Known for honest, self-reflective songs as well as captivating lyrical works of fiction and an intimate live show, Shauf is considered one of the most intriguing emerging songwriters around.
His release, The Bearer of Bad News, explores themes of uncertainty, curiosity and spirituality. “I think spirituality is a part of life whether you are religious or not, even if you’re just superstitious. You can’t really get away from the fact that we don’t know everything.” The unsettling stories told on The Bearer of Bad News came as Shauf wrote both at home and on the road. Musically, the record took shape in a modest home studio in his parents’ basement in Regina, Canada, where Shauf spent 4 years recording and producing each song himself. “Spending all this time allowed me a lot of freedom in the ways I arranged the songs. I could work on a drum part for a whole day, or play piano for 2 hours without figuring anything out and be okay with that.”
Bearer is 11 songs built from the sounds of a weathered piano, the warm tone of his guitar’s aged strings, and a clarinet. Shauf is one-of-a-kind voice and dark, literate storytelling.
Dust Kids
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I say, "No, but please go on"
He says, "I was reading about these kids
They're like two years old, recalling their past lives
Could you imagine if that was your kid?"
Rose asks if we want another, I say, "I'll take another life"
"Do they say what happens in between?"
And I imagine sitting on that shelf
Watching over you, just waiting to be someone else
If I died and you died too
Could we sit up in heaven and choose to live on together?
They say after you die you start drifting skyward and it reminds me of a dream I had
Where I was shot in a shopping mall
I died and started rising until I dove headfirst into the ground
I woke up and told Judy, she started laughing at me
Just laughing in the morning light
Maybe hell is coming back
As the dust that you sweep off the floor forevermore
The lyrics of Andy Shauf's song "Dust Kids" explore themes of reincarnation and the afterlife. The song starts with Charlie asking the singer if he believes in reincarnation, to which the singer responds with curiosity to hear more. Charlie shares a story about children who can recall their past lives, prompting the singer to reflect on the idea of having a child with such abilities. This leads to a playful remark about wanting another life.
The lyrics then shift to Rose asking about what happens in between lives. Charlie mentions some beliefs about heaven and watching from above, which sparks the singer's imagination. He envisions himself sitting on a shelf in heaven, watching over his loved ones and eagerly waiting for the opportunity to become someone else. The singer ponders the idea of dying and being able to choose to live on together with a loved one in heaven.
The following verse takes a darker turn as the singer remembers a dream he had about being shot in a shopping mall. In this dream, he dies and starts ascending into the sky, only to suddenly plunge back into the ground headfirst. Upon waking up, he tells Judy about the dream, but she responds by laughing at him, adding a touch of lightness to the narrative.
The final line of the song introduces the concept of hell, implying that perhaps returning as the forever-swept dust on the floor could be a form of eternal punishment. This line suggests a cyclical nature to existence, where one keeps coming back to a meaningless existence.
Overall, "Dust Kids" explores the complexities of life, death, and the possibility of multiple lives through the lens of reincarnation. It delves into the fascination with past lives and the potential longing for another chance at living, while also hinting at the uncertainty and whimsical nature of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Charlie asks me if I believe in reincarnation
Charlie inquires about my belief in the concept of rebirth
I say, "No, but please go on"
I respond with a negative answer but encourage Charlie to continue
He says, "I was reading about these kids
Charlie mentions his recent reading about young children
They're like two years old, recalling their past lives
These children, only two years old, have the ability to remember their previous existences
Could you imagine if that was your kid?"
Charlie wonders how it would feel if one's own child possessed such memories
Rose asks if we want another, I say, "I'll take another life"
Rose inquires about having another child, and I jokingly reply that I'd prefer to experience another lifetime
"Do they say what happens in between?"
I inquire about the period between death and subsequent rebirth
He says, "Some talk about heaven and watching from up above"
Charlie explains that some people believe in a heavenly existence where they observe events from above
And I imagine sitting on that shelf
I envision myself being perched on a metaphorical shelf
Watching over you, just waiting to be someone else
I would observe and protect you, eagerly anticipating the chance to be a different person
If I died and you died too
In a hypothetical scenario where both of us pass away
Could we sit up in heaven and choose to live on together?
I wonder if it would be possible for us to reunite in heaven and decide to continue our existence as partners
They say after you die you start drifting skyward and it reminds me of a dream I had
It is said that upon death, one starts ascending towards the sky, which reminds me of a dream I once had
Where I was shot in a shopping mall
In my dream, I was a victim of a gunshot in a shopping mall
I died and started rising until I dove headfirst into the ground
Following my demise, I began to ascend, only to abruptly plunge headfirst into the ground
I woke up and told Judy, she started laughing at me
Upon awakening, I shared this dream with Judy, and she responded by bursting into laughter
Just laughing in the morning light
She continued to laugh while the morning sunlight filled the room
Maybe hell is coming back
Perhaps an unpleasant fate involves returning to existence
As the dust that you sweep off the floor forevermore
Imagining an eternal existence as the constantly swept dust on the floor
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Shauf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joshua Rukes
Charlie asks me if I believe in reincarnation
I say, "No, but please go on"
He says, "I was reading about these kids
They're like two years old, recalling their past lives
Could you imagine if that was your kid?"
Rose asks if we want another
I say, "I'll take another life"
"Do they say what happens in between?"
He says, "Some talk about heaven
And watching from up above"
And I imagine sitting on that shelf
Watching over you
Just waiting to be someone else
If I died and you died too
Could we sit up in heaven
And choose to live on together?
They say after you die
You start drifting skyward
And it reminds me of a dream I had
Where I was shot in a shopping mall
I died and started rising
Until I dove headfirst into the ground
I woke up and told Judy
She started laughing at me
Just laughing in the morning light
Maybe hell is coming back
As the dust that you sweep off the floor
Forevermore
Ashes 2 Ashes
I like the vibe. Sounds like a great summer sunset song.
Shipadge
In terms of lyrics and story, it's very Harry Chapin-esque, I like it!
Florentina Ana Ionita
The most beautiful and ...heartbreaking love song I have ever heard!!! ❤️
DR DAVID D SANDS
One of the Favourites on the album already!!
sar casm
I love this
☸
Awesome!
Joshua Rukes
Charlie asks me if I believe in reincarnation
I say, "No, but please go on"
He says, "I was reading about these kids
They're like two years old, recalling their past lives
Could you imagine if that was your kid?"
Rose asks if we want another
I say, "I'll take another life"
"Do they say what happens in between?"
He says, "Some talk about heaven
And watching from up above"
And I imagine sitting on that shelf
Watching over you
Just waiting to be someone else
If I died and you died too
Could we sit up in heaven
And choose to live on together?
They say after you die
You start drifting skyward
And it reminds me of a dream I had
Where I was shot in a shopping mall
I died and started rising
Until I dove headfirst into the ground
I woke up and told Judy
She started laughing at me
Just laughing in the morning light
Maybe hell is coming back
As the dust that you sweep off the floor
Forevermore
Jacob MacDonald
Wooo!!!! More Andy!
danl777
Had to listen to this 3x
snowdrop
Just waiting to be someone else 🌾