The Captain

Album: The Captain (1999)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is the second track on Kasey Chambers' breakthrough first solo album and the meaning of it has often been misinterpreted.

    Many understood it to be about a woman relying on a man for her self-worth and viewed him as the solution to her troubles. The first verse and chorus seem to give off this impression:

    Well I don't have as many friends because
    I'm not as pretty as I was
    I've kicked myself at times because I've lied
    So I will have to learn to stand my ground
    I'll tell 'em I won't be around
    I'll move on over to your town and hide

    And you be the captain
    And I'll be no one
    And you can carry me away if you want to
    And you can lay low
    Just like your father
    And if I tread upon your feet you just say so
    'Cause you're the captain, I am no one
    I tend to feel as though I owe one to you, to you


    Chambers insisted that wasn't the case, though. "Lots of women come up to me saying, 'That's so sexist,'" she told Billboard. "I wrote it for someone who's really special to me. It's kind of through the eyes of myself in about 10 years' time, when I want to settle down and take it easy and just be no one for a day."
  • In our 2017 interview with Chambers, she spoke about the importance of this tune to her. "It's still my favorite song to play every night," she said. "I NEVER get sick of it. I find a comfort in this song every time I sing it. It's such a big part of who I am."
  • This song was featured in Season 3 of The Sopranos in the episode, "He Is Risen."
  • The Captain won best country album in 1999 at the ARIAs, which is Australia's Grammys.

Comments: 1

  • Marky T from New JerseyAh, feminists find fault with every song that doesn't call for the heads for the heads of men, especially of European descent.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Classic Metal

Classic MetalFact or Fiction

Ozzy, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest and even Michael Bolton show up in this Classic Metal quiz.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

Reverend Horton Heat

Reverend Horton HeatSongwriter Interviews

The Reverend rants on psychobilly and the egghead academics he bashes in one of his more popular songs.

Gentle Giant

Gentle GiantSongwriter Interviews

An interview with Ray and Derek Shulman of the progressive rock band Gentle Giant to discuss counterpoint, polyrhythms, and... Bon Jovi.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.