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."
Music Box
Steve Poltz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two figures imposing
We were bobbing and weaving
The pubs were all closing
We stumbled upstairs as the rain started pouring
The roommate was naked and passed out and snoring
Then I believe I drunk-dialed your number
I felt encumbered
I poured a bourbon in a tumbler with rocks
Your voice sounded just like a music box
Your voice sounded just like a music box
No pain, no gain
I drive you insane
Left in the rain
My heart is stained
You yelled in my ear for me to get home
But the party was raging and I dropped the phone
We tripped outside as the sun started rising
We tried to buy more, but it was false advertising
Then I believe we trolleyed to Mexico
We shot tequila
The sun was a-glow
I dialed your number at the phone by the docks
Your voice sounded just like a music box
Your voice sounded just like a music box
No pain, no gain
You drive me insane
Left in the rain
Your heart is stained
Hope we're not through
P.s. I love you
Well we almost got locked up for public urination
But we paid off the cops right in front of the station
We sheepishly crossed the international border
And back in the states, well, our lives were in order
Then I believe I finally came home
I said I was sorry, you looked so alone
I stripped all the way to my boxers and socks
Your voice sounded just like a music box
Your voice sounded just like a music box
No pain, no gain
I drive you insane
I am to blame
Our hearts are stained
Hope we're not through
P.s. I love you
The lyrics of Steve Poltz’s song Music Box tell a story of two people in a complicated relationship. The song starts with the two figures “bobbing and weaving” and entering a room where the roommate is passed out and snoring. Then Poltz drunk-dials the person he is addressing in the narrative, who yells at him to come home, but he does not listen. Later, they end up in Mexico where they drink tequila and Poltz dials the same phone number again. He compares the voice at the other end of the phone to a music box.
Throughout the song, Poltz talks about the rough patches in their relationship, using phrases such as “No pain, no gain,” “You drive me insane,” and “Our hearts are stained.” However, there is still love there, as evidenced by the postscript “P.S. I love you.” In the end, Poltz makes his way back home and apologizes for his actions. The other person’s voice still sounds like a music box to him, suggesting that Poltz sees the person he is addressing as someone special, even if things are not always smooth sailing between them.
The song Music Box was released in 1998 on Steve Poltz’s album One Left Shoe. The song was inspired by a night of partying with friends in San Diego. Interestingly, the song almost didn’t make it onto the album because Poltz wasn’t happy with the way the vocals came out. Fortunately, his friend Jewel encouraged him to keep it in.
Line by Line Meaning
We staggered outside
We walked unsteadily out of the pub
Two figures imposing
We were noticeable and looked intimidating
We were bobbing and weaving
We were swaying unsteadily as we walked
The pubs were all closing
All the bars were shutting down for the night
We stumbled upstairs as the rain started pouring
We climbed the stairs to our apartment as it began to rain
The roommate was naked and passed out and snoring
Our roommate was sleeping naked and making loud snoring sounds
Then I believe I drunk-dialed your number
I think I called you while I was drunk
My hands started shaking
I began to tremble
I felt encumbered
I was weighed down by some burden or difficulty
I poured a bourbon in a tumbler with rocks
I put ice and whiskey in a glass
Your voice sounded just like a music box
Your voice was soft and melodic
No pain, no gain
You have to work hard to achieve your goals
I drive you insane
I make you crazy
Left in the rain
Abandoned in bad conditions
My heart is stained
I have emotional damage
You yelled in my ear for me to get home
You screamed at me to come back
But the party was raging and I dropped the phone
I was too distracted to hold on to the phone
We tripped outside as the sun started rising
We stumbled as the sun was coming up
We tried to buy more, but it was false advertising
We attempted to purchase something, but it turned out to be a scam
Then I believe we trolleyed to Mexico
I think we traveled by trolley to Mexico
We shot tequila
We drank tequila quickly
The sun was a-glow
The sun was brightly shining
I dialed your number at the phone by the docks
I called you from a phone located near the docks
Your voice sounded just like a music box
Your voice was sweet and musical
You drive me insane
You make me crazy
Your heart is stained
You have emotional damage
Hope we're not through
I hope our relationship is not over
Well we almost got locked up for public urination
We were close to being arrested for peeing in public
But we paid off the cops right in front of the station
We bribed the police in front of the station to avoid getting arrested
We sheepishly crossed the international border
We crossed the border between countries with embarrassment
And back in the states, well, our lives were in order
Once we returned to the US, our lives were stable and organized
I said I was sorry, you looked so alone
I apologized and saw that you appeared lonely
I stripped all the way to my boxers and socks
I removed all my clothes except for my underwear
Our hearts are stained
We both have emotional damage
Hope we're not through
I hope our relationship continues
P.s. I love you
I love you postscript
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Raymond Porter
I saw steve play this live in Aberdeen 1n 2011. He was outstanding.
Flav Martin
my friend steve poltz we were friends through friends for years.When we met it was like we knew each other forever,and we have! Steve is a force of nature that must be seen!! love Flav