Janssen grew up following his folks around various cities all over Asia. From little villages below the Himalayas, where he took long trips through the snow, to Bangkok, where the lights from skyscrapers and long lines of traffic would make the city glow long after young Kim had fallen fast asleep.
Sometimes he stayed up at night drinking coffee and playing his guitar behind his desk, humming along softly so as not to wake anybody up. He found he could draw from his memories and make up stories, even visit all the places he missed and the friends he had left behind. It gave some comfort even if it was a little tarnished, because you can't shake a wistfulness for the old days.
He returned home to Holland where he borrowed a four track and a mic from an acquaintance and recorded his songs, putting them on a cd and hiding it under his bed. It made its way however into the hands of a manager in New York by the name of Lance Labreche and before Kim knew it he was covering up against a harsh winter in New York City.
In the spring he took a train up into Massachusetts to a small town tucked away in the Berkshire hills. He spent ten days in an old, abandoned train station where producer Robby Baier had built a studio and kept most of the many instruments he had collected over the years. Kim sang and played his guitar parts and also found an old acoustic piano, sleigh bells, a fender rhodes, a howler, some thunder and a little toy piano. Robby invited his friends to come over and play drums, upright bass, pedal steel string guitar and trumpet.
Kim had also been fortunate enough to cross paths with Marla Hansen who he had been listening to on Sufjan Steven's “Songs for Christmas” all winter, and managed to convince her to sing and play viola one afternoon in her apartment in Brooklyn between tours with My Brightest Diamond and The National.
Official website
Drift
Kim Janssen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's too many things that I can't remember
As I disappeared like a trend
In the hum of the 5 in the early morning
And now I'm taking my time
Up through Coalinga through the valley
This highway lived in my mind
Was I in your way
When the cameras turned to face you?
No room in frame
For two
You cannot outrun a ghost
Speeding south bound lanes with abandon
It catches you on the coast
Or on the cliffs of the Palisades you killed the engine
And then it hovers above
Reeling bodies failing to discover
The thing they once knew as love
Raising their voices to convince one another
Was I in your way
When the cameras turned to face you?
No room in frame
For two
And how can I stay
In the sun
When the rain flows
All through my veins
It's true
And I guess it's not a failure we could help
And we'll both go on to get lonely with someone else
With someone else
Was I in your way
When the cameras turned to face you?
No room in frame
For two
And how can I stay
In the sun
When the rain flows
All through my veins
It's true
And I guess it's not a failure we could help
And we'll both go on to get lonely with someone else
With someone else
The song “Drift” is about the feelings of confusion and feeling lost in life. The singer talks about not knowing where to begin and feeling like they have disappeared like a trend. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been left behind or forgotten by a former lover or friend. The metaphor of disappearing like a trend reflects the idea of being forgotten or disregarded in society. The reference to the highway taking the singer back to the place that made him suggests that they are looking for answers or a sense of belonging.
The phrase “no room in frame for two” symbolizes the idea of not being able to share the spotlight or have a true connection with someone. The line “you cannot outrun a ghost” highlights the idea of being haunted by the past or the memories of someone who has left your life. The reference to the coast and the cliffs suggests a moment of contemplation or reflection, and the line “reeling bodies failing to discover the thing they once knew as love” indicates a sense of loss or confusion about love and relationships.
Overall, the song is about feeling lost and searching for a sense of purpose or belonging in life, all while dealing with the memories and emotions of past relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know where to begin
I'm struggling to find a starting point
There's too many things that I can't remember
My memory is failing me
As I disappeared like a trend
I vanished like a passing fad
In the hum of the 5 in the early morning
Amidst the steady buzz of the freeway at dawn
And now I'm taking my time
I'm moving slowly and deliberately
Up through Coalinga through the valley
Driving northward through Coalinga Valley
This highway lived in my mind
This road holds a special place in my heart and memory
It takes me back to the place that made me
It reminds me of the formative experiences of my past
Was I in your way
Did I obstruct or inconvenience you
When the cameras turned to face you?
When you were the focus of attention or scrutiny
No room in frame
There was no space left within the shot
For two
For both of us
You cannot outrun a ghost
A past or memory cannot be escaped
Speeding south bound lanes with abandon
Driving recklessly and fast on a southern highway
It catches you on the coast
The memory or past catches up to you at the beach
Or on the cliffs of the Palisades you killed the engine
You stopped driving on the Palisades cliff and reflected on the past
And then it hovers above
The thing or memory lingers over and haunts you
Reeling bodies failing to discover
Confused and hurting individuals struggling to find understanding
The thing they once knew as love
The love they experienced in the past which has now changed
Raising their voices to convince one another
Arguing or pleading passionately to persuade and reassure each other
And how can I stay
How can I remain
In the sun
In the light and warmth of positivity
When the rain flows
When negativity and sadness permeate my thoughts
All through my veins
Affecting me deeply and thoroughly
It's true
This is the reality of my situation
And I guess it's not a failure we could help
Perhaps this couldn't have been avoided or fixed
And we'll both go on to get lonely with someone else
We will both eventually experience loneliness with new partners
With someone else
In a different relationship
Contributed by Kaylee K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dennisderonde9049
This song keeps me in it’s grasp like no other. So subtle, yet so incredibly intense. Well done, seriously, well done.
@jacob-bw7nj
A couple years in search for this damn song.
ITS SO GOOD.
@-cloudsaboveuscrying-6805
beautiful! I heard this song on spotify so I came here! love it
@Tsynne
Great song, beautiful, heard you live on 3fm tonight when driving home after work, started off slowly enough and then it just kept building. Could feel the impact of the lyrics, gorgeous.
@misterpancake42
Man, me too. It just gives me chills.
@PeterHarveyUK
Many, many people would like to have Kim Janssen lyrics. If Kim were to publish his lyrics, I think he would reach a wider audience, because the lyrics are very interesting, but often cannot make them out because of his distinctive singing and musical style.
@snowstarrecords
Peter Harvey Hi Peter! All Kim's lyrics are included with his releases. You can find them in our webshop: http://www.snowstar.nl/store/
Worldwide shipping available.
@allentavari2123
I have provided lyrics to this song
@jamieevansmusic
Truly stunning.
@JustxDree
So beautiful.