Chris Smithers song "Love you like a man" from Smithers first album has been famously covered by Bonnie Raitt who has made it a signature song of hers under the title "Love me like a man" (published on her second Album "Give it up")- she has openly expressed admiration for Chris Smithers songwriting and guitarplaying. Later Raitt's version of the song has been covered by The Dixie Chicks and Diana Krall.
The protagonist of Linda Barnes's series of "Carlotta Carlyle" mysteries is a fan of Smither's music and several of her books mention it.
Shillin' for the Blues
Chris Smither Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
An ounce of small regret
Half a cup of wounded pride
If it hurts inside, it has not faded yet
Add a pinch of passion
And a double shot of booze
When your self respect is crashin'
You can drink it up and you can cash in
All the blues
Ain't it funny how the sunnyside
Will never reach my shadow in the shade
Ain't it funny how the colors
Seem the brightest just before they
Start to fade
If you say that ain't funny
If you say you're not amused
I'll say I ain't surprised
My sense of humor is paralyzed
By the blues
By the blues
How long I've got to wait
I'm running late
Somebody help me soon
Get me out from under all
It's a wonder
I'm on this side of the tomb
Oh but the preacher teaches patience
In the ancient sense
And it stretches out for years
I can't stand to listen
I can't see beyond this glistening of tears
It's never nice to hear advice
You know you'll never use
The spirit might be willin'
But the flesh is out there
It's shillin' for the blues
For the blues
It's never nice to hear advice
You know you'll never use
The spirit might be willin'
But the flesh is out there
And it's shillin' for the blues
Blues
For the blues
In Chris Smither's song "Shillin' for the Blues," he combines his unique blend of folk, blues, and pop to create an emotional ballad of sadness, longing, and regret. The lyrics describe a person who is nursing their pain with a recipe for the blues that includes slow resentment, small regret, wounded pride, passion, and alcohol. The verses also address the struggle between trying to remain positive and the darker reality of life's challenges. The chorus highlights how nothing seems to bring joy but the blues, and even when given advice, it cannot be used because the mind is focused on melancholy.
The opening lines of the song detail the recipe for the blues; it's a combination of brooding and despair. The inclusion of alcohol is notable, as the substance is often used to cope with pain or to escape from reality. Throughout the song, the singer is yearning for relief from their misery, but even when given spiritual or worldly advice, they can't break free from the cycle of sadness. The lyrics also touch on the irony of life and how in some cases, joy and pain are inextricably linked. These themes are common in Smither's work, and his delicate guitar picking and melancholy vocals perfectly capture the mood of the song.
In conclusion, "Shillin' for the Blues" is a reflective song that touches on the realities of life's ups and downs. Its lyrics describe a pain that is hard to shake and a search for meaning and solace that is elusive. The combination of Smither's heartfelt vocals and poignant guitar work create an intimate atmosphere that is both empathetic and immersive.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a little slow resentment
Start with just a little bit of anger and bitterness that grows gradually over time.
An ounce of small regret
Mix in a small amount of regret, something you wish you had done differently.
Half a cup of wounded pride
Add in a significant amount of hurt feelings and damaged self-esteem.
If it hurts inside, it has not faded yet
If you're still feeling the pain, it means you haven't fully healed yet.
Add a pinch of passion
Include a small amount of strong emotion and feeling.
And a double shot of booze
Mix in a large amount of alcohol to numb the pain and make you feel better temporarily.
When your self respect is crashin'
This combination of emotions and alcohol can lead to a decline in your self-respect and self-worth.
You can drink it up and you can cash in
You can drown your sorrows with alcohol and try to find solace in the blues.
All the blues
The song refers to the blues as a genre of music that is associated with sadness and loss.
Ain't it funny how the sunnyside
The song points out how strange it is that despite having positive aspects in life, the negative still seems to overshadow them.
Will never reach my shadow in the shade
The good parts of life are not enough to penetrate the darkness and sorrow that the singer is feeling.
Ain't it funny how the colors
The song is describing how intense and vibrant colors can appear right before they begin to fade.
Seem the brightest just before they start to fade
The brightness of these colors is a metaphor for the fleeting moments of happiness before they disappear, much like the colors before they start to fade into the background.
If you say that ain't funny
The singer is acknowledging that not everyone appreciates his perspective on life and the blues.
If you say you're not amused
He knows that some people do not find the same humor in sadness and loss, which is often the subject of blues music.
I'll say I ain't surprised
The singer is not surprised that not everyone understands the appeal of the blues and how it can provide comfort.
My sense of humor is paralyzed
The singer's sense of humor is unable to function when mired in the relentless sadness of the blues.
How long I've got to wait
The singer is expressing his impatience, wondering how much longer he has to endure his sadness and loss.
I'm running late
The urgency of his feelings is such that he feels like he's running out of time to find a way out of the blues.
Somebody help me soon
He is desperate for someone, anyone to help him through his difficult time.
Get me out from under all
He is buried under so much sadness and loss that he needs help to get out from under it all.
It's a wonder
The artist is expressing his disbelief that he has come out the other side of the blues and is able to live again.
I'm on this side of the tomb
He's feeling grateful to be alive and able to move beyond his past pain and sadness.
Oh but the preacher teaches patience
The song references a religious leader who teaches the virtues of being calm and waiting for things to improve.
In the ancient sense
The singer is emphasizing that this is an age-old wisdom that has been passed down for generations.
And it stretches out for years
The advice to be patient is not simply a one-time deal, but something that is needed for an extended period of time.
I can't stand to listen
The singer is expressing frustration with this advice, as he feels like he can't wait anymore and needs a solution now.
I can't see beyond this glistening of tears
His emotions are preventing him from seeing clearly and finding a way out of his current predicament.
It's never nice to hear advice
The artist is acknowledging that advice, no matter how wise, is unlikely to bring him comfort when he's in the middle of the blues.
You know you'll never use
He knows that he won't be able to follow this advice and be patient during his suffering.
The spirit might be willin'
Despite his desire to be patient and wait for things to improve, his emotions are too overwhelming to listen to reason.
But the flesh is out there
His bodily desires are too strong to ignore.
It's shillin' for the blues
The singer is personifying his body as a separate entity that is feeding into his sadness and despair, 'shillin' (promoting) the blues.
Writer(s): SMITHER WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER
Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Karin Jackson
If someone asked me to play an example of real blues, I would play them this first. This is unbelievably good and cool beyond words. But Smither is one of my favorites.
Jiří Šmidt
Thanks for upload. Chris is excellent!
Michael Keane
just awesome; album Still on the Levee is pure gold...
dmnrbnsk
How does this video have only 60 likes?!