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.
The Changeling
A.C. Newman Lyrics
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There with front row tickets to the public burning
Found in the strip search, the skins have beaten the shirts
Love will travel, yeah, let's say it will
We know where it goes, you know the drill
Get guilty, kid
Get guilty, go
With the same cruel sense of humor that you came with
Change your mind
Change your mind
She kissed the back of my hand and she smiled
Walked away whispering into the wild
Get guilty, kid
Get guilty, go
With the same cruel sense of humor that you came with
With the same cruel sense of humor that you came with
Change your mind
Change your mind
And I will die with my foot in my mouth
More magnetic if anything because I had to
Get guilty, kid
Get guilty, go
With the same cruel sense of humor that I came with
With the same cruel sense of humor that I came with
Change your mind
Change your mind
Change your mind
Change your mind
The lyrics to A.C. Newman's song The Changeling seem to be about a warning of sorts, possibly about the dangers of love or the consequences of one's actions. The opening lines suggest that although it may not be a war, there is still a sense of danger or caution in the air. The mention of a public burning and a strip search, along with the imagery of skins beating shirts, imply a sense of violence or brutality.
The next lines mention the concept of love and how it travels, but there is a sense of inevitability to it, as "we know where it goes" and "you know the drill." The chorus repeats the phrase "get guilty, kid" and "change your mind" several times, possibly suggesting a need for introspection or repentance.
The final lines suggest a sense of regret or acceptance of one's fate, with the singer stating that they will "die with my foot in my mouth" but still possessing a magnetic quality due to their sense of humor.
Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on the complexities of human nature and the inevitability of certain actions or consequences.
Line by Line Meaning
It's not war, it's more like a warning
This conflict is not quite a war, more of a warning sign for what's to come.
There with front row tickets to the public burning
Witnessing the downfall of something significant, up close and personal.
Found in the strip search, the skins have beaten the shirts
The underdogs, or those without status or power, have triumphed over those with it.
Love will travel, yeah, let's say it will
Love has the potential to overcome obstacles, but it's not guaranteed.
We know where it goes, you know the drill
We're aware of the typical progression of relationships and how they often end up going down the same path.
Get guilty, kid
It's time to admit to wrongdoing.
With the same cruel sense of humor that you came with
The same unyielding, dark sense of humor that was present at the beginning is still present now.
Change your mind
Reconsider your current beliefs or actions.
She kissed the back of my hand and she smiled
A gesture of affection that may be misleading or insincere.
Walked away whispering into the wild
Leaving, perhaps disappearing, without a clear destination.
And I will die with my foot in my mouth
I will make a critical error, likely a social one, that will be my final mistake.
More magnetic if anything because I had to
Despite being flawed, I am still interesting and attractive.
Change your mind
Reconsider your current beliefs or actions.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARL ALLAN NEWMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind