Building Steam With a Grain of Salt

Song Meaning

These lyrics open with a musician reflecting on his self-taught journey, acknowledging past errors, and expressing a persistent drive to improve. He humbly states, "I mainly taught myself" and admits to "a few mistakes" he's since "cleared up." This establishes a grounded, dedicated pursuit of mastery. The narrative then takes a sharp turn, shifting to an almost scientific or astrological observation: "What makes cancer tenacious? The moon rules the fluids." This abrupt interlude introduces a cosmic, biological lens, discussing how an "astral brain" slowly assimilates and distributes what it receives. It suggests a universal process of absorption and transformation, mirroring the musician's own process of learning and internalizing. Following this, a brief, evocative voice declares, "I can fly to the strangest lands / Starry eyes." This burst of imaginative freedom and wonder contrasts with the previous, more analytical sections, yet it feels like a natural extension of a mind that is open to receiving and processing diverse inputs. It speaks to the boundless possibilities inherent in creative thought. Finally, the musician returns, bringing these disparate ideas together with a profound realization. He expresses a desire for what's inside him to come out, but clarifies, "it's not really me that's coming / The music's coming through me." This powerful statement reframes the artist's role from sole creator to a vessel, a channel through which a larger, perhaps universal, creative force flows. It's a deeply effective articulation of artistic humility and connection.