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.
Medicine
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It just don't feel the way I think that it should
It pumps and pounds and gets on down
Everytime that you come around
Baby baby let me in
I need me some of your sweet medicine
You got the cure for what's ailing me
I's feeling strange so I went to see
A man who had himself a medical degree
He said in all my years I've come to this belief
That there ain't no pill that's going to give you your relief
So baby baby let me in
I need me some of your sweet medicine
You got the cure for what's ailing me
Only your sweet love can set me free
I've been around and I've been here and I've been there
Thought I'd found true love but it was just underwear
Made me wonder just what love might be
Year I was blind but now I see
So baby baby let me in
I need me some of your sweet medicine
You got the cure for what is ailing me
Only your sweet love can set me free
In Bob Schneider's song "Medicine", the artist expresses his longing for a kind of love that can heal his broken heart. The song begins with a confession that his heart does not work as it should, hinting at the hurt that the singer has experienced from past relationships. However, with the arrival of the person they are singing to, the singer's heart pumps and pounds with hope, signifying that there is still a chance for love to triumph over pain.
In the second verse, the singer turns to a medical practitioner to get some insight into their condition. Despite having a medical degree, the doctor could not offer a solution to the singer's problem. This juxtaposition between medical expertise and the power of love suggests that sometimes love can be the best medicine for a heartbreak, and that no pill or prescription is enough to fix a broken heart.
Finally, in the last verse of the song, the singer reflects on their past relationships and how they have been seeking love in all the wrong places. But with the arrival of their current love interest, they now understand what true love is and how it can heal their wounded heart. The singer acknowledges that only the love of the person they are singing to can set them free and cure their ailing heart.
Overall, the song "Medicine" showcases the transformative power of love and how it can heal even the deepest of wounds. The lyrics are introspective and heartfelt, reflecting the ups and downs of a person's journey towards finding true love.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a heart it don't work so good
My heart is not functioning as it should.
It just don't feel the way I think that it should
It's not giving me the emotions I think I should feel.
It pumps and pounds and gets on down
It beats and pulsates with excitement.
Every time that you come around
Your presence makes my heart race with joy.
Baby baby let me in
I want to be close to you.
I need me some of your sweet medicine
I need your love and affection to heal me.
You got the cure for what's ailing me
Your love is the solution to my problems.
Only your sweet love can set me free
Your love is the only thing that can make me feel truly happy.
I's feeling strange so I went to see
I was feeling weird so I sought advice.
A man who had himself a medical degree
I went to a doctor for help.
He said in all my years I've come to this belief
He told me that after years of experience he's realized something.
That there ain't no pill that's going to give you your relief
There's no medicine that can cure what's truly ailing me.
I've been around and I've been here and I've been there
I've been through different experiences and places.
Thought I'd found true love but it was just underwear
I mistook lust for true love in the past.
Made me wonder just what love might be
It made me question what love really is.
Year I was blind but now I see
I was ignorant before, but now I understand.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ERIC VAN TIJN, JOCHEM FLUITSMA, KIRSTEN SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind