He trick-or-treated at Liberace’s house, planned a two-day stay in Amsterdam that ended a month later with him escaping the city under the cover of darkness, and was Bob Hope’s favorite altar boy. On top of that, he co-wrote the longest-running song on the Billboard Top 100, had a debut solo album that earned three and a half stars in Rolling Stone, and was awarded the title of “San Diego’s Most Influential Artist of the Decade” at the San Diego Music Awards.
Born among in Halifax, Nova Scotia, his parents moved him to Palm Springs where he was raised. After the University of San Diego, Poltz became a full time musician. He started out playing bars and coffee houses around San Diego, eventually forming the college radio favorite band, The Rugburns. The Rugburns are well-known and appreciated by DJs all over the country, due in no small part to the fact that the anthemic “Dick’s Automotive” was long enough to afford them the opportunity to relieve themselves and then some during their shows. The Rugburns blended punk, pop, folk, and if you listen close enough, you might just hear the slightest hint of a whisper of the possibility of Swedish Christian Death Metal. They were so freaking good that they found themselves in a crappy old van 300+ days a year, playing packed and sold out clubs and bars all over the country.
While performing dates at the Innerchange Coffeehouse in San Diego, he formed a relationship with Jewel, frequently opening for her on tours, co-writing songs, and appearing in her music video for "You Were Meant For Me." The song made it to Number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
In 1998, Poltz released his first solo album, One Left Shoe, for Mercury Records.
Poltz collaborated as a songwriter with A. J. Croce on Croce's 2004 album Adrian James Croce.
Dreamer: A Tribute to Kent Finlay, released in early 2016 on Austin-based Eight 30 Records, features Poltz' version of Finlay's "The Plight of the Bumblebee."
Come Dance With Me
Steve Poltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Without your love, without your love, without your love, I'm left to croon
Like a bird that's wounded and I'm limping down a one-way road and I don't wanna end up like that bird
Oh Jesus can you Mary, can you Judas, can you help me from the devil, who's behind me
I think he wants to belt me with the special dose of evil
And I can't escape his kindness
Would you save me please, I know you know the dance
Come dance with me
Please dance with me
Don't let me be
Don't set me free
Why can't you see
Without you I'm nothing?
Now I'm slipping, now I'm sliding, now I'm falling, help me mother
I wish I had, I got to find, I really need an older brother
He could loan me money, help me pay for all my parking violations
In my heart I'm, my heart I'm, my heart I'm feeling sorrow
Livin' like an, acting like an, lookin' like there's no tomorrow
Now I know what country western singers mean when they say that they're stranded on the wrong side of that mine
Oh Jesus can you Mary, can you Judas, can you help me from the devil, who's behind me
I think he wants to belt me with the special dose of evil
And I can't escape his kindness
Would you save me please, I know you know the dance
Come dance with me
Please dance with me
Don't let me be
Don't set me free
Why can't you see
Without you I'm nothing?
The lyrics of Steve Poltz's Come Dance with Me express a deep sense of dependence on someone for support, love and stability. The singer of the song is struggling with staying in tune without the love of the person they are addressing in the song. The reference to the bird that's wounded and limping down a one-way road highlights the feeling of vulnerability and hopelessness the singer is experiencing. They don't want to end up like that bird, and they need help to get out.
There is also a sense of fear and desperation conveyed in the lyrics as the singer asks Jesus, Mary, and Judas for help to escape the devil who's behind them. The imagery of the devil wanting to belt them with a special dose of evil shows the extent of the danger the singer is facing. However, there is a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos as the singer requests Jesus, Mary, and Judas to save them. They know that these figures know the dance, and they can help them get through the difficulties they are facing.
Overall, the lyrics of Come Dance with Me showcase the importance of having someone to rely on in times of trouble. The singer reaches out for help, recognizing that they can't do it alone.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't seem to, can't seem to, can't seem to stay in tune
I am unable to stay focused and stable without your presence in my life
Without your love, without your love, without your love, I'm left to croon
I am left feeling weak and helpless without your love and support
Like a bird that's wounded and I'm limping down a one-way road and I don't wanna end up like that bird
I feel like a hurt bird, walking alone down a path of no return, and I fear ending up in a similar destructive situation
Oh Jesus can you Mary, can you Judas, can you help me from the devil, who's behind me
I seek help from religious figures to protect me from the devil who is following me
I think he wants to belt me with the special dose of evil
I believe the devil wants to harm me with a unique type of evil
And I can't escape his kindness
I cannot escape the devil's influence over me, even when he is pretending to be kind
Would you save me please, I know you know the dance
I beg for help and protection from you, holy figures, because I trust in your abilities to guide me out of harm's way
Come dance with me
Join me in tackling life's challenges together
Please dance with me
I implore you to work with me in this journey of life
Don't let me be
Do not allow me to struggle alone
Don't set me free
Do not abandon me, stay by my side
Why can't you see
I am baffled that you cannot perceive the importance of our relationship to me
Without you I'm nothing?
I feel like a nobody or nothing without your companionship and support
Now I'm slipping, now I'm sliding, now I'm falling, help me mother
Now I am losing my balance, slipping and falling, and I cry out to my mother for assistance
I wish I had, I got to find, I really need an older brother
I genuinely require an older brother's support and guidance, but I do not have one
He could loan me money, help me pay for all my parking violations
An older brother could assist me with financial needs and also help me with my legal issues
In my heart, I'm feeling sorrow
My heart is heavy with sadness and grief
Livin' like an, acting like an, lookin' like there's no tomorrow
I feel like I am living with reckless abandon, pretending like tomorrow doesn't matter
Now I know what country western singers mean when they say that they're stranded on the wrong side of that mine
I am now beginning to understand the sentiment of country western songs about being lost and uncertain in life
Contributed by Samuel B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.