David Poe is an American songwriter, singer, musician, performer and compos… Read Full Bio ↴David Poe is an American songwriter, singer, musician, performer and composer.

Poe was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and raised in Dayton, Ohio, where he performed and recorded with local bands. He graduated from Miami University (Oxford) and relocated to New York City in 1992, serving as a live mix engineer for the performance art venue CB's 313 Gallery until he was signed to Sony Music in 1996.

Poe's self-titled debut was produced by T-Bone Burnett. Poe followed his debut with The Late Album (2002) and Love Is Red (2004 in Europe, 2005 in the US by 720/The Lab/Universal Music Group.) In 2006, an EP of performances from his American tour of the same year was released by The Artists Den on iTunes as David Poe: Live and Solo. Recently Poe's website announced his intention to release another solo record in 2007, tentatively entitled "Joy".

As a songwriter, he is known for clever wordplay ("You're The Bomb," "Moon," "Reunion," "Wilderness," "Love Is Red") and adventurous arrangements ("The Late Song (Je Ne Suis Pas Mort), Star, Not Enough Night.) Poe's music has been favorably compared to songwriters Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Ray Davies, Joni Mitchell and The Beatles. His songs have been featured in numerous films and television shows, including Transamerica, The O.C. and Dawson's Creek.

In 2004, Poe helped produce Concerts For Change in New York, Minneapolis and London in an effort to change American leadership. The effort registered thousands of new American voters. In 2005, he served for as artist-in-residence of the media collective Artists Den, a music discovery project.

Poe has lent his songwriting and producing talents to recordings by Melissa Sheehan, Jenifer Jackson, Regina Spektor and Golden Smog guitarist Kraig Jarret Johnson. On occasion Poe has played guitar and sung in Johnson's band The Program. An ongoing collaboration with songwriters Duncan Sheik, Matt Johnson, Morgan Taylor and Fil Krohnengold is likely to yield a new record in 2007; the band's name is "The I Love You."

Poe has toured, recorded, performed and/or collaborated with John Abbey, Ed Ackerson, Peter Anderson, Jeff Allen, Tori Amos, Joan Baez, Jim Boggia, Jim Boquist, Butterfly Boucher, Michael Brauer, Jon Brion, T-Bone Burnett, Sim Cain, Darren Callahan, Vanessa Carlton, Lloyd Cole, Milo Decruz, Bob Dylan, Jason Falkner, Juan Garcia, Andy Gardiner, Golden Smog, Ed Harcourt, Chris Harford, Jesse Harris, Don Heffington, Jim Hoke, Brian Huck, The Jayhawks, Jenifer Jackson, Kraig Jarret Johnson, Matt Johnson, Brad Jones, Howard Jones, Gary Jules, Suzie Katayama, Fil Krohnengold, Reni Laine, Jacob Lawson, Daryl Leonard, Lifehouse, Lisa Loeb, Tom Lord-Alge, Gary Louris, Tony Mason, Jamie Myerson, Norrin Radd, Beth Orton, David Pattillo, Gene Paul, Ben Peeler, Marc Perlman, Marc Ribot, Susan Rogers, Steve Rosenthal, Ron Sexsmith, Jane Siberry, Melissa Sheehan, Duncan Sheik, Regina Spektor, Morgan Taylor, They Might Be Giants, Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze, The Tiny, Trip Shakespeare, Chris Whitley, Daniel Wise and Doug Yowell.

Now working on his next solo effort, Poe is also collaborating with Duncan Sheik on a project called The I Love You, recording with an electronic group called The Rabbit, scoring a new movie starring Danny Masterson (That 70s Show), working with Oscar-nominated Filmmaker Amy Berg (Deliver Us From Evil) on an issue campaign for this year's election cycle and creating a commissioned piece with dancer/choreographer Jill Johnson for Manhattan dance company Cedar Lake which premieres in 2008.

The Drifter
David Poe Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You took me like a drifter takes a friend
I'll never be that honest again
When it seems like nothing's gonna change
Then your world comes crashing down
O-oh

Your friends accommodate your darker phase
And then you find it's been a hundred days

When's the last time you remember feeling safe?
You're surrounded by assassins in this place
O-oh
But you wanted to be here
And I'm amazed

If I appear in every story that you tell, that you tell
How can you say that I don't know you well?
Wasn't I the one who caught you when you fell, when you fell
How can you say that I don't treat you well?
When I'm ringing out your name like a bell, like a bell
How can you say that I don't wish you well?
I wish you well

You get that lonely feeling at the door
Even though you've left this place before
Because the truth is, you won't care anymore
'Til your world comes crashing down

If I appear in every story that you tell, that you tell
How can you say that I don't know you well?
Wasn't I the one who caught you when you fell, when you fell
How can you say that I don't treat you well?
When I'm ringing out your name like a bell, like a bell

How can you say that I don't wish you well?
I wish you well

Overall Meaning

The song "The Drifter" by David Poe speaks of a relationship between two people, where one had taken the other for granted as a friend. In the first verse, the singer compares their situation with that of a drifter, who takes a friend but doesn't reciprocate the same level of honesty. The singer regrets being too honest and vows never to be that honest again after being taken for granted. The second verse talks about how the people around the friend accommodate their darker phase, but the friend still feels surrounded by assassins. The pre-chorus then mentions how the singer was always there for the friend in every story they tell but questions how the friend still questions their knowledge about them.

The chorus of the song is about how the friend only remembers the singer when their world comes crashing down. The third verse begins with repeating the same line, "If I appear in every story that you tell, that you tell," and goes on to question how the friend can say that the singer doesn't know them well, treat them well or wish them well. The song highlights the challenges of one-sided friendships and the emotional toll it can take on the person being taken advantage of.

Line by Line Meaning

You took me like a drifter takes a friend
You welcomed me into your life like someone who wanders without a home would accept a new companion.

I'll never be that honest again
I regret revealing personal information to you and won't make the mistake of being so open in the future.

When it seems like nothing's gonna change
During moments of stagnation, when it appears that progress cannot be made.

Then your world comes crashing down
Suddenly, something devastates you and everything seems to fall apart.

Your friends accommodate your darker phase
The people close to you tolerate your negative mood and behavior.

And then you find it's been a hundred days
Eventually, you realize that sustained poor emotional states have gone on for an extended period.

When's the last time you remember feeling safe?
You can't recall a recent moment where you felt secure and at ease.

You're surrounded by assassins in this place
You feel like the people around you are hostile and are actively working against you.

But you wanted to be here
Despite the negativity, you chose to be in this situation because there were elements of it that you desired.

And I'm amazed
The artist is surprised that despite the drawbacks, the person still desired this situation.

If I appear in every story that you tell, that you tell
If the singer is an omnipresent figure in every narrative or event that you convey.

How can you say that I don't know you well?
In spite of that, how can you assert that the artist has little knowledge of you?

Wasn't I the one who caught you when you fell, when you fell
Did the singer not prevent your downfall and offer support during a difficult time?

How can you say that I don't treat you well?
Therefore, how can you suggest the singer is unsupportive or unkind?

When I'm ringing out your name like a bell, like a bell
When the singer desperately calls out to you, insisting on being heard.

How can you say that I don't wish you well?
With all of the above evidence, how can you maintain the assertion that the artist does not desire your success and happiness?

You get that lonely feeling at the door
As you exit, you experience sensations of loneliness and isolation.

Even though you've left this place before
Even if you've departed from this situation before, it still evokes negative emotions.

Because the truth is, you won't care anymore
The truth is, you will no longer feel emotionally attached or be invested in the situation.

'Til your world comes crashing down
But, you will only feel this way until life delivers a harsh lesson once again.

I wish you well
The artist desires prosperity and happiness for the listener despite their differences.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

NamasteEmily

15y↑2

David Poe is so beautiful in his music...he was a rare find when I worked at Tower Records 13 years ago! This song is sooo beautiful, the harmonies, lyrics and music is amazing