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 Troubadour
A.C. Newman Lyrics
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Some quick shadow newly worn, the idea spinning in your arms
Could it be we've won?
At the various routes of promise have converged
The troubadour is here, you heard, the youngest son, alive with firsts
About to learn, about to burst, but still turning from the worst
That stopped me at the door, that stopped me at the door
Too late to be what you were just before
It stopped me at the door, stopped me at the door
Oh, you couldn't know unless you'd been there before
The child king recklessness it fades, floored like all the service trays
The nurses take them all away, you're all done counting what you've made
It is enough and nothing, paid
A kiss is blown, a kiss to cry for till one day it makes you smile
It will take time, a long, long while, the country's in its dream of gold
You're flashing young and old
You're going right to your flight, it's leaving tonight
It stopped me at the door, it stopped me at the door
Oh, you couldn't know unless you've been there before
It stopped me at the door, stopped me at the door
Too late to be what you were just before
It stopped me at the door, stopped me at the door
The Troubadour by A.C. Newman is a song that explores the idea of change and the different paths that someone can take in life. The first stanza describes a person who is walking on broken stones that are still warm, and the idea of sunlight calculating its form creates a sense of hope and new beginnings. The idea spinning in their arms suggests that they are holding on to something positive and inspiring. The lyrics "Could it be we've won?" convey a sense of victory and triumph after struggling and fighting for something.
The second stanza talks about how all the different routes of promise have converged and how the troubadour, the youngest son, is present and alive with firsts but still turning away from the worst. The fight and the flight that was too late one night stopped the person at the door, preventing them from becoming who they were just before. The third stanza suggests that the reckless behavior of a child king has now faded, and the nurses have taken away all the service trays. The kiss that is blown is so powerful that it makes a person cry until they finally smile. The final stanza describes someone who is going right to their flight, and it has stopped them at the door.
Line by Line Meaning
You walk the broken stones still warm, the sunlight calculates its form
You are walking on the broken stones that were recently heated up by the sun, which is creating a pattern on the ground.
Some quick shadow newly worn, the idea spinning in your arms
A thought is occupying your mind, as you notice a new shadow being created by the sun.
Could it be we've won?
You wonder if things have gone your way and you have achieved victory.
At the various routes of promise have converged
Different paths towards success have come together to lead you to where you are now.
The troubadour is here, you heard, the youngest son, alive with firsts
A singer-songwriter has arrived and you have heard of his talents, he is young and full of fresh ideas.
About to learn, about to burst, but still turning from the worst
Despite being on the verge of breaking through, he is still fearful of the possibility of failure.
From the fight and the flight that was too late one night
You are recalling a moment in which it was too late for you to escape and you had to fight instead.
That stopped me at the door, that stopped me at the door
The intense situation prevented you from entering or exiting a place.
Too late to be what you were just before
The situation has changed so much that you can't go back to the way things were before.
The child king recklessness it fades, floored like all the service trays
The arrogance and recklessness of youth fades away as you get older and more experienced.
The nurses take them all away, you're all done counting what you've made
You realize that material possessions do not bring true happiness and peace.
It is enough and nothing, paid
You have accomplished what you set out to do, but it doesn't feel as fulfilling as you thought it would.
A kiss is blown, a kiss to cry for till one day it makes you smile
A goodbye kiss that initially causes sadness will eventually turn into a happy memory.
It will take time, a long, long while, the country's in its dream of gold
It will be a long time before the country reaches its peak of prosperity and success.
You're flashing young and old
You feel both youthful and old at the same time, as you reflect on your life.
You're going right to your flight, it's leaving tonight
You are heading straight towards your plane, which is departing tonight.
It stopped me at the door, stopped me at the door
Once again, you are unable to leave or enter due to circumstances beyond your control.
Too late to be what you were just before
It is too late to go back to the way things were before.
Contributed by Madelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.