Ungerleider played her first show under the name Oh Susanna at the Railway Club in Vancouver in July 1995, and released her first independent recording, a seven-song EP, in 1997. Around this time, she decided to relocate to Toronto after attending Blue Rodeo's Stardust Picnic festival. In 1999, she released her full-length debut, Johnstown, and toured Canada and the United States with fellow musicians Veda Hille and Kinnie Starr, in what they dubbed the "Scrappy Bitch Tour".
At the 19th Genie Awards in 1999, she won the Genie Award for Best Original Song, for her song "River Blue" from the film The Fishing Trip. She subsequently released eight more recordings, Sleepy Little Sailor (2001), Oh Susanna (2003), Short Stories (2007), Soon the Birds (2011), Namedropper (2014), A Girl in Teen City (2017), and Decemberly (2018) a holiday EP with Michael Johnston.
In 2021, she announced that she was retiring the Oh Susanna stage name after learning more about the complicated racial history of the song "Oh! Susanna". She is now releasing under her own name.
Discography:
Oh Susanna EP (1997)
Johnstown (1999)
Sleepy Little Sailor (2001)
Oh Susanna (2003)
Short Stories (2007)
Soon The Birds (2011)
Namedropper (2014)
A Girl in Teen City (2017)
Decemberly (2018) (with Michael Johnston)
Drunk as a Sailor
Oh Susanna Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But this time I think I can mend.
You turn my heart on its end
And spin it again and again.
I'm rolling the dice once again
But this time I think I can win.
I knew when you took my hand
Oh no, here I go, I'm as high as a kite on a string
Soaring over the tops of the trees.
Oh, wind won't you blow, up I go, for tonight I have wings
But as sure as you're born by the morn, I'll be back on my knees.
I'm drunk as a sailor again
But this time I think I can mend.
You turn my heart on its end
And spin it again and again.
I'm rolling the dice once again
But this time I think I can win.
I knew when you took my hand
That old lady luck was my friend
Old lady luck was my friend
Old lady luck was my friend.
The first stanza of 'Drunk as a Sailor' by Oh Susanna talks about being drunk on alcohol and making mistakes in the past, but this time the singer believes they can finally make amends. The second stanza refers to taking risks, rolling the dice and having faith in one's luck. The singer believes that the love interest they are with will bring them good luck when taking these risks.
The chorus is about feeling free, like a person who is high up in the sky, soaring over the trees with the help of the wind. In this state of euphoria, the singer feels like nothing can bring them down. However, they also know that this feeling will dissipate and they will be brought back to reality in the morning, on their knees, confronted by the consequences of their actions.
The overall theme of the song is about taking risks, learning from one’s past mistakes, and pursuing love with courage and hope. The song encourages listeners to have faith in themselves and their luck and to take risks without fearing failure.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm drunk as a sailor again
I am heavily intoxicated, just like a sailor who has consumed a lot of alcohol.
But this time I think I can mend.
Despite being drunk, I am optimistic that I will be able to fix my situation.
You turn my heart on its end
You have completely disrupted the state of my heart and emotions.
And spin it again and again.
You keep repeating this cycle of messing with my heart and emotions.
I'm rolling the dice once again
I am taking another risk or chance, just like throwing dice in a game.
But this time I think I can win.
Despite the risk, I feel confident that I will be successful.
I knew when you took my hand
I had a feeling of certainty when you made physical contact with me.
That old lady luck was my friend.
I believe that fortune or fate is on my side, just like a friendly lady named Luck.
Oh no, here I go, I'm as high as a kite on a string
I am feeling very excited and elated, just like a kite that is flying very high in the sky.
Soaring over the tops of the trees.
I feel like I am flying and surpassing any obstacles or challenges in my way.
Oh, wind won't you blow, up I go, for tonight I have wings
I am asking for the wind to push me higher and higher, because I feel like I have the ability to accomplish anything.
But as sure as you're born by the morn, I'll be back on my knees.
Unfortunately, I am aware that my confidence may not last, and I may face difficulties or struggles again in the future.
Old lady luck was my friend.
Repeating the phrase from earlier in the song, I still believe that fortune or fate gave me a helping hand.
Contributed by Benjamin K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.