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.
The Magician
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time you make it disappear?
Oh fools the magician bends the rules
As the crowd watches his every move
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Side steps to a death defying feat
Wait for him to reappear
Look close you'll see him sweat the most
Each time his options disappear
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
I'm a shaking hand without a plan
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
Do, do do, do do, do do
The lyrics of "The Magician" by Andy Shauf are open to multiple interpretations, but one possible analysis is that they express the idea of trying to hide one's insecurities and flaws through illusions and tricks. The song seems to be addressed from the perspective of a magician who may be feeling self-conscious or doubtful of his abilities, but still puts on a show for his audience. The opening line, "Do you find it gets a little easier each time you make it disappear?" could suggest that the more the magician makes his tricks seem effortless, the more he may be able to convince himself and others that he is in control. However, the use of the word "fools" in the next line implies that the magician may believe that his audience is being deceived or manipulated, rather than truly amazed or entertained.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan" several times, emphasizing the sense of uncertainty and anxiety that the magician may be feeling. This line may also speak to a broader feeling of existential uncertainty or lack of direction, as if the magician is aware that his profession relies on creating an illusion of control over fate or reality. The verse that follows describes the magician's performance as a "death-defying feat" but also suggests that the audience may be able to see his nervousness or fear despite his attempts to disguise it.
Overall, "The Magician" can be seen as a commentary on the human condition of trying to present a polished or confident exterior while grappling with insecurities and doubts. By framing this idea in the context of a magician's stage act, Shauf creates a poignant and relatable metaphor for the ways in which we try to trick ourselves and others into thinking we have everything under control.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you find it gets a little easier
The magician is asking if the act of making something disappear gets easier over time.
Each time you make it disappear?
The magician is questioning if it becomes less challenging to make things disappear the more he performs the trick.
Oh fools the magician bends the rules
The magician realizes that his audience is easily fooled, so he takes advantage of their naivety by breaking the rules of a standard magic show.
As the crowd watches his every move
The audience is fixated on every action the magician makes, trying to determine how he achieves his trickery.
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
The magician's hand is shaky, indicating that the trick is not rehearsed. He may have a general idea of how it will be performed, but there is no set plan.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the next stanza is about to begin.
Side steps to a death defying feat
The magician is performing a dangerous trick that could potentially lead to death or serious injury.
Wait for him to reappear
The audience waits for the magician to return after something has been made to disappear.
Look close you'll see him sweat the most
The audience should pay close attention, and they may be able to see that the magician is actually sweating, which would suggest that the trick is not as effortless as it appears.
Each time his options disappear
As the magician's options to perform the trick disappear, so does his confidence and stability in pulling off the illusion.
I'm a shaking hand without a plan
The magician has reached his own conclusion about his magic abilities, stating that he performs while nervous and without a set method.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Do, do do, do do, do do
These are vocalizations indicating that the song is ending.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Shauf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@IProvideLyrics1924
[Verse 1]
Do you find
It gets a little easier each time you make it disappear?
Oh fools, the magician bends the rules
As the crowd watches his every move
[Chorus]
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
[Verse 2]
Sidesteps to a death-defying feat
Wait for him to reappear
Look close, you’ll see him sweat the most
Each time his options disappear
[Chorus]
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
Just a shaking hand without a concrete plan
I’m a shaking hand without a plan
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
[Outro]
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo
@patdudar733
I met Andy in 2004 when we were in high school in Moose Jaw, SK. For those of you that dont know, Andy was also a super talented BMX rider!
@Schnitz13
Not too surprising for a couple of reasons: not much else to do around Moose Jaw; and, he's talented AF (he recorded all the parts for this track them laid them down himself). Respect.
@eduardocunhadecarvalho4778
What was he like then?
@heliogonzalez2663
Nice
@liu8573
BMX？
@narwhal5447
@@liu8573. bike
@pavlovsunhappydog
The best doo doo, doo doo, do do dooing in history.
@randomdude189
pavlovsunhappydog nah there are better but it's okay
@cheekymonkey3929
pavlovsunhappydog's do do ♥️
@pavlovsunhappydog
Name one.........