Be back tomorrow with the things you need
The artist promises to provide supplies and help for the person he is addressing
You don't have to hate me
The singer recognizes that the person he is addressing may not like him and offers the possibility of reconciliation
We could try to make believe
The singer suggests that the person he is addressing and he can pretend to have a positive relationship
Today I'll find a way
The singer remains optimistic about his ability to help the person he is addressing
To try again another day
The artist reiterates his commitment to keep trying to help the person he is addressing
Contributed by Scarlett H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.