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
When I know I am losing you?
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
Garek Brisson
Lyrics ❤️
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?
It was supposed to be a surprise,
Me showing up, you thought I was working.
Why do I do the things I do
When I know I am losing you?
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
Methoxic
These are the lyrics, in case you don't find them lower than this commentary.
Lyrics
Seems like I should have known better
Then 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
When I know I am losing you?
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
Then 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
Julia Podgorsek
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?
It was supposed to be a surprise
Me showing up, you thought I was working
Why do I do the things I do
When I know I am losing you?
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
Andy Shauf
New album 'The Neon Skyline' is out January 24 on ANTI- Records / Arts & Crafts (CA). Pre-order Now at https://andyshauf.ffm.to/theneonskyline.
Suggested Listening
Nicholas O'Neal Blume buddy calm down
Nicholas O'Neal Blume
Can I create a music video with you?
I have alot of recent innovations you might be into like sketching on paper on the mouse pad to make music.
What you think of the video including sketching the frames of your animations on copper foil on the mouse pad instead of paper then completely covering a room / cube in the copper sketches to isolate it from radio frequencies for the use of lucid dreams as a monitor when waking up in the morning? I also like the idea of making the copper room/cube outside in a sound proofed tent with a tree guarding it that I'll light and rope branches of to give it movement to make it look like a giant with a towering voice to free more distortion from the use of lucid dreams as a monitor (which makes consciosness malleable for the foundation of mind externalization).
Allan Doege
Good way to start a new decade!!!
Joost
Dude i listened to this song like 8 times in series. You got me again
Melissa Kemp
Ooh nice! Thank you, Andy 🤗
Jaro the Band
Andy is one of the most interesting contemporary artists. Very hyped for this album!
Marcus Metternich
To me this is the second best song of the new album. Andy Shauf deserves more attention in mainstream media. He produces great hits. I promote him whereever I can. All people to whom I introduce Andy Shauf like him immediately. I‘m convinced that he is one of the best songwriters alive.
JH
I agree. I try to spread the word as much as possible. Everyone who loves his work should do the same...
Tim Beckman
The sound of the clap in this song deserves a Grammy