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.
Blue Skies for Everyone
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
try to scare to scare yourself to death
bury your bones under the dirt
tear your drawers and rip your shirt
stomp your feet in disgust
curse the grey skies if you must
but you'll find when you are done
the blue sky's for everyone
Take up the wine and break your heart
give up the race before you start
drop your drawers and roll around
burn your house right to the ground
go to sleep hit your head
scream until your face is red
but you'll find when you are done
the blue sky's for everyone
blue skies, setting sun
cherry pie, bubble gum
lullabies to be sung
blue skies for everyone
so get right down on your luck
spin your wheels until you're stuck
bring out the blood and let it dry
stick a big needle in your eye
dry your tears and drop your drink
let me tell you what I think
I think you'll find when you are done
the blue sky's for everyone
blue skies, setting sun
cherry pie,bubble gum
lullabies to be sung
blue skies for everyone
there'll be blue skies for everyone
there'll be blue skies for everyone
there'll be blue skies for everyone
I'd like blue skies
I'd like blue skies
I'd like blue skies for everyone
there'll be blue skies for everyone
there'll be blue skies
there'll be blue skies
The lyrics of Bob Schneider's song "Blue Skies for Everyone" seem to suggest that in order to appreciate the beauty of life and the sunny days, we must go through the hardships and the darker moments as well. The first verse tells us to let it all out, spit on the ground, hold our breath, tear our clothes, and curse the sky. Yet, after all these acts of frustration, we will find that the blue sky is for everyone. The second verse continues with a similar message. It urges us to give up on the race, burn our house down, scream until our face is red, and let out all our inner demons. Despite all this, the outcome will be the same, and we will once again see the blue sky's beauty.
The chorus emphasizes the idea that blue skies are for everyone, and it doesn't matter how terrible our circumstances might seem. The only thing we need to do is hold on and wait for better days to come. The repetition of these words, "There'll be blue skies for everyone," further strengthens the message's meaning and importance.
Overall, the song's message is that even when things seem dark and negative, we should never lose hope because better days are coming. We should hold on to our dreams, cherishing and allowing the beauty of the world to come through. Bob Schneider's "Blue Skies for Everyone" reminds us that life is full of ups and downs, but the skies can be blue for everyone who perseveres.
This song's message and themes greatly align with the underlying hope and positivity that runs through several of Bob Schneider's works. "Blue Skies for Everyone" is just one of several tracks that exemplify the Austin-based musician's unique ability to combine simple, catchy tunes with poetic and meaningful lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Spit on the ground, hold your breath
Disgusted with life and the world around you
try to scare to scare yourself to death
Feeling hopeless and wanting to give up
bury your bones under the dirt
Wishing to disappear and be forgotten
tear your drawers and rip your shirt
Feeling frustrated and hopeless
stomp your feet in disgust
Angry at the world and everything in it
curse the grey skies if you must
Blaming the world and everything in it for your problems
but you'll find when you are done
There is hope and beauty in the world
the blue sky's for everyone
There is beauty and hope in the future for everyone
Take up the wine and break your heart
Trying to escape reality and the pain that comes with it
give up the race before you start
Feeling hopeless and defeated before even trying
drop your drawers and roll around
Escapism and trying to forget or ignore reality
burn your house right to the ground
Feeling like there is nothing left to hold on to
go to sleep hit your head
Feeling tired and physically overwhelmed
scream until your face is red
Feeling emotionally overwhelmed
blue skies, setting sun
Beautiful moments in life that give hope
cherry pie, bubble gum
Small joys and pleasures in life
lullabies to be sung
Hopeful tunes for the future
so get right down on your luck
Feeling like nothing is going right
spin your wheels until you're stuck
Feeling trapped and unable to move forward
bring out the blood and let it dry
Experiencing pain and hurt
stick a big needle in your eye
Feeling overwhelmed and wanting to escape reality
dry your tears and drop your drink
Trying to pick yourself up and move forward
let me tell you what I think
A hopeful message to the listener
there'll be blue skies for everyone
There is hope and beauty in the future for everyone
I'd like blue skies
Expressing a desire for happiness and hope
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ROBERT SCHNEIDER, ROBERT LINWOOD SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind