The Chicago-born singer-songwriter, was discovered by Kris Kristofferson. He collaborated with close friend John Prine throughout his career. His superb guitar ability (honed at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music) and creative songwriting ability led him to success in the 1970s folk scene. Often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, always unpredictable, Steve Goodman was the consummate performer whether in a small Chicago venue, Austin City Limits, or opening for Steve Martin (and often stealing the show!). Steve is probably best known for his song "City of New Orleans", which was later covered by Arlo Guthrie among others. He has also been covered by Jimmy Buffett and many others. Steve was the ultimate suffering Chicago Cub fan, writing the songs "Go, Cubs, Go" and the unfortunately very true "A Dying Cub Fans Last Request".
Steve's life was cut short in 1984 by leukemia, but fortunately an extensive catalog remains, including the recently released, "Live at the Earl" as well as the DVD "Steve Goodman Live at Austin City Limits and More."
When My Rowboat Comes In
Steve Goodman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When the clouds roll in,
To hide the lucky stars that I am under,
And the smoky sky.
Makes the heavens cry.
When the lightnin' strikes so long before the thunder.
When the rain is done,
In the silence of the dawn that follows after.
Then I need someone who can find the sun,
And chase away my sorrow with her laughter.
When my rowboat comes in
There'll be room enough to ride,
Though the seas are rough
In the highest tide,
When the sun comes out on the other side,
Everything will be all right when we go rowin'
As I find my way
Down this lonely road,
With my old guitar as my one true companion,
You can hear me play
Every song I know,
From the mountains to the bottom of the canyon.
Now they say that time is a precious jewel,
I'm looking for some moments I can borrow.
And if my lucky stars won't shine tonight
I'd rather take my chances on tomorrow.
When my rowboat comes in
There'll be room enough to ride,
Though the seas are rough
In the highest tide,
When the sun comes out on the other side,
Everything will be all right when we go rowin'
When my rowboat comes in
There'll be room enough to ride,
Though the seas are rough
In the highest tide,
When the sun comes out on the other side,
Everything will be all right when we go rowin'
"When My Rowboat Comes In" is a deeply contemplative song that reveals the thoughts of the singer during a stormy night. The lyrics paint a picture of a dark and stormy night where the weather is so bad that the storm clouds obscure the stars. The angry sky, which makes the heavens cry, is punctuated by strikes of lightning that come long before the thunder can be heard. In the aftermath of the storm when the rain has stopped and he's all alone, the singer is looking for someone who can "find the sun and chase away [his] sorrow with her laughter".
The second stanza reveals the singer's current state of mind as he trudges down a lonely road with his old guitar as his only companion. As he plays the old songs he knows from the mountains to the bottom of the canyon, he considers time as a precious jewel, looking for moments he can borrow. The song concludes on a hopeful note with the belief that one day his "rowboat will come in" and when it does, there'll be enough room to ride and everything will be alright.
The lyrics speak to the challenges of navigating through difficult times in life, but also to the hope that a new day will come, and with it, better days. The metaphor of the rowboat, amidst the stormy sea, represents the singer's journey through life's hardships, with the promise of brighter days on the horizon.
Line by Line Meaning
On the stormy night
During a night of tumultuous weather
When the clouds roll in,
As the cloud cover thickens and obfuscates the sky
To hide the lucky stars that I am under,
Blocking visibility of the auspicious stars that have guided me
And the smoky sky.
With the atmosphere filled with the haze of the storm
Makes the heavens cry.
The intensity of the storm evokes sorrow and tears from the heavens
When the lightnin' strikes so long before the thunder.
The lightning flash is visible well before the sound of the accompanying thunder
When the rain is done,
Once the rain has subsided
And I'm all alone,
Feeling solitary and secluded
In the silence of the dawn that follows after.
In the calm and peace of the morning that ensues after the storm has ended
Then I need someone who can find the sun,
At that time, I yearn for someone who can locate the sun
And chase away my sorrow with her laughter.
Using their cheerful disposition to remove my sadness and lift my spirits
When my rowboat comes in
In the future, when my luck manifests
There'll be room enough to ride,
There will be ample space for me to go on a journey
Though the seas are rough
Despite the harshness of the tumultuous water
In the highest tide,
During the most extreme tide
When the sun comes out on the other side,
Once the challenges are over, and I can see the sunshine again
Everything will be all right when we go rowin'
I will find comfort and joy in going on a boat ride
As I find my way
As I navigate this path of life
Down this lonely road,
On this solitary journey
With my old guitar as my one true companion,
With only my trusty guitar to keep me company
You can hear me play
People can listen to me strum and sing
Every song I know,
I will perform every melody I have at my disposal
From the mountains to the bottom of the canyon.
From the highest peaks to the lowest valleys
Now they say that time is a precious jewel,
Some say that our time is invaluable
I'm looking for some moments I can borrow.
I am searching for some extra time to use
And if my lucky stars won't shine tonight
If fortune does not smile upon me this evening
I'd rather take my chances on tomorrow.
I have hope of better fortune on the following day
Contributed by Liam G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.