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.
Things I do
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Than to turn my head like it didn't matter
Why do I do the things I do
When I know I am losing you?
It was supposed to be a surprise
Me showing up, you thought I was working
Why do I do the things I do
Thought you'd be happy to see me
But you said, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Why do I do the things I do
When I know I am losing you?
You pushed me away from him
He said, "Buddy, calm down," you were so embarrassed
Seems like I should have known better
Than to turn my head like it didn't matter
Why do I do the things I do
When I know I am losing you?
When I know I am losing you
The lyrics to Andy Shauf's song "Things I do" paints a picture of a guy who is losing his romantic partner but also struggling to understand why he keeps making the wrong choices. The use of rhetorical questions throughout the song highlights the guy's confusion and his difficulty in accepting responsibility for his actions.
In the first verse, he admits that he knows that he should have acted differently but he turned his head like it didn't matter. This could suggest that he is avoiding confronting the reality of their issues and is attempting to brush things under the carpet. The use of the phrase "losing you" is significant, indicating that he is acknowledging the likelihood that he is losing his loved one as a result of his actions.
In the second verse, the guy attempts to surprise his partner by turning up unexpectedly at their chosen location, hoping that this unexpected romantic gesture will help to win back some lost ground. However, he is met with negativity and an unpleasant reception from his partner. This reinforces the idea that the guy is struggling to get a hold of the situation and does not seem to understand the source of the issues.
In the final verse, there is an altercation between him and someone else, as they try to defend his soon-to-be ex-partner. The guy's frustration and heightened emotions are evident in his reaction, which ends up causing embarrassment to his partner. In the end, the guy is left to ponder his actions again and why he seems to be making things worse despite his efforts to fix them.
Line by Line Meaning
Seems like I should have known better
It appears that I should have had more intelligence and insight
Than to turn my head like it didn't matter
I should have paid attention, rather than acting like it wasn't important
Why do I do the things I do
I wonder what motivates me to behave in such a way
When I know I am losing you?
When I understand that I am letting go of you?
It was supposed to be a surprise
This was meant to be unexpected
Me showing up, you thought I was working
You believed I was occupied elsewhere when I arrived
Thought you'd be happy to see me
I presumed that you would rejoice in seeing me
But you said, "What the hell are you doing here?"
However, you asked harshly what I was doing there
You pushed me away from him
You physically separated me from him
He said, "Buddy, calm down," you were so embarrassed
He encouraged me to relax, but you were mortified
When I know I am losing you?
When I understand that I am letting go of you?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Andy Shauf
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheOldKingJor
That smile between Andy and the drummer
Ana Florentina
Amazing performance!!! So, so great!!! ✨❤️💙
Street Works Media
KEXP and Andy blew this one out of the water. Amazing all around.
frarfarf
how good is the mix
Segi gise
♥️
Lucila
He so pretty <3
Oktojudia
mantap