After leavi… Read Full Bio ↴Abram Shook is an American musician based in Austin, TX.
After leaving Santa Cruz, California where he grew up and studied jazz, Abram Shook spent several years in Portland and Boston playing in numerous bands, and wrestling with an unsettled spirit. Turning to traveling as a means to quell his existential dread, eventually landed him in Austin, TX, where he's been part of the city's rich creative community for over 8 years. Though the music community in Austin is no substitute for the briny air and patient West Coast beaches he still longs for, its vitality and creativity still manage to nourish the soul.
Shook's solo debut, Sun Marquee breathes with the lungs of a man that finally found a new place to call home, while also reflecting upon the circuitous path that led him here. Propelled by Shook's impeccable bass groove, and inspired by artists like Shuggie Otis, Serge Gainsbourge, and Chico Buarque, Sun Marquee distills lessons learned and questions unanswered into an accessible collection of pop songs.
Machinery
Abram Shook Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You can take all you need
Sometimes the speed of everything moves
Faster than you want to believe
Ooh, darlin'
Start movin' the line
Right next to mine
Ooh, darlin'
It's always you and I
All alone and still by mine
Hush hush
I know your precious time is never enough
Movin' at the speed of light, but what's the rush?
Everybody's talkin' at me way too much
Hands in the market, workin' the machine
Everybody rollin' their sleeves
Sometimes the speed of everything moves
Faster than you want it to believe
Ooh, darlin'
It's only you and I
All alone and still by mine
Hush hush
I know your precious time is never enough
Movin' at the speed of light, but what's the rush?
Everybody's talkin' at me way too much
Everybody's talkin' at me way too much
The opening lines of "Machinery" express a willingness to give oneself over entirely to someone else, with the lines "You can have more than half of my life / You can take all you need." This speaks to the idea of surrendering to love completely, and allowing oneself to be consumed by it. However, the next lines speak to a sense of anxiety or unease about the pace of life, as the singer notes that "Sometimes the speed of everything moves / Faster than you want to believe." The use of the word "believe" here seems revelatory, as if the singer is coming to the realization that life is moving too quickly for comfort.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of wanting to slow down and savor things - whether it's a relationship with someone special ("It's always you and I / All alone and still by mine") or even just enjoying life in general ("Hands in the market, workin' the machine / Everybody rollin' their sleeves"). The chorus provides a contrast to this desire for calm and stillness, with the repetition of "Hush hush / I know your precious time is never enough / Movin' at the speed of light, but what's the rush? / Everybody's talkin' at me way too much." The chorus seems to suggest that even if we want to slow down and take our time, the rest of the world won't wait for us, and we'll always be pressured to keep up.
Overall, "Machinery" is a song about the pressures of modern life and the desire to find peace and stillness amidst the chaos. The lyrics express a certain sense of resignation - life is moving too quickly, but there doesn't seem to be much one can do about it. However, there's also a sense of hope and love that runs through the song, as if the singer believes that even in a world that's always rushing forward, there are still moments of connection and happiness to be found.
Line by Line Meaning
You can have more than half of my life
I am willing to give up a significant portion of my life for you.
You can take all you need
I am willing to give you everything you need.
Sometimes the speed of everything moves
Life can move too quickly, faster than we can keep up with.
Faster than you want to believe
It can be hard to accept how quickly time moves.
Ooh, darlin'
An affectionate term of endearment.
Start movin' the line
Let's make a change in our lives and move forward.
Raise your weary head
Lift up your tired head and keep going.
Right next to mine
Stay by my side, we'll face life's challenges together.
It's always you and I
No matter what happens, it will always be us.
All alone and still by mine
Even when we're alone, we're still together.
Hush hush
Quiet down, let's focus on each other.
I know your precious time is never enough
I understand that you have a lot going on and time is limited.
Movin' at the speed of light, but what's the rush?
We're always in a hurry, but sometimes we need to slow down and enjoy life.
Everybody's talkin' at me way too much
There's too much noise in our lives, we need to cut out the distractions.
Hands in the market, workin' the machine
We're working hard, trying to make a living.
Everybody rollin' their sleeves
We're all working hard, putting in the effort to achieve our goals.
It's only you and I
We don't need anyone else, it's just the two of us.
Contributed by Parker V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.