In the early 80s Stamey recorded and released two critically-acclaimed albums with The dB's - Stands for deciBels (1981) and Repercussion (1982) - before leaving the band to pursue a solo career.
In 1991, Stamey and Holsapple reunited (as Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey) to record the album entitled Mavericks.
In 2004, Stamey released the album, Travels In The South, quickly followed by 2005's A Question Of Temperature featuring the group, Yo La Tengo, as the album's backing musicians.
In July 2009, Stamey and Holsapple released their second album as the duo Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey. Entitled Here and Now, the album was promoted by a follow-up concert tour.
In 2012, Stamey reunited with the dB's to complete their first new studio album in 25 years and their first in 30 years with the original 1978 lineup.
Skin
Chris Stamey Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That’s how it begins
And drift across the room into you
You look a bit surprised
As you realize
Underneath the fluorescent hue
But you quickly let me in
Before the others realize what we do
I look like I’m asleep
But I’m just incomplete
I watch myself the way that you do
And this is how it feels to be you
Sensation of your skin
The way you ankles bend
The way you hear a sigh across the room
The taste inside your mouth
As you breathe in and out
Your eyes the sunlight scattering the gloom
And this is how it feels to be you
This is how it feels to be you
Our fingers move like mice
We see everything twice
We see it once as me and once as you
And where we overlap
As we slowly adapt
Is hard to ascertain or review
Now I’m back inside myself
And you are someone else
And everything’s the same and yet brand new
If we had only known
We were not skin and bone
But more like vapor without residue
And this is how it feels to be you
This is how it feels to be you
This is how it feels to be you…
This is how it feels to be you
The lyrics of Chris Stamey's song "Skin" describe a unique experience where the singer slips out of their skin, enters the body of another person, and experiences their senses and emotions. The bizarre concept of slipping out of one's skin is a metaphorical representation of the idea of shedding one's identity or persona and becoming immersed in another person's existence. The experience is described as being both surreal and intimate, as the singer closely observes the details and experiences of the other person, including the way their skin feels, the way their ankles bend, and the way they breathe.
The lyrics convey a sense of fleetingness and impermanence. The singer is only able to experience being in the other person's skin for a brief moment before returning to their own body. This transitory nature of the experience is reflected in the lyrics, "I'm just incomplete, I watch myself the way that you do." The singer is only able to watch the experience from a distance and observe it slipping away.
In the final verse, the lyrics take on a philosophical meaning, questioning our perception of ourselves as being defined by physical attributes like skin and bones. The singer suggests that perhaps we are more like vapor, undefined and fluid. The song's haunting melody and introspective lyrics explore the complex concepts of identity, perception, and introspection in a unique and captivating way.
Line by Line Meaning
I slip out of my skin
I feel like I'm shedding my exterior and abandoning my true identity
That’s how it begins
This is the start of letting go of my self-identity and merging with someone else
And drift across the room into you
I become disconnected from my physical being and become engrossed in your presence
You look a bit surprised
You are taken aback by my sudden shift in behavior
As you realize
You are now aware of my transformation and the connection that comes with it
Underneath the fluorescent hue
Despite the artificial lighting, there is an authentic and genuine aura surrounding us
But you quickly let me in
You are accepting of my new form and let me merge with you
Before the light can bend
Before anyone else becomes suspicious of our connection
I look like I’m asleep
I appear to be in a state of rest, but my mind is engaged in our mutual experience
But I’m just incomplete
I am not yet fully merged with you, and there is still some room for growth
I watch myself the way that you do
I am observing myself from your perspective and experiencing your emotions and sensations
And this is how it feels to be you
Through our merging, I am now able to experience the world as you do
Sensation of your skin
I am now able to feel the texture of your skin as if it were my own
The way your ankles bend
I am now attuned to even the most subtle aspects of your physical form and movements
The way you hear a sigh across the room
My senses have become heightened, and I am now able to detect sounds from a greater distance
The taste inside your mouth
I am now able to taste and savor every breath you take
As you breathe in and out
I am attuned to the rhythm of your breathing, and it becomes my own
Your eyes the sunlight scattering the gloom
I am now able to see the world in a new light and appreciate its beauty
Our fingers move like mice
Our movements are now in unison and seem almost automatic
We see everything twice
We now see things from both of our perspectives, making everything seem more vivid and complete
We see it once as me and once as you
We are now able to see the world through each other's eyes and gain a new sense of understanding
And where we overlap
The point at which our two identities merge and become one
As we slowly adapt
We are gradually coming together and adapting to each other
Is hard to ascertain or review
The exact moment at which we fully merge becomes unclear as we continue to blend together
Now I’m back inside myself
I have retreated back to my own identity and sense of self
And you are someone else
You have resumed your own identity and sense of self
And everything’s the same and yet brand new
Despite our merging, the world remains unchanged, but we have gained a new perspective and appreciation for it
If we had only known
If we had been aware of our ability to merge and experience the world through each other, we could have done so much earlier
We were not skin and bone
Our identities are not limited to our physical forms, but rather defined by our connection and experiences
But more like vapor without residue
Our connection is fleeting and intangible, leaving no lasting impression but rather a sense of shared experience
Writer(s): Chris Stamey Copyright: Shangmoto Songs
Contributed by Ethan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Larry O. Dean
Great job, Chris! Can't wait to hear the whole album.
Robinbrevard
Great video -- I love the combination of the lyrics and celestial/aquatic imagery. Really fits the music well.
Duff Baker
Great song and lyrics.
Sean Bentley
Good stuff, as usual. Should be "fluorescent," though, not "flourescent." ;-)