For nearly ten years, Schneider has performed a Monday night residency at the Saxon Pub, an intimate and legendary venue on South Lamar, Austin, Texas. Schneider and the members of Lonelyland, the band name that he uses to keep these shows “underground,” are seated on stage as they work through a “live rehearsal” of songs that Schneider calls up from his repertoire of over four hundred songs.
There are always new songs that are played for the first time or new
arrangements of classics that are tested. The show often begins with acoustic, somber and introspective songs and eventually gives way to storytelling, raunchy rock and comedic breaks.
But anything goes…really. And, that is exactly what the audience loves about Schneider.
Schneider's recording career spans some 20 albums, which include eight solo albums and those with his bands, all of which are legendary in the Austin, Texas music scene of the 90’s, The Scabs, Joe Rockhead and The Ugly Americans. There are many peaks within these albums but Lonelyland (2001) and I’m Good Now (2004) stand out at as the “mainstream highlights” while The Galaxy Kings (2002) and Underneath the Onion Trees (2000), are beautiful “artistic statements” and fan favorites.
If you take a journey through this collection of albums you’ll discover an artist with no boundaries. Schneider's repertoire covers a spectrum of musical styles…. mambo, rap, blues, country, Latin, swing, soul, even bluegrass…. all done with the aplomb of a virtuoso of any one of those musical genres.
Many of these genres are explored on Schneider’s album, Tarantula. Tarantula sparkles with songs that reflect a songwriter, artist and entertainer at the peak of his creative heights. It is an apex in Schneider's album catalog and stands alongside Lonelyland and I’m Good Now as one of his best.
Fans will know “['track artist=Bob Schneider]Tarantula” as the name of the song that has been Schneider's live signature for years. It’s the part of the show where the audience jumps to their feet, dances in the aisles, howls at the moon and sings the refrain along with Schneider. Sheer fun.
The song has never been available on a studio album so fans will know right away that they are in for a treat. Those lucky enough to have been at the Saxon the night that the lead single, “40 Dogs (Like Romeo and Juliet)” was debuted knew right away that they were in for something special with this album. There is a beautiful heart-rendering break-up song, “Changing Your Mind,” with Patty Griffin lending even more rue. “Trash” and “Bicycle Vs. The Car” both prove again that Bob is a master of pop hooks, melody and inspired wordplay.
Bob Schneider: At A Glance
He was born in Michigan but moved to Germany when he was two where he grew up attending Catholic school. His father sang opera and his mother taught school. He left Germany as a student to attend art school at the University of Texas/El Paso. He dropped out and moved to Austin where he struggled around as a musician before gaining some national recognition via his punk-funk band Joe Rockhead. He signed to Capricorn Records as the rock n’soul band, Ugly Americans, and nearly simultaneously formed The Scabs with a band of infamous Austin neo-legends known for (and still performing) their outrageous live shows.
In 1999, Bob took a solo turn to explore his introspective singer/songwriter side, and in 2001, Republic Records signs him after Lonelyland, explodes in his hometown and becomes (and remains) the biggest selling album in the history of Austin’s infamous Waterloo Records. A couple of self-released “artistic exploration” albums are released before, I’m Good Now, is released on Vanguard in 2004, and there is another flirt with mainstream chart success with the singles, “Captain Kirk” and “Come With Me Tonight.”
He has built his audience by touring relentlessly and over the years has opened for the Dixie Chicks, Stevie Nicks, Sheryl Crow, Dave Matthews and the H.O.R.D.E Tour, but mostly through headlining club and theater tours. Bob will be on tour in May and June of 2009 playing songs from the new album, Tarantula.
Big Blue Sea
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Guess it's time to face the pooper
Sometimes I feel like superman
Sometimes I'm just recuperating
My head is twisting in its cage
My mind feels like a twenty gage
I hope it's just a passing stage
Beige
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Not to tell you anything I think I know
Well I think I'll tell you all that I know
Try to tell you all about it thought you
Might've lord i doubt it
Everyday's a waste I know everyday's a funeral
I'm cutting out I'm feeling lost
I've lost my mind I'm Mr. Frost
I've collected all the evidence
I'm off the edge I'm on the fence
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Not to tell you anything I think I know
Well I think I'll tell you all that I know
I don't want to be alone I want to be a stone
I want to sink to the bottom of the ocean
And lie there with you til I'm gone
At the bottom of the big blue sea
Just you and me At the bottom of the big blue sea
The bottom of the big blue sea
Just you and me At the bottom of the big blue sea
I know I'll never know nobody
Better than I know myself
But I can't even figure out
Just what the fuck I'm all about
I'm sinking, I'm swimming no wait a minute
I'm drowning no I ain't kidding around
Sometimes i think i'm gonna make it
Sometimes I fake it
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Not to tell you anything I think I know
Well I think I'll tell you all that I know
Anywhere and everywhere
Made up my mind it's getting weird
It's queer to think it might not
Get much better than today I fear
Won't know true happiness
I tried so hard I did my best
My best wasn't good enough
Oh god I hate this stuff
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Not to tell you anything I think I know
Well I think I'll tell you all that I know
I don't want to be alone I want to be a stone
I want to sink to the bottom of the ocean
And lie there laugh there with you laugh
Yhere with you til I'm gone
At the bottom of the big blue sea
Just you and me At the bottom of the big blue sea
the bottom of the big blue sea
Just you and me At the bottom of the big blue sea
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
And its days like this that burn me
Turn me inside out and learn me
Not to tell you anything I think I know
The song "Big Blue Sea" by Bob Schneider talks about a moment of confusion, uncertainty, and hopelessness that the singer finds himself in. He woke up in a stupor, feeling like he has to face the consequences of his actions. He describes himself as being a mix of superman and someone in recuperation. Next, he talks about his mind feeling like it's in a cage, and his thoughts like a twenty gage, hoping that this is just a passing stage. His heart, which he describes as beige instead of red, hints at how he is feeling unmotivated and uninspired. Despite all this, he still wants to share all that he knows, particularly with the person who means the most to him. He wishes he could find solace at the bottom of the big blue sea, where he could finally rest with his love.
Line by Line Meaning
Woke up in a stupor
I woke up feeling groggy and disoriented.
Guess it's time to face the pooper
I need to deal with reality and face my problems.
Sometimes I feel like superman
There are days when I feel invincible.
Sometimes I'm just recuperating
Other days, I'm just trying to heal and recover from life's challenges.
My head is twisting in its cage
My thoughts are in turmoil and I can't focus.
My mind feels like a twenty gage
My mental state is delicate and fragile, like a loaded gun.
I hope it's just a passing stage
I hope this feeling is temporary and will go away soon.
My heart's not red it's Beige
I'm not feeling passionate or alive, I feel dull and numb.
And its days like this that burn me
Days like this are emotionally draining and exhausting.
Turn me inside out and learn me
These days force me to confront my deepest fears and insecurities.
Not to tell you anything I think I know
I'm hesitant to share my thoughts and feelings because I'm not sure if they're true or valid.
Well I think I'll tell you all that I know
Despite my doubts, I'm going to share everything I know and feel with you.
Try to tell you all about it thought you
I want to explain everything to you and thought you might understand.
Might've lord i doubt it
But now I'm not so sure you'll get it or empathize with me.
Everyday's a waste I know everyday's a funeral
I feel like each day is a slog and a reminder of my mortality and impermanence.
I'm cutting out I'm feeling lost
I'm withdrawing and feel disconnected from myself and others.
I've lost my mind I'm Mr. Frost
I'm going crazy and becoming cold and distant.
I've collected all the evidence
I've gathered all the data and information to make sense of my situation.
I'm off the edge I'm on the fence
I'm teetering on the brink of a breakdown and can't decide what to do.
I don't want to be alone I want to be a stone
I don't want to be alone with my thoughts and feelings, I want to be numb and unfeeling like a stone.
I want to sink to the bottom of the ocean
I want to disappear and escape my problems by drowning myself metaphorically.
And lie there with you til I'm gone
I wish I could die with someone I love and trust next to me.
At the bottom of the big blue sea
This is the place I want to be, far away from the chaos and suffering of the world.
I know I'll never know nobody
I'll never know anyone else as well as I know myself.
Better than I know myself
I have a deep understanding and awareness of my own thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
But I can't even figure out
Despite this, I'm still struggling to understand myself.
Just what the fuck I'm all about
I don't know who or what I am anymore, and it's frustrating and confusing.
Anywhere and everywhere
I'm searching for answers and meaning in all places and spaces.
Made up my mind it's getting weird
I've decided that things are becoming strange and surreal.
It's queer to think it might not
I find it odd to consider that life might not get any better than this.
Get much better than today I fear
I'm afraid that this might be the peak of my existence and everything else will be downhill from here.
Won't know true happiness
I won't experience genuine joy and contentment.
I tried so hard I did my best
I've put in a lot of effort and done my best, but it doesn't seem to be enough.
My best wasn't good enough
I'm disappointed in myself and my abilities.
Oh god I hate this stuff
I really don't like feeling this way or dealing with these issues.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOB SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind