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.
Under My Skin
Bob Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Under my skin I'm all bloody
Under my skin my hearts lay broken
And my mind's all funny
Under my skin there's a bad day
Under my skin there's a rattlesnake
Under my skin where the infection sleeps
Under my skin it's a sticky mess
Under my skin I'm turning to stone
Under my skin there's a thousand demons
But I'm always alone
Under my skin the bones howl
Under my skin the nightmare's explode
Under my skin I can't stop crying
It's a long black road
Under my skin the itch is unscratched
Under my skin I've met my match
Under my skin my dreams die unhatched
Under my skin there's always a catch
Under my skin I never surrender
Under my skin the past's in debate
Under my skin love's a curse that you lend her
Under my skin I make love to my hate
Under my skin there's never tomorrow
Under my skin I'm lost in the dark
Under my skin I'm the master of sorrow
And I swim every night with the sharks
Under my skin I'm ready to run
Under my skin there's nowhere to hide
Under my skin the world is a stranger
And I've already died
Under my skin there's a fire burning
Under my skin there's never a smile
Under my skin I'm drowning not waving
Under my skin there's only denial
The lyrics of Bob Schneider's song "Under My Skin" depict feelings of deep inner turmoil and despair. The repetition of the phrase "Under my skin" emphasizes that these emotions are not easily seen or understood by others, but rather are buried deep within the singer. The use of physical imagery such as being wet, bloody, and turning to stone suggests a feeling of being trapped and consumed by these inner demons.
The line "Under my skin love's a curse that you lend her" hints at a past relationship that may have contributed to the singer's current state. The use of sharp and dangerous imagery, such as rattlesnakes, nightmares, and swimming with sharks, emphasizes the feeling of being constantly threatened or attacked by these inner demons. The final lines of the song, "Under my skin there's only denial," suggest that the singer may be struggling to confront or acknowledge these emotions, which only exacerbates their pain and isolation.
Line by Line Meaning
Under my skin I'm all wet
I am overwhelmed with emotions that make me feel like I am drowning.
Under my skin I'm all bloody
My pain is so intense that I feel like I'm bleeding from the inside out.
Under my skin my hearts lay broken
My heart has been shattered into a million pieces, leaving me feeling empty and lost.
And my mind's all funny
My thoughts are muddled and confused, and I can't seem to make sense of anything.
Under my skin there's a bad day
I am having a terrible day, and it feels like everything is going wrong.
Under my skin there's a rattlesnake
There is danger lurking within me, waiting to strike at any moment.
Under my skin where the infection sleeps
There is a sickness within me that I can't shake off.
I bend until I break
I am under immense pressure and feel like I am on the verge of collapsing.
Under my skin it's a sticky mess
I feel like I am trapped and unable to move forward.
Under my skin I'm turning to stone
I am becoming numb and emotionless.
Under my skin there's a thousand demons
I am haunted by my past and my fears, and I can't seem to escape them.
But I'm always alone
Despite being surrounded by people, I feel disconnected and alone.
Under my skin the bones howl
I am in so much pain that it feels like my bones are screaming.
Under my skin the nightmare's explode
My fears and anxieties are overwhelming me, and I feel like I'm in a never-ending nightmare.
Under my skin I can't stop crying
I am so overwhelmed with sadness and despair that I can't stop crying.
It's a long black road
My journey ahead is dark and difficult.
Under my skin the itch is unscratched
There is something that I desperately want or need, but I can't seem to obtain it.
Under my skin I've met my match
I am facing a challenge or adversary that is equal to or greater than me.
Under my skin my dreams die unhatched
I had hoped to achieve something great, but it seems like my dreams will never come to fruition.
Under my skin there's always a catch
No matter how good things seem, there is always a hidden problem or complication.
Under my skin I never surrender
Even in the face of great adversity, I refuse to give up or give in.
Under my skin the past's in debate
I am constantly questioning and doubting my past, and wondering if I made the right decisions.
Under my skin love's a curse that you lend her
Love has been a painful and difficult experience for me, causing me more harm than good.
Under my skin I make love to my hate
I am consumed by anger and bitterness, and it feels like I am embracing these negative emotions.
Under my skin there's never tomorrow
I am so focused on my present problems that I can't see a future for myself.
Under my skin I'm lost in the dark
I feel like I am wandering aimlessly and don't know where to turn.
Under my skin I'm the master of sorrow
I have experienced so much pain and sadness that I have become an expert at dealing with it.
And I swim every night with the sharks
I am constantly surrounded by danger and uncertainty, but I am managing to survive it.
Under my skin I'm ready to run
I am on the brink of running away from all of my problems and starting anew.
Under my skin there's nowhere to hide
No matter where I go or what I do, my problems and pain seem to follow me.
Under my skin the world is a stranger
I feel disconnected from the world around me, and like I don't belong.
And I've already died
I am so consumed by my pain and problems that I feel like a part of me has already died.
Under my skin there's a fire burning
I am filled with passion and intensity, even in the midst of my pain.
Under my skin there's never a smile
No matter what happens, I can't seem to find happiness or joy.
Under my skin I'm drowning not waving
I feel overwhelmed and like I am sinking, and I can't seem to keep my head above water.
Under my skin there's only denial
I am refusing to face my problems and pain, and instead am in denial about them.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BOB SCHNEIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind