There are two known sides to folk pop singer-songwriter Stephen Babcock. Fans know him as a gifted performer, having opened for artists like Ed Sheeran, Canyon City, and Girl Blue. Fans also know him, however, as “Internet Dad.” When the COVID-19 pandemic began, he took to Instagram Live, creating a safe space for fans to talk everything from music to mental health – thus, the fatherly nickname. On his new single, “All I Can Do,” Stephen recreates this safe space, touching on the way his struggles with self-doubt impacts those he loves.
A blend of bluesy chords, merry melodies, and gentle percussion, “All I Can Do” offers a bit of respite from stressful thoughts and uneasy feelings. Throughout the track, Stephen sings about losing touch with himself, with lines like “Looking back / Caught a glimpse of a past life / Shell of myself / Lost all of my might” and “It’s all wrong / I know this isn’t like me / Up then down / I fill with anxiety.” Still, he has love to offer, telling us, “All I can do is love you / All I can do is love you right now.” You can listen to it below.
Giving us more details about the single, Stephen explains,
“‘All I Can Do’ is about me recognizing that I don’t have all of the answers and I’m still figuring things out for myself. I’d just gotten married, COVID was in full swing, so touring had come to a halt, and I couldn’t help but get lost in the question of ‘What am I doing with my life?’ At its core, this is me sharing my personal experience of looking at the person I love and saying, ‘I know I can’t give you everything you need or want right now, but I will continue to do all that I can to show you I love you.’”
On November 10, Stephen will be releasing his sophomore album, When We Were Kids Ourselves, which will contain “All I Can Do” and previous singles “Worst Ways” and “Still Think Of You.” Last month, Stephen embarked on a North American tour in support of the album, which will run until November 11. You can purchase tickets here.
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