Her 2006 debut album "Stages of the Sun" consists of all original material that she wrote (some with her father) between the ages of 11 and 14. Produced by Grammy winner, Steve Hodge.
Steamboat
AdriAnne Lenker Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm only a walker
I guess I am human
But sometimes I feel
Like I'm only a ghost
Like I'm only a wall
And if you come around honey
I'll probably just follow you home cuz it's all that I know how to do
I'll die by one too
and places are nothing if they ain't got you
and one day I'ma be a steamboat baby
one day I can be your freight train lady
roll down the river, the miles won't phase me
Oh I wish I was better at being alone
Still every night I call you on the phone
Oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Well I've been arranging each of my movements
and all of my gestures and trying to fool myself into thinkin that everything is small
that nothing has reason
I woke up crying a convulision of honesty brought me to life
when I thought I was gone
but I can't put a light in the mouth of a song
and one day I'ma be a steamboat baby
one day I can be your freight train lady
I roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
Oh I wish I was better at being alone
Still every night I call you on the phone
Oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Adrianne Lenker's song "Steamboat" is a soulful and introspective ballad. The lyrics convey a sense of uncertainty and longing for connection, both with oneself and with others. Lenker describes herself as a stranger, a walker, and sometimes a ghost or a wall. The repetition of these images creates a sense of displacement and a lack of a fixed identity. The line "And if you come around honey, I'll probably just follow you home cuz it's all that I know how to do" hints at a codependent tendency, where Lenker seeks external validation and direction.
The next verse shifts to a deeper contemplation of mortality and the fragility of the human body. Lenker recognizes the importance of people and places that give meaning to life. She repeats the refrain "one day I'ma be a steamboat baby, one day I can be your freight train lady, roll down the river, the miles won't phase me" as a statement of her desire for resilience and the ability to move forward with strength and purpose.
The last verse acknowledges the difficulty of being alone and the desire for a deeper connection. Lenker admits to trying to fool herself into thinking that everything is small and has no reason. Yet a convulsion of honesty brings her to life, and she wishes she could put a light in the mouth of a song. The closing refrain "Oh I wish I was better at being alone, still every night I call you on the phone, oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones" expresses a poignant yearning for meaning and connection.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm just a stranger
I am unknown and unfamiliar to most people
I'm only a walker
I move forward on foot, only one step at a time
I guess I am human
I suppose I have emotions and physical sensations like the rest of humanity
But sometimes I feel
However, at times I perceive
Like I'm only a ghost
As though I am dead and absent
Like I'm only a wall
As though I am an obstacle, unfeeling and unmoving
And if you come around honey
And if you happen to appear, sweetie
I'll probably just follow you home cuz it's all that I know how to do
I will likely trail after you to your dwelling because I lack knowledge of any other skill
I was born by a body
I came into existence through a physical birth
I'll die by one too
My corporeal body will also be the means of my eventual exit from life
and places are nothing if they ain't got you
Locations are meaningless unless you are present in them
and one day I'ma be a steamboat baby
Someday I will transform into a steamboat, darling
one day I can be your freight train lady
One day I can be your female freight train, love
roll down the river, the miles won't phase me
Travel along the river, and the distance will not tire me
Oh I wish I was better at being alone
I desire to possess a greater ability to function without companionship
Still every night I call you on the phone
Nevertheless, each evening I contact you by phone
Oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
I long to be more than simply my physical body
Well I've been arranging each of my movements
I have been purposely designing my every action
and all of my gestures and trying to fool myself into thinkin that everything is small
As well as all of my actions, and attempting to deceive myself into believing that everything is insignificant
that nothing has reason
That nothing holds any justification
I woke up crying a convulision of honesty brought me to life
I awoke while weeping as an attack of straightforwardness revitalized me
when I thought I was gone
Just when I believed I was departed
but I can't put a light in the mouth of a song
However, I cannot illuminate the voice of a melody
and one day I'ma be a steamboat baby
One day I will convert into a steamboat, sweetheart
one day I can be your freight train lady
One day I can become your female freight train, dear
I roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
I journey down the river, and the distance will not disturb me
Oh I wish I was better at being alone
I desire to have a greater ability to operate without companionship
Still every night I call you on the phone
Yet, every evening I contact you via telephone
Oh I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
I yearn to encompass more than only my physical body
Writer(s): Adrianne Elizabeth Lenker
Contributed by Katherine L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rubyofthewest8600
Lyrics:
Well, I'm just a stranger, I'm only a walker
I guess I am human, but sometimes I feel
Like I'm only a ghost, like I'm only a wall
And if you come around, honey
I'll probably just follow you home
'Cause it's all that I know how to do
I was born by a body, I'll die by one too
And places are nothing if they ain't got you
And one day I'mma be your steamboat, baby
One day I can be your freight train lady
I'll roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
Oh, I wish I was better at being alone
Still every night, I call you on the phone
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Well, I've been arranging each of my movements
And all of my gestures, and trying to fool myself
Into thinking that everything's small
That nothing has reason, I woke up and cried
A convulsion of honesty brought me to life
When I thought I was gone
But I can't put a lie in the mouth of a song
And one day I'mma be your steamboat, baby
One day I can be your freight train lady
I'll roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
Oh, I wish I was better at being alone
Still, every night, I call you on the phone
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
@jbirner835
cant believe i've been a big thief fan for 5 years and i've never heard this 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 of an album
@mfs500
I slept on this one for a long time. I was too busy listening to a-sides and b-sides 5,000 times.
@nehaltahawy9162
"Oh I wish I was better at being alone" <3
@robertahmann9992
3,606 views is mindblowing to me. This song is so good.
@ImNotOdd
You'll be glad to know it has around 600,000 on spotify
@user-my8qj
Hi to ur eyes that see this comments, it's so beautiful :) i can feel it❤️
@rubyofthewest8600
Lyrics:
Well, I'm just a stranger, I'm only a walker
I guess I am human, but sometimes I feel
Like I'm only a ghost, like I'm only a wall
And if you come around, honey
I'll probably just follow you home
'Cause it's all that I know how to do
I was born by a body, I'll die by one too
And places are nothing if they ain't got you
And one day I'mma be your steamboat, baby
One day I can be your freight train lady
I'll roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
Oh, I wish I was better at being alone
Still every night, I call you on the phone
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Well, I've been arranging each of my movements
And all of my gestures, and trying to fool myself
Into thinking that everything's small
That nothing has reason, I woke up and cried
A convulsion of honesty brought me to life
When I thought I was gone
But I can't put a lie in the mouth of a song
And one day I'mma be your steamboat, baby
One day I can be your freight train lady
I'll roll down the river, and the miles won't phase me
Oh, I wish I was better at being alone
Still, every night, I call you on the phone
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
Oh, I wish I was more than my skin and my bones
@VioletPrism
This is one of the most amazing songs ❤
@daniellu6832
just pure beauty
@ccstreifel
Such a good solo project :)