"These poems are stories from my life, journals; and I think that it is a miracle that folk actually listen to them. I pray that hope would resonate from those words. I very much appreciate those of you that have stopped by, and I hope that you are having beautiful days out there in that crazy world."
"Levi is just one of those special people with a unique gift for stirring things up. I know he stirred me up the first time I witnessed him on a stage. What got to me most was his genuine passion and gleaming transparency. Love me some Levi the Poet!"
- Chad Johnson - Come&Live! founder/X-Tooth and Nail A&R
"This recording of street-level poetry is loud and furiously mixed with emotion and the occasional sound effect, but it's the subject matter that slaps you in the face. When he delivers his post-suicide goodbye in 'When I Go To Meet God,' it's easy to feel the pain his loved ones would've felt if he had done it, just like his doubtful lines ring of authenticity."
- Doug Van Pelt - HM Magazine (2010)
"Out of control! Spoken word with an experimental approach and very powerfully written. Chaotic, raw, controversial, and energetic - Levi the Poet is a fresh taste of creativity and you would be doing yourself more than just one favor by checking him out."
- Laurel Erickson - HM Magazine (2008)
"Extremely passionate about writing since the 5th grade, Macallister's brand of poetry is the definition of wearing your heart on your sleeve. His stage is his confessional and while sometimes he is inclined towards inducing an uncomfortably honest experience, it's impossible not to love this guy."
- Jameson Ketchum - Hopecore Magazine
screaming
yelling
whispering
Read more: http://www.myspace.com/levithepoet#ixzz0yUdENiy1
Oh Captain My Captain
Levi the Poet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
LITGENIUS
Oh Captain, My Captain!
Levi The Poet
SharePlay
Step out the front door, friends!
Toss up my keys! From here on out we're gonna do as we please!
Just outside this substantially thickening window is a world
And you and me.
(But I fell into that same flawed fantasy that detaching myself from
mommy's bedtime stories and daddy singing me to sleep
would be the key to setting me free.)
Oh, you want out so bad now, baby girl,
But just you wait and see how much you miss mom and dad
Once you finally get the chance to leave!
I want to go home to my own bed tonight and sleep cuddle with my puppy
(I miss my puppy!)
I want to make believe that she is a girl sleeping next to me…
…like I used to when I was lonely…
like I was lucky enough to have somebody there to keep me company when
I woke up in the morning and hold me (but now I'm…)
Buried in the arms of someone else and missing mother's.
I miss the weathered hands of my dad while holding tightly to my lovers.
And I call this:
Free.
EIGHTEEN BABY! YOU WANT TO SEE MY I.D.?
I'LL BUY MY OWN CIGARETTES!
In fact, two packs please.
Two packs for the two years I already ran myself broke,
(O!) And two more for the two more I'm gonna count on these to cope.
I'll take two packs for the two days that I'm planning on being away,
Smoke ‘em both the first so on the second I can give my lungs a break
(or, at least that's the plan anyway… oh my god! You've got a two-for-one on the 27's?)
You know, I think I'll take two more just in case on that second day,
When I wake,
I decide to smoke all eight…
OH! a captain and coke would go so nicely right now
Cause I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that
I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that
I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that
I drank quite a bit, and actually forgot about the fact that I am down.
Funny how perspectives change so quickly
when you're the one with your head
beneath the toilet seat, wearing that crown on your feet…
…and as I lift up my head from that bathroom sink I sink into the mirror and scream:
"YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!"
and Paul said it perfectly, "I am the worst of these"
but every now and then I swear I think I got that guy beat.
I used to be such a fan of abstract poetry!
But that quiet, clouded, kind of confusing painting
went from diluted grayscale to vibrant honesty pretty quickly,
and in fact, I'm a little sickly,
and in fact I'm a little scared sometimes that this is all in vain,
with a million of me running all over eternity it's no wonder my hope has such a bad name!
But I know, no matter how large a hypocrite, or how small my faith,
WHEN YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT PERFECTION
THE WAY YOU TALKED ABOUT MY PAIN
You became the seed inside that gave root to change!
And I pray every day that there is power in prayer,
And I hope with all my heart that my heart will find you there,
And if you're really bigger than my skepticism
Then how dare I compare the high I prescribe with the beauty you prepare?
I AM A SKELETON IN A LITTLE FRAGILE SKIN
The song "Oh Captain My Captain" by Levi the Poet tells the story of a young adult who is eager to leave the comfort of their parents' home and experience the world. However, as they venture into the real world, the bright and promising opportunities they had imagined become incredibly overwhelming. The singer reminisces about the comfort they took in their parents' presence and how they miss the feeling of having someone to hold and comfort them.
The lyrics also delve into the singer's struggle with substance abuse as they try to cope with their new reality. The song highlights the relatable experience of feeling lost and overwhelmed while trying to navigate the complexities of adulthood. The reference to Walt Whitman's poem "O Captain! My Captain!" further emphasizes this theme of searching for guidance and direction.
Overall, "Oh Captain My Captain" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of growing up and seeking to find one's place in the world. The song emphasizes the importance of holding onto what is familiar and seeking help in times of need, rather than succumbing to destructive coping mechanisms.
Line by Line Meaning
Step out the front door, friends!
Let's start our new journey!
Toss up my keys! From here on out we're gonna do as we please!
We are in control of our lives now.
Just outside this substantially thickening window is a world Full of opportunities for me and you…
The world is full of opportunities waiting for us.
(But I fell into that same flawed fantasy that detaching myself from mommy's bedtime stories and daddy singing me to sleep would be the key to setting me free.)
I thought leaving home would free me from my past, but that was a flawed fantasy.
Oh, you want out so bad now, baby girl, But just you wait and see how much you miss mom and dad Once you finally get the chance to leave!
You may think you want to leave, but you'll soon realize what you left behind.
I want to go home to my own bed tonight and sleep cuddle with my puppy (I miss my puppy!) I want to make believe that she is a girl sleeping next to me…
I miss the comfort of home and the feeling of having someone with me.
like I used to when I was lonely… like I was lucky enough to have somebody there to keep me company when I woke up in the morning and hold me (but now I'm…)
I miss having someone to keep me company when I was lonely, especially in the morning.
Buried in the arms of someone else and missing mother's. I miss the weathered hands of my dad while holding tightly to my lovers.
I may be with someone else, but I still miss the comfort of my parents and the love they gave me.
And I call this: Free.
This is what I call freedom.
EIGHTEEN BABY! YOU WANT TO SEE MY I.D.?
I'm finally 18 and free to do what I want.
I'LL BUY MY OWN CIGARETTES!
I can buy cigarettes now that I'm 18.
In fact, two packs please. Two packs for the two years I already ran myself broke, (O!) And two more for the two more I'm gonna count on these to cope.
I'm buying four packs of cigarettes to cope with my problems.
I'll take two packs for the two days that I'm planning on being away, Smoke ‘em both the first so on the second I can give my lungs a break (or, at least that's the plan anyway… oh my god! You've got a two-for-one on the 27's?) You know, I think I'll take two more just in case on that second day, When I wake, I decide to smoke all eight…
I'm planning to smoke four packs of cigarettes over two days, but I may smoke more.
OH! a captain and coke would go so nicely right now Cause I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that I've been drinkin a little to try to forget about the fact that I drank quite a bit, and actually forgot about the fact that I am down.
I'm drinking to forget the fact that I'm down and struggling.
Funny how perspectives change so quickly when you're the one with your head beneath the toilet seat, wearing that crown on your feet…
It's funny how quickly your perspective changes when you're drunk and throwing up.
and as I lift up my head from that bathroom sink I sink into the mirror and scream: "YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!"
I'm screaming at my reflection because I don't recognize who I've become.
and Paul said it perfectly, "I am the worst of these" but every now and then I swear I think I got that guy beat.
I relate to Paul's statement, but sometimes I feel like I'm even worse than him.
I used to be such a fan of abstract poetry! But that quiet, clouded, kind of confusing painting went from diluted grayscale to vibrant honesty pretty quickly, and in fact, I'm a little sickly,
I used to like abstract poetry, but now I prefer honest writing. However, it makes me feel sick to confront my own problems.
and in fact I'm a little scared sometimes that this is all in vain, with a million of me running all over eternity it's no wonder my hope has such a bad name!
I'm scared that my efforts are for nothing and that I'm just one of millions struggling in this world.
But I know, no matter how large a hypocrite, or how small my faith, WHEN YOU STARTED TO TALK ABOUT PERFECTION THE WAY YOU TALKED ABOUT MY PAIN You became the seed inside that gave root to change!
Even though I struggle with being a hypocrite and my faith is small, hearing about how perfection relates to my pain has inspired me to change.
And I pray every day that there is power in prayer, And I hope with all my heart that my heart will find you there,
I pray every day and hope to find strength in faith.
And if you're really bigger than my skepticism Then how dare I compare the high I prescribe with the beauty you prepare?
If God is bigger than my doubts, then I shouldn't compare my temporary vices to his eternal beauty.
I AM A SKELETON IN A LITTLE FRAGILE SKIN
I'm a vulnerable human being on the inside, no matter how tough I try to appear on the outside.
Contributed by Violet S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Steve Dupré
I'm still waiting for a Levi/La Dispute tour.
Raven Gilreath
Has this happened yet?
Connor Bolthouse
This guy has a huge heart for The Lord. No, he is not a false teacher lol. Yes, he's pretty great at having his own style, but just because he gets into the poems he recites, doesn't mean he is a false teacher.
Watch some of the interviews he's in.. "False teacher" couldn't be farther from the truth @morgantaylorbaby @crashoveride
Chrisaliah
I forgot how much I loved you Levi!!!!
Matthew Johnson
This brings me to tears every time. I've never heard anyone write so many songs I relate to so fully and in a delivery that comes from my heart. Thank you for portraying the beauty of Christ and the pain He endured for the the pain we put ourselves through every day. To him who is able to do immensely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Brian Tassey
ohhh yeah, I love LISTENER. I've been on that train for a while, so it was actually through him that I wanted to find more spoken word artists. I'm so glad I found Levi though!
Batonic
I've met him twice and he's totally chill. It's quite startling actually how he goes from this demented and raw type of emotion to just a calm, cool dude.
Jo March
False teacher, someone said? Na, there's rather an important difference between a poet and a teacher. I certainly find it hard to find Levi in any way false.
Karma98
I honestly can not stop listening to this!
one of my favorite poems now<3
Such a powerful and moving voice...you honestly blow me away!
Keep doing what you do Levi because you are such a fantastic artist
Riley Bell
I'm so in love with his voice. It conveys so much <3