There’s A Note On My Door, We Don’t Want You around
Dan Sultan’s self-titled 2023 album is a masterclass in vulnerability and artistic rebirth. Marking his first full-length release since 2017’s Killer, this record is a deeply personal chronicle of recovery, family, and Indigenous resilience. Produced with longtime collaborator Joel Quartermain, the album weaves soul, rock, and blues into a tapestry of hard-won wisdom. Below, we dissect each track, spotlighting lyrics that pierce the heart and provoke reflection.
I was sent this album by a friend that had said their AA group therapy class ended with a song from it each week. The first line of the first song either grabs your or it doesn’t – if it does this becomes an album that gets stuck in your rotation. In its essence it’s a full album, not puffed with singles but classic in the respect that it tells a story start to finish.
1. “Story”
The album opens with a gut-punch: Sultan recounts discovering a racist note on his childhood home’s doorstep at age four. “There’s a note on my door / We don’t want you around / And I felt the fear / The first time that I found out” . This haunting memory transforms into a defiant anthem of survival, culminating in the promise to his children: “I’ll tell my kids there won’t be any more notes on the door” . The track sets the album’s tone—raw, unflinching, yet ultimately hopeful.
2. “Won’t Give You That”
A stomping liberation anthem, this track confronts those who weaponized Sultan’s past struggles. “You can try to bury me with my past / But I’m coming with the wind in my back” . Clapsticks—a nod to his Arrernte/Gurindji heritage—underscore his resolve to reclaim his narrative. The chorus, “I won’t give you that,” is both a battle cry and a declaration of self-love .
3. “Wait in Love”
A tender ballad dedicated to his wife, Bron, during his early sobriety. “Will you wait in love with somebody? / ’Cause you’re all I have” . The lyrics lay bare the fragility of trust amid addiction, with references to “cold sweat shakes” and avoiding newspapers during withdrawal . Its sparse arrangement amplifies the emotional weight, making it a standout moment of intimacy.
4. “Ringing in My Ears”
Infused with road-trip energy, this track namechecks Father John Misty and channels 1980s synth-pop. “It’s just a song of gratitude / Acknowledging the past and feeling hopeful” . The line “Father John Misty ringing in my ears” nods to Sultan’s creative influences while celebrating personal growth .
5. “Fortress” (feat. Julia Stone)
A serene ode to domestic safety, featuring Julia Stone’s haunting trumpet. “Coming home to lashings of love that wash over you” . The metaphor of home as a “fortress” reflects Sultan’s newfound stability as a father and husband. Stone’s bridge elevates the track into a communal hymn for anyone seeking refuge .
6. “Chance to Lose Control”
A Beatles-esque anthem advocating surrender. “Go with the winds of change / A chance to lose control” . The song’s crescendo mirrors Sultan’s journey toward accepting life’s unpredictability. Its closing orchestral chaos, inspired by A Day in the Life, underscores the beauty in chaos .
7. “Rise Up”
Sultan’s vocal acrobatics shine here, with a gasp-inducing leap into falsetto. “It’s a message to myself / Taking control over your echo chamber” . The track rejects external expectations, urging listeners to find peace within—a mantra for Sultan’s post-sobriety philosophy.
8. “Saint Nor Sinner”
A rollicking confessional about past substance abuse. “Another perfect day with the poison that I like” . The bridge—“You can fight me with your reason / And I can show you my hand / But as I rise to my feet / I fall where I stand”—captures the tragicomedy of addiction, balancing swagger with self-reproach .
9. “Boats”
Inspired by bushfire survivors and refugees, this track features the Peacemakers Ensemble, a choir of asylum seekers. “Kids on their parents’ shoulders / Held underwater while hot ash rains down” . The imagery bridges environmental and humanitarian crises, making it a poignant call for empathy.
10. “Undreamt Shores”
A lullaby-like reflection on surrender. The phrase “undreamt shores,” borrowed from a TV show, symbolizes unexpected peace. “Things change, relationships end / You arrive at a new place” . The cascading piano and Sultan’s Matt Corby-esque vocals create a meditative close to the album’s thematic arc.
11. “Lashings”
The finale distills the album’s essence: “Acknowledging the past / Grateful for the moment / Excited for the future” . Written while watching his children play, it’s a love letter to life’s simple joys—“lashings of love” that anchor Sultan’s rebirth.
Production & Legacy
Sultan and Quartermain’s collaboration is flawless, balancing polished instrumentation with raw emotion. The album’s cover—Sultan’s face alone, a first—symbolizes his embrace of authenticity . Critics have hailed it as his “career-best work” , and its ARIA Award wins cement its place in Australian music history .
Final Verdict
Dan Sultan is more than an album—it’s a manifesto of resilience. From racism to addiction, Sultan transmutes pain into art without losing sight of joy. As he sings in Story: “This story is mine.” And what a story it is.
For tour dates and further listening, visit Dan Sultan’s official website.
Author: Carter Davies
Music, Travel and Sobriety writer for Sober Standard. More articles can be found here and on X https://soberstandard.com/profile/carter-davies/