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.
Blood
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
i'm running down your street
pulling rainbows out my feet
flames cover all your kisses
i'm a psychadelic freak
alone here on the moon
holding a spoonfull of wishes just for you
until then please just let me know
that you want to go with the flow
and by go with the flow
i mean go with me down the street
to the place where all our dreams
don't get beat down
or crushed your breath
on my neck it's like meth i'd sell my shit
and your mouth is so blue
all i do is think of you
the moon hides away
in the sky all day
in the back of the world
where your dreams go to play
my minds in the weeds
it's the color of this song
everything is gone
your legs they are so strong
you lift your dress like death often does to show me because you know where we're standing
so close to the end where we'll have to go
until then please just let me know
that you want to go with the flow
and by go with the flow
i mean go with me down the street
to the place where all our dreams
don't get beat down
in a room full of blood with a tiger sleeping
but not for much longer
it'll be awake soon and
it'll be so much stronger
like your breath on my neck
it's like meth i'd sell my shit
and your mouth is so blue
all i do is think of you
"Blood" by Bob Schneider is an abstract love song that paints a vivid picture of a surreal world where the singer is running down a street in the morning hours of forever. He pulls rainbows out of his feet, flames cover all his kisses, and he's a psychedelic freak alone on the moon holding a spoonful of wishes for his beloved. The imagery is fantastical and dream-like, where seemingly impossible things can occur and the laws of physics bend.
The chorus talks about an impending end that is inevitable but not yet upon them. It's a plea to the lover to go with the flow and not get beaten down by the harsh realities of the world. They want to go down the street to a place where their dreams can flourish and not be crushed. In a room full of blood with a tiger sleeping, the singer is transfixed on their lover, and everything else fades away.
Throughout the song, the theme of longing for someone, almost to an unhealthy degree, is evident. The lyrics "your breath on my neck is like meth, I'd sell my shit," is a testament to how much they crave the presence of their loved one. The whole piece is drenched in metaphor and surrealism that is open to interpretation.
Overall, "Blood" is a haunting and beautiful song with lyrics that dive deep into the human psyche and the complex nature of love. It's a song that resonates with those who have ever loved someone to the point of obsession.
Line by Line Meaning
in the morning hours of forever
At any point, even indefinitely in the future
i'm running down your street
I'm making a journey to or towards you
pulling rainbows out my feet
Experiencing great happiness or elation
flames cover all your kisses
The passion of our kisses is intense
i'm a psychadelic freak
I'm unconventional, have an unorthodox lifestyle and way of thinking
alone here on the moon
Feeling isolated and distant from everything and everyone around me
holding a spoonfull of wishes just for you
I have high hopes and desires for us both and I'm wishing them for you too
the day it will come we'll have to go
At some point, we'll have to leave and move on
until then please just let me know
Until that day, stay with me and show me that you care
that you want to go with the flow
That you're happy to follow wherever life takes us
and by go with the flow
And by following life wherever it takes us
i mean go with me down the street
I mean come with me and explore the world
to the place where all our dreams
To a place where everything we've ever wished for
don't get beat down
Don't fail or disappear over time
or crushed your breath
Or destroyed your aspirations
on my neck it's like meth i'd sell my shit
The way you breathe on my neck is intoxicating, I would do anything for you
and your mouth is so blue
Your lips are so alluring and tempting
all i do is think of you
You consume my thoughts and emotions
the moon hides away
The feeling of loneliness looms over me
in the sky all day
It's constantly present, inescapable
in the back of the world
Far away where nobody ventures
where your dreams go to play
Where you can escape and live out your greatest fantasies
my minds in the weeds
My thoughts are scattered and unclear
it's the color of this song
It reflects the mood and emotions portrayed in the music
everything is gone
Everything we once had is lost or disappearing
your legs they are so strong
You have the strength to carry us both forward through any obstacle
you lift your dress like death often does to show me because you know where we're standing
You reveal your true intentions and feelings, because you know exactly where we are in this moment
in a room full of blood with a tiger sleeping
In a dangerous and uncertain environment
but not for much longer
It won't stay this way for very long
it'll be awake soon and
The danger will soon be real and imminent
it'll be so much stronger
It will grow more powerful, more threatening
like your breath on my neck
Like the intoxicating feeling of your breath on my neck
it's like meth i'd sell my shit
It's so addictive and alluring that I would give up everything for it
and your mouth is so blue
Your lips are so tempting and seductive
all i do is think of you
You are constantly on my mind
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bob Schneider
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind