Newman began his musical career in the 1990s as a member of the Vancouver grunge/pop group Superconductor. After a brief stay, he joined the Vancouver-based pop group Zumpano. The band released two albums with Newman in the mid-1990s, Look What the Rookie Did and Goin' Through Changes, both of which received favorable reviews. Though Zumpano never officially announced their breakup, they have not recorded any new material since the 90s.
Newman is a founding member of the successful Vancouver-based pop supergroup The New Pornographers. The band has released five full length albums since 2000, all of which received favorable reviews. In 2007, Blender ranked the group's debut album, Mass Romantic, the 24th best indie album of all time. Newman is the band's main songwriter and vocalist, and is generally regarded as the band's leader.
His debut solo album, The Slow Wonder, was released in Summer 2004, and his sophomore album, Get Guilty, was released in early 2009. He released his third album, Shut Down the Streets, in 2012.
On the Table
A.C. Newman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stealing our thoughts with the force of their non-sequiturs - amateurs.
On the table, the view behind the legs of dancers,
Windows of chance there, lost on the trail of dissent - innocent.
Do re mi, innocent.
On the table, the deal between the thieves and exits,
Common and breathless, shrugging at what they've become - number one.
Stealing our hearts with the force of the new evidence - innocent.
Do re mi, innocent.
Now the plain blondes are playing along with you (x2)
On the table, our hopes become a starting pistol,
Though we have missed all the minutes, we know what weive won.
Are we done?
On the table, the deal between the legs of mankind,
Walking a straight line, copping a plea as they went - innocent.
Do re mi, innocent.
Now the plain blondes are playing along with you (x2)
On the table (x4)
In A.C. Newman's song "On the Table," the lyrics touch upon the theme of corruption, justice, and innocence. The lyrics refer to a deal on the table that has kept the courts at bay, indicating that some form of corruption is at play. The force of non-sequiturs is stealing their thoughts, suggesting perhaps confusion, misinformation, or even intentional deception. Furthermore, they are described as amateurs, further emphasizing an ineptitude in their actions.
The View behind the legs of dancers on the table suggests hidden opportunities, that have been lost on the trail of dissent. Hence, the deal and corruption have stolen the agency of someone, making them turn away from the opportunities that could have been. Meanwhile, the chorus of "Do re mi, innocent" is an ironic play on the notes of the musical scale juxtaposed with the theme of innocence.
The lyrics also describe thieves among them and the idea of shrugging at what they've become, suggesting that some individuals have accepted their corrupt situations with a form of apathy. Additionally, it implies that they could be number one, Â the most corrupt and thereby most powerful. The stolen hearts due to new evidence emphasize a shift in perception, a realization of the situation's gravity, which is leaving them innocent.
Some interesting facts about this song include that it is track 9 from Newman's second solo album "Get Guilty," which was released in 2009. Newman, known for his work with the indie-pop band The New Pornographers, provides more introspection and self-examination on this album. Additionally, the album was recorded with the original line-up of The New Pornographers with Brooklyn-based producer Phil Palazzolo. Some of the album's themes explore anxiety and the blurred lines between reality and fiction. Finally, there is no official video released for "On the Table."
Chords: F Am Dm Bb Gm C F (Verse) // Am F (Chorus)
Line by Line Meaning
On the table, the deal that kept the courts at arms length,
The agreement that prevented the courts from interfering is on the table, with the non-sequiturs of amateurs misguiding our thoughts.
Stealing our thoughts with the force of their non-sequiturs - amateurs.
The non-sequiturs of amateurs have a strong grip on our thoughts and steal them away from us.
On the table, the view behind the legs of dancers,
The view obstructed by the legs of dancers is on the table, with the opportunity for success now lost due to dissent.
Windows of chance there, lost on the trail of dissent - innocent.
There were chances for success, but they were lost due to dissent and inexperience.
Do re mi, innocent.
Musical notes representing innocence.
On the table, the deal between the thieves and exits,
The agreement between the thieves and exits is on the table, with no remorse for their actions.
Common and breathless, shrugging at what they've become - number one.
They have become common and breathless, with no regrets for their actions, and believing they have come out on top.
Stealing our hearts with the force of the new evidence - innocent.
Our hearts have been stolen with the impact of the new evidence, with innocence still present.
Now the plain blondes are playing along with you (x2)
The plain, innocent bystanders are now involved in the situation with you.
On the table, our hopes become a starting pistol,
Our hopes turn into the starting signal, even though we have lost the chance to win.
Though we have missed all the minutes, we know what we've won.
Despite missing the opportunity, we still know what we have gained.
Are we done?
Are we finished or is there still more to come?
On the table, the deal between the legs of mankind,
The agreement among people is on the table, with people turning a blind eye when they shouldn't.
Walking a straight line, copping a plea as they went - innocent.
People pretend to stay on the right path and make excuses when caught, with innocence still present.
Now the plain blondes are playing along with you (x2)
The plain, innocent bystanders are still involved in the situation with you.
On the table (x4)
Repetition of the phrase 'On the table.'
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARL ALLAN NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Devin Nelson
One of the best songs I've ever heard . Should've got more exposure than it did
EWForever
It is so under-recognized. A priceless fossil growing more valuable.
Zack
Had this song for a few years on CD. Really good. Never 'took off' for some reason. The buying public wouldn't know good music if it bit 'em.
Noah Gard
I love this song so much
Marshall Lancaster
Love it. It’s like your favorite power pop song with a jolt.
Lucas RM7
very creative man!!!! this melodie... unique! one of the best songs in the world! this is art!!!! FROM THE O.C season 2 episode 3
Dennis Shea
So real and live sounding. Nice snare drum accents. Love it!
Erik Freymuth
To my tastes, the best pure pop composer out there, save for Neil Finn. Spectacularly underappreciated talent.
Adam L
Great song. Never heard of A.C. Newman until now and seriously thought this was a lost track from the 80's.
Ed Helvey
Check out his band the New Pornographers. Neko Case was also a member. Listen to her solo material, too.