After meeting as fellow students at the New England Conservatory in Boston, the band was hand picked by Minneapolis trumpet/guitar player Mike Olson and named after an actual neighborhood of seedy bars in his hometown. Vocalist Rachael Price came from outside Nashville, Tennessee, stand-up bassist Bridget Kearney was an Iowa native, while drummer Mike Calabrese called Philadelphia home. “I wasn’t only impressed with their musicianship,” says Olson, who acquired the nickname “McDuck” while at the conservatory for his reclusive ways. “They were also a lot of fun just to hang out with. The first four years of rehearsals were more like glorified dinner parties.”
You Go Down Smooth
Lake Street Dive Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or is it you that ordered me?
I could say you are the only one I see
But I can't stop at two or three
And I am afraid to need you so
And I am too sober not to know
That you may be my problem, not my love
Though I'm quite sure you've got a bite
I could say that you were just a special treat
Though we both know that's not right
And I am afraid to need you so
And I am too sober not to know
That you may be my problem, not my love
'Cause you go down smooth
Would it be true to say you go to my head
Or is that sentiment too frank
I could say you make it sweet to go to bed
But then it's you that breaks the bank
And I am afraid to need you so
And I am too sober not to know
That you may be my problem, not my love
'Cause you go down smooth
The lyrics to Lake Street Dive's "You Go Down Smooth" paint a vivid picture of love being like a sweet but dangerous intoxicant. The opening lines of the song are a clever play on words, with the singer questioning who is really in control of the relationship: did they order their lover, or did their lover order them? The line "I could say you are the only one I see, but I can't stop at two or three" highlights the addictive quality of love and the difficulty in controlling its pull.
The second verse furthers this idea, with the singer admitting that they are afraid to be so reliant on their lover. They wonder if their obsession with their partner is really love, or if it's just a problem that they can't control. Despite this fear, the singer can't help but acknowledge how smooth and alluring their partner is. They compare their lover to an intoxicating drink that's hard to resist, even if it might not be good for them.
The chorus of the song ties all these ideas together, with the singer admitting that their lover goes down smooth - easy to swallow but perhaps not the best for them. The final verse continues this idea, with the singer wondering if their lover goes to their head and admitting that they can't resist the rush. The final line of the song, "you go down smooth," is both a compliment and a warning - their lover is irresistible, but also potentially dangerous.
Overall, "You Go Down Smooth" is a powerful commentary on the addictive quality of love and the difficulty of controlling our desires. It's a cautionary tale that reminds us that sometimes the things we love most can also be the things that cause us the most harm.
Line by Line Meaning
Would it be true to say that I ordered you
Am I correct in assuming that I chose you?
Or is it you that ordered me?
Or did you actually choose me?
I could say you are the only one I see
I could say that I am only interested in you
But I can't stop at two or three
But I can't help but be interested in others as well
And I am afraid to need you so
And I am scared of depending on you too much
And I am too sober not to know
And I am too clear-headed to not realize
That you may be my problem, not my love
That you may be the source of my issues, not my true love
Would I be lying if I said you were too sweet
Would it be dishonest if I said you were overly kind
Though I'm quite sure you've got a bite
Even though I know you have a sharp edge
I could say that you were just a special treat
I could claim that you're just a unique indulgence
Though we both know that's not right
Even though we both know that's not the truth
‘Cause you go down smooth
Because you are so easy to take in
Would it be true to say you go to my head
Is it accurate to say you make me dizzy?
Or is that sentiment too frank
Or is that too honest to admit
I could say you make it sweet to go to bed
I could say that you make it enjoyable to go to sleep
But then it's you that breaks the bank
But in reality, it is you who costs me so much
And I am afraid to need you so
And I am scared of relying on you too much
And I am too sober not to know
And I am too clear-headed to not understand
That you may be my problem, not my love
That you may be the root of my problems, not my true love
‘Cause you go down smooth
Because you are so easy to take in
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIDGET KEARNEY, MICHAEL CALABRESE, MICHAEL DANIEL CALABRESE, MIKE OLSON, MIKE S OLSON, RACHAEL PRICE, RACHAEL CLAIRE PRICE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DavidWilsoninnefl
Every time I watch a performance of Lake Street Dive I cannot help but be blown away by the incredible vocal talents of Rachael Price. I mean, her voice has a power that shouldn't be measured in decibels but on the Richter scale. All of them are incredibly talented musicians, no doubt, but Rachael should probably have a warning sticker on her, "Caution, Vocal Output Can Cause One Being Knocked On One's Ass!"
@gregoryblake3377
🎉🎉
@xennial_miracle
Bridget has a talent for finding the perfect groove, playing it perfectly, and adding something small making it 15% better. Killer talent.
@rhight
Yep. Your comment led me to actually listening to her bass lines carefully through a few songs. You're right. That's her secret--she finds that groove, then kills it! Killer talent. Thanks!
@michaelfisher9671
It doesn't hurt to have one of the better drummers I've ever heard right behind her.
@chipruedebusch2847
Bridget is great
@kraventhearcher
It's a privilege to listen to them play. It's a genuine treat to experience music from people so talented, practiced, and tight.
@agropsychonaut
IMAGINE IF YOUR LAST NAME WAS MOREHEAD...
@mattguest6326
Somebody explain to me why this band isn’t the best-known act in the country?
Every part of this was great. Not pieces. All of it. This is a great live recording of a great band, playing a great song.
@russelldeanna9198
Rachael Price has the best voice in music today - female voice. Just like the great vocalists from the great jazz and swing era.