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.
Neon Skyline
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He said, "No plans, but I wouldn't mind holding a lighter head tonight"
I said, "Come to the Skyline, I'll be washing my sins away"
Oh, he just laughed, said "I'll be late, you know how I can be"
I looked in my fridge, it was a dark scene so I buttered some bread
Chewed my way out the door and walked down the street
To the neon skyline, I grabbed myself a stool at the bar
She didn't ask, she just opened a cold can and set it down in front of me
I said thanks and thought about how Judy used to come here with me
But I got so tired of her calling this our disease, 'cause I'm just fine
Sometimes I need to clear my mind, you know how that can be
Charlie walked in about a quarter past ten and I said, "Greetings, old man"
He hung his coat on the wall and took the stool next to mine
He asked Rose for one glass of Merlot and she laughed
Oh I'm just fine, I'm wasting time, sometimes there's no better feeling than that
The song Neon Skyline by Andy Shauf is a reflective ballad that recounts the story of the singer's night out with his friend Charlie. It starts with the singer calling Charlie and inviting him to join him at the Skyline to hold a lighter head. The Skyline is a bar where the singer goes to wash his sins away. He tells Charlie that he will be there waiting for him, to which Charlie just laughs and says that he'll be late as usual.
The singer proceeds to leave his house and walks down the street to the Skyline where he meets Rose, the bartender, who seems to know exactly what he needs. The singer reminisces about his ex-girlfriend, Judy, who used to come to the bar with him. He recalls how she used to call their nocturnal drinking habit a disease while he asserts that he's just fine and that sometimes he just needs to clear his mind.
Later, Charlie arrives, and they catch up over wine. The song ends with the singer reflecting on the feeling of wasting time with no better feeling than that. The song's tone is melancholic, evocative, and relatable to anyone who has had an aimless night out at a bar with friends.
Line by Line Meaning
I called up Charlie about a quarter past nine and said, "What's going on tonight?"
The singer contacted Charlie on the phone around 9:15 PM inquiring about his plans for the night.
He said, "No plans, but I wouldn't mind holding a lighter head tonight"
Charlie does not have any engagements for the night but reveals that he would appreciate company to relieve his mind.
I said, "Come to the Skyline, I'll be washing my sins away"
The singer invited Charlie to join him at the Skyline bar to relax and forget about their problems.
Oh, he just laughed, said "I'll be late, you know how I can be"
Charlie dismissed the invitation but promised to show up later, as he is known to be tardy.
I looked in my fridge, it was a dark scene so I buttered some bread
The singer searched his fridge for food but found none, so he resolved by having just buttered bread.
Chewed my way out the door and walked down the street
The singer leaves his house after his quick and uncomplicated meal and begins walking down the street towards the Skyline bar.
To the neon skyline, I grabbed myself a stool at the bar
The singer enters the Skyline bar and chooses to sit on an available stool.
Oh somehow Rose always knows just exactly what I need
The singer notes that the barkeeper, Rose, has a knack for intuiting what he desires without prompting.
She didn't ask, she just opened a cold can and set it down in front of me
Rose serves the singer without his guidance by supplying a cold can of what he drinks.
I said thanks and thought about how Judy used to come here with me
The singer reflects on his ex-girlfriend, Judy, who frequently accompanied him to the bar.
But I got so tired of her calling this our disease, 'cause I'm just fine
The singer acknowledges that Judy would refer to their visits to the bar as a shared problem or addiction, with which he disagrees.
Sometimes I need to clear my mind, you know how that can be
The singer asserts that he visits the bar to relax and unburden his mind when necessary.
Charlie walked in about a quarter past ten and I said, "Greetings, old man"
Charlie belatedly arrived at the bar around 10:15 PM, and the singer greeted him.
He hung his coat on the wall and took the stool next to mine
Charlie places his coat on the bar wall before sitting on the adjacent barstool to the singer's.
He asked Rose for one glass of Merlot and she laughed
Charlie orders a glass of Merlot from Rose, which prompts her to laugh for an undisclosed reason.
Oh I'm just fine, I'm wasting time, sometimes there's no better feeling than that
The singer assures Charlie that he is content with idling away time, suggesting that there is no better sensation than their present state of relaxation.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Shauf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
illa gaitskill
I called up Charlie about a quarter past nine and said, "What's going on tonight?"
He said, "No plans, but I wouldn't mind holding a lighter head tonight"
I said, "Come to the Skyline, I'll be washing my sins away"
Oh, he just laughed, said "I'll be late, you know how I can be"
I looked in my fridge, it was a dark scene so I buttered some bread
Chewed my way out the door and walked down the street
To the neon skyline, I grabbed myself a stool at the bar
Oh somehow Rose always knows just exactly what I need
She didn't ask, she just opened a cold can and set it down in front of me
I said thanks and thought about how Judy used to come here with me
But I got so tired of her calling this our disease, 'cause I'm just fine
Sometimes I need to clear my mind, you know how that can be
Charlie walked in about a quarter past ten and I said, "Greetings, old man"
He hung his coat on the wall and took the stool next to mine
He asked Rose for one glass of Merlot and she laughed
Oh I'm just fine, I'm wasting time, sometimes there's no better feeling than that
Source: LyricFind
wheetman
I can’t stop listening to his albums. Such rich storytelling. I’m humbled.
Alex Aldrich
This song is just unbelievably catchy and good. So glad I discovered this during this harsh time in the world.
velocityJE
The whole album is wonderful. I just discovered this guy as well and it's so good. Fantastic melodies throughout, catchy tunes. I can't praise it enough
The Pickled Onions
It's a great record
hudsontoo1212
Guy is so amazing. His music makes me either profoundly happy, or profoundly melancholy.
Bret Mortimer
Andy Shauf turning toward the camera while chewing buttered bread is now my phone background, thank you
Rene Jones
Amazing
FrankDamage
This Song gives me strong Paul Simon vibes! Love it!!
nihilioellipsis
I thought so too! And a little bit of Sheryl Crow.
HildePipes
Yep, yep, to both! Was having similar musings, myself.