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.
Living room
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is ordering a drink, she says hello to us
Charlie says hi and asks about her boy
She says he's fine and there's a pause
She says, "It's funny that you ask, today I had a strange experience
I remembered once when I was a girl my father came home late from work
I'd drawn a picture for him in school that day and I wanted to show him
But I'd drawn it just for him, just for him, just for him, just for him
Anyways, today my son came home from school and he had drawn a picture
But I was so tired from work, I told him I would have a look in a little while
I should have hung it on the fridge for him
I mean how hard is it to give a shit, to give a shit, to give a shit?"
Claire walked away and Charlie looked at me with wide eyes
Like we had accidentally walked into some stranger's living room
The song Living Room by Andy Shauf is a poignant and emotional ballad that tells the story of a chance encounter with a woman named Claire. The setting is a local bar where the singer and his friend Charlie are catching up over drinks. Claire walks up to them and orders a drink, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Charlie asks about her son. Claire responds with a long pause, and then reveals a personal anecdote from her childhood. She recalls a time when she had drawn a picture for her father and wanted to show it to him, but he had responded dismissively by telling her to show it to her mother. This memory resurfaces when her own son comes home with a drawing, and she feels guilty for not paying more attention to him.
The song is a powerful commentary on the theme of neglect and regret, and how the cycle of inattention can be passed down from generation to generation. The lyrics are rich in detail, creating a vivid picture of the characters and their emotions. The metaphor of walking into a stranger's living room captures the sense of trespass and exposure that can come with confronting someone else's problems. The song is a testament to the power of storytelling and the empathy it can inspire in listeners.
Line by Line Meaning
Claire stands beside us
A girl named Claire is standing next to the singer and Charlie.
She is ordering a drink, she says hello to us
Claire greets the singer and Charlie while ordering a drink.
Charlie says hi and asks about her boy
Charlie greets Claire and inquires about her son.
She says he's fine and there's a pause
Claire responds that her son is well and then falls silent.
She says, "It's funny that you ask, today I had a strange experience
Claire thinks it's odd that Charlie asked about her son and relates a peculiar event from her childhood.
I remembered once when I was a girl my father came home late from work
Claire recalls a time in her childhood when her father returned home late from work.
I'd drawn a picture for him in school that day and I wanted to show him
That day, Claire had made a drawing for her father at school and wished to display it to him.
He said, 'Go show it to your mother dear'
Unfortunately, her father asked her to exhibit the picture to her mother instead.
But I'd drawn it just for him, just for him, just for him, just for him
Claire emphasizes that the picture was drawn exclusively for her father and wishes he had shown it more appreciation.
Anyways, today my son came home from school and he had drawn a picture
Claire now recounts a recent moment when her son came back from school with a drawing.
But I was so tired from work, I told him I would have a look in a little while
Because she was exhausted from work, Claire postponed admiring her son's artwork for a later time.
I should have hung it on the fridge for him
Upon reflection, she realizes that she should have displayed it on the refrigerator for him to see.
I mean how hard is it to give a shit, to give a shit, to give a shit?
Claire questions why it is so difficult to make an effort to care, repeatedly stressing this point.
Claire walked away and Charlie looked at me with wide eyes
Claire departs, and Charlie exchanges a glance with the singer, evidently shocked by Claire's tale.
Like we had accidentally walked into some stranger's living room
Charlie and the singer feel as if they are intruding on an intimate conversation, like they have unintentionally entered a stranger's living space.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Shauf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cxc1419
Claire stands beside us, she is ordering a drink
She says hello to us
Charlie says hi and asks about her boy
She says he's fine and there's a pause
She says, "It's funny that you ask
Today I had a strange experience
I remembered once when I was a girl
My father came home late from work
I'd drawn a picture for him in school that day
And I wanted to show him
He said, "Go show it to your mother dear"
But I'd drawn it just for him
Just for him, just for him, just for him
Anyways, today my son came home from school
And he had drawn a picture
But I was so tired from work
I told him I would have a look in a little while
I should have hung it on the fridge for him
I mean how hard is it to give a shit
To give a shit, to give a shit"
Claire walked away and Charlie looked at me with wide eyes
Like we had accidentally
Walked into some stranger's living room
@perritocometotopos
Andy is one of the best musicians I've heard in the recent years.
@ianmccombie2476
He reminds me of The Magic Lantern in way it’s slow but still hopeful sounding with jazz influence
@BritneyT.
I love the way this shows the beauty and sadness in a lot of parent-child interactions. It's really nice to see my life experiences reflected somewhere
@zyonhp939
Andy Shauf has got to be my favorite musician of all time. Sending love from England.
@rivierror1251
I listen to mostly Hiphop/R&B. I found this guy a few years back and the writing capabilities this cat has are WILD. Super visual...it's hard to explain.
@yamilrojas4910
Andy is a great storyteller. Some of his songs are like short stories.
@machineheadstudio6643
The originally of his songwriting is unreal! In a world drowning in pop music, this is such a refreshing take on music.
Thank you Andy Shauf!!! 💗
@leahklein1405
Anne Douris Killed the animation! WAY TO GO! <3 Leah
@TheGlassPrison
Beautiful video! Greatest Canadian songwriter of our generation.
@ricardosv9702
Andy has become one of my favorite artists of all time, cant't stop listening his music.