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.
Losing You
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As I lay sleeping
All the vampires
They come creeping
They drink my blood
And steal my soul
And I don't bother
I just don't care
Anymore
This house is empty
And black as coal
[Chorus:]
And it's got nothing
No it's got nothing to do
With the realization
I'm losing you
Feel like a captain
Sailing out to sea
And all I carry
Are these memories
The ship is sinking
And there's no way home
[Chorus]
And all the people
That I know
They all tell me
Just goes to show
That no matter where you are
You're still alone
The song "Losing You" by Bob Schneider & Mitch Watkins conveys a feeling of emptiness, loneliness and loss. The lyrics speak of the singer's vulnerability to the vampires that come creeping late at night to drink his blood and steal his soul. The allusion to vampires could be interpreted as a metaphor for toxic relationships or habits that slowly drain a person's energy and sanity. The singer seems to be resigned to this fate, as he doesn't even bother locking his door anymore. His house is empty and black as coal, which could be symbolic of his own dark and desolate state of mind.
In the chorus, the singer clarifies that his despair is not caused by the realization that he's losing his significant other, but rather by the weight of his memories and the sinking ship of his life. He feels like a captain sailing out to sea, carrying nothing but the burden of his past. The ship is sinking, and there's no way home, which could represent his sense of hopelessness and inability to escape his own downward spiral. The final verse echoes the theme of loneliness, as the singer realizes that no matter where you are, you're still alone. Despite the people he knows and the people around him, he feels isolated and disconnected from the world.
Overall, "Losing You" is a poignant and introspective song that showcases Bob Schneider's and Mitch Watkins's songwriting skills and emotional depth. It touches on universal themes of loss, loneliness, and vulnerability that are relevant to everyone at some point in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Late at night
Refers to a particular time of the day when the singer was sleeping
As I lay sleeping
The singer is narrating the story while he was asleep
All the vampires
Refers to a group of people that are usually active during the night
They come creeping
Refers to the act of moving towards someone silently and slowly
They drink my blood
Refers to the people taking advantage of the artist's vulnerability and exploiting him
And steal my soul
Refers to taking away the singer's happiness, resulting in a grim reality
And I don't bother
The singer has no concern for his safety
To lock my door
The artist does not lock his door, even when he's sleeping
I just don't care
The artist has lost his sense of control towards life
Anymore
The artist has reached a point beyond his control
This house is empty
The singer's house is devoid of any happiness
And black as coal
The artist's house is very dark and gloomy
[Chorus:]
The part of the song where the same lyrics are repeated multiple times
And it's got nothing
The singer's situation has nothing to do with the realization he's losing his significant other
No it's got nothing to do
The singer is re-emphasizing that his situation has no relation to the loss of his significant other
With the realization
The artist clarifies what he's trying to tell the audience
I'm losing you
The artist is addressing his significant other, whom he is losing
Feel like a captain
The singer is comparing himself to a captain
Sailing out to sea
The singer is embarking on a journey, like a ship sailing the sea
And all I carry
The artist has emotional baggage of memories with him
Are these memories
The artist has only memories left with him
The ship is sinking
The singer is narrating that his life has taken a downturn
And there's no way home
The singer has no hope of returning to his previous life
[Chorus]
The part of the song where the same lyrics are repeated multiple times
And all the people
The singer is talking about everyone he knows
That I know
The people that are the singer's acquaintances
They all tell me
The singer's acquaintances are conveying something to him
Just goes to show
The artist's acquaintances are trying to prove a point
That no matter where you are
The artist's acquaintances are emphasizing that your location won't change certain things
You're still alone
The singer's acquaintances are conveying the message that someone can experience loneliness even when surrounded by people
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: BOB SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ThomHappy
Late at night
As I lay sleeping
All the vampires
They come creeping
They drink my blood
And steal my soul
And I don't bother
To lock my door
I just don't care
Anymore
This house is empty
And black as coal
And it's got nothing
No it's got nothing to do
With the realization
I'm losing you
Feel like a captain
Sailing out to sea
And all I carry
Are these memories
The ship is sinking
And there's no way home
And it's got nothing
No it's got nothing to do
With the realization
I'm losing you
And all the people
That I know
They all tell me
Just goes to show
That no matter where you are
You're still alone
TwoHighways
I need to see him live and be around other people that are just as moved by this as I am
Ted Braunstein
I've seen every NYC area show he has played in the few years since my first Bob show. With the band or solo. Lately, it is one of the only things I look forward to. Seeing Bob again on Saturday in NJ. I think it's my 5th Bob show in 2017..maybe 6. I HIGHLY recommend the experience. You will laugh and you will fall more in love with Bobs' music. Guaranteed.
57Pacer57
+TwoHighways I had the pleasure of 'discovering' Bob in a bar in Austin, while on hols from Australia. Never heard of him before that. So happy I made the choice to go that night.If you're ever in Oz, I'd be more than happy to be one of the people you'd hang out with that are moved by this :)
Sheri Barton
Bob is amazing, his lyrics always move me.
danaritachestnut
One of my favorite Bob songs. Just gets me all in my head....
Cheryl Gudat
i can't stop playin it over and over. so beautiful... completely independent of the lyrics which i like too.
Ted Braunstein
Bob is totally my guy. See him every time he comes to NY(couple times a year). Check out his Channel. Every Monday night they do a live broadcast from Saxon Pub . He's SO eclectic. The stuff runs shitkicker music to beatbox funk. Fun, fun, fun.
Cheryl Gudat
i can't stop playin it over and over. so beautiful... completely independent of the lyrics which i like too.
Anita Meeting
What a velvety- soft -wind -driven way to sing! I love this song, but mostly the way it's delivered. Thank you Bob.
Stan Barker
Played this at a local open mic night last Sunday. The room was silent. Thanks Bob.