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.
open
Andy Shauf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
with a rain coat on he'll keep a fire inside
without your glasses you're blind, you took them off so you could find
a brand new way to see familiarity
you've gotta open up your eyes to see
you've gotta open up your eyes to see, to see
and on a hill that you climbed near summer's end by autumn's side
and lost in deeper thought you found a way to understand
past the ticking clock strapped to the back of your hand
you said time will never wait for me
time will never wait for me, so wait for me
do you see the white lights the blue sky borrowed from the night
retired long ago but still are shining bright
and when you told me tomorrow never comes quite soon enough
I remember saying what about today
yeah we are here today, tomorrow always seems so far away.
Tomorrow always seems so far away.
The song "Open" by Andy Shauf invites us to look beyond the surface and discover the hidden beauty of everyday life. The first verse encourages the listener to open their eyes and see the world in a new light, as the sun rises and shines through the rain. The metaphor of the raincoat suggests that even when things seem bleak or difficult, there is always a way to keep the fire inside burning.
The second verse takes us to a hilltop where the singer contemplates the meaning of time and the universe. The ticking clock on the back of the hand represents the relentless march of time, which can make us feel anxious or rushed. However, the singer finds peace and understanding by looking up at the stars and realizing that time is just a human invention that can be transcended through mindful awareness.
The final chorus celebrates the present moment and the joy of being alive, even though tomorrow may never come. The juxtaposition of the white lights and blue sky suggests a mystical or dreamlike quality to life, as if reality is just a thin veil that separates us from eternity.
Overall, "Open" is a beautiful and poignant song that reminds us to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate the wonder of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Darling open your eyes, the sun came up it's just disguised
My love, raise your eyelids, the dawn has arrived, hidden by a cloudy curtain.
with a rain coat on he'll keep a fire inside
It may seem dreary outside, but the sun remains bright and warm within.
without your glasses you're blind, you took them off so you could find a brand new way to see familiarity
Without your spectacles, you're unable to see well. But you removed them, so you could find a novel perspective in everyday life.
you've gotta open up your eyes to see
You must widen your view to comprehend the world.
and on a hill that you climbed near summer's end by autumn's side
You ascended a hill adjacent to the conclusion of summertime as autumn approached.
you gazed into a universal sky
You beheld a vast, all-encompassing sky.
and lost in deeper thought you found a way to understand past the ticking clock strapped to the back of your hand
Enveloped in profound contemplation, you discovered an insight more significant than the watch on your wrist.
you said time will never wait for me
You spoke of the relentless forward march of time, which will not pause for anyone.
so wait for me
Still, I plea with time to permit me more moments.
do you see the white lights the blue sky borrowed from the night retired long ago but still are shining bright
Can you spot the twinkling stars that the blue heavens borrowed from the dark night sky, which are still aglow?
and when you told me tomorrow never comes quite soon enough
When you mentioned that tomorrow is forever out of grasp.
I remember saying what about today
I recollect replying, 'What about the present moment?'
yeah we are here today, tomorrow always seems so far away
As we exist here and now, the prospect of tomorrow seems remote.
tomorrow always seems so far away.
Always the future seems far-off and unattainable.
Contributed by Jake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
hany 14
Lyrics : " Darling open your eyes, the sun came up it's just disguised
With a rain coat on he'll keep a fire inside
Without your glasses you're blind, you took them off so you could find
A brand new way to see familiarity
You've gotta open up your eyes to see
You've gotta open up your eyes to see, to see
And on a hill that you climbed near summer's end by autumn's side
You gazed into a universal sky
And lost in deeper thought you found a way to understand
Past the ticking clock strapped to the back of your hand
You said time will never wait for me
Time will never wait for me, so wait for me
Do you see the white lights the blue sky borrowed from the night
Retired long ago but still are shining bright
And when you told me tomorrow never comes quite soon enough
I remember saying what about today
Yeah we are here today, tomorrow always seems so far away.
Tomorrow always seems so far away"
Ana Florentina
Amazing song!!! Amazing Andy!!!✨🎼❤️
killintime78
Front row and centre. Shook this young mans hand. And forever one of my biggest inspirations! Especially him being only a town away from my city. He just so happened to drop by my fourth period class the other day. I t.. was was amazing. Words can not describe. Oh, how he will be big.
Rosie g
This song will live in my heart forever <3
hany 14
Lyrics : " Darling open your eyes, the sun came up it's just disguised
With a rain coat on he'll keep a fire inside
Without your glasses you're blind, you took them off so you could find
A brand new way to see familiarity
You've gotta open up your eyes to see
You've gotta open up your eyes to see, to see
And on a hill that you climbed near summer's end by autumn's side
You gazed into a universal sky
And lost in deeper thought you found a way to understand
Past the ticking clock strapped to the back of your hand
You said time will never wait for me
Time will never wait for me, so wait for me
Do you see the white lights the blue sky borrowed from the night
Retired long ago but still are shining bright
And when you told me tomorrow never comes quite soon enough
I remember saying what about today
Yeah we are here today, tomorrow always seems so far away.
Tomorrow always seems so far away"
Meg Tanz
I liked this comments months ago, now in more appreciation. It’s like doing my own private karaoke to Andy, thanks to your help! 😊❤️
Mysheadlines
I love Andy! I found him on Pandora as I find most good artists and I love his song writing and guitar playing. Such a great musician!
Jameson Gamble
So happy I found this again. Just saw your name on a poster outside of the Crocodile in Seattle and I was like holy shit that’s the name I’ve been looking for ❤
hellobelljar
Wow! I love this! This is so good!
Katie Jordan
So proud to say this is my cousin💕
CardinalSessions
this is so perfect.