From 1964, Andrews supported his nascent career as a singer/songwriter by working as a schoolteacher, before becoming a full-time professional musician in 1966.
Andrews has produced 15 successful albums singing his own songs, many of which have also been recorded by other artists.
His emotive The Soldier transmits the same quiet desperation of a soldier about to die "in conflict" as Wilfred Owen's Dulce Et Decorum Est, though in a very different setting. In fact, the contrast of a battlefield to a commonplace urban setting and the proximity of children makes the situation even more poignant and the waste of a young life even more tragic.
Hey Sandy on the album Writer of Songs is another description of the senseless loss of a young life in conflict. It is based on the death of a female student, Sandra Scheuer, who was shot by the Ohio National Guard at the Kent State University in the USA anti-war demonstration of 1970, although, unlike the Sandy of Andrews' song, the real student was not directly involved in the demonstration. The album version of the song is an unusual, but powerful, arrangement, in which the first verse is sung to the accompaniment of a solo double bass, played by Danny Thompson. The recording was never issued in America until Kent State University's commemorative cd released in 2005. It reached number 2 in the New Zealand chart in November 1972.In stark contrast, his Boothferry Bridge and Gift of a Brand New day reflect the contentment of the simple pleasures of everyday life.
Many of Harvey's supposedly 'unavailable' Albums (like Writer of Songs) can actually be ordered directly from his web site (just follow the 'music' link) http://www.harveyandrews.com/ .. sadly some of them really are out of print.
Writer Of Songs
Harvey Andrews Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to climb those mountains that no one had stood on
to tell the world that I take it all on my shoulder
maybe a writer of books that made me
a name in papers that would acclaim me
the greatest writers would meet to namend me genius
until that sayed that there was now other
and old picasso he’d call me his brother and friend
I’d build the bridges the ships and the towers
I be Frank Lloyd Wright with brunause powers
and I would think of disigns for hours each day
but they ignored my greatest writing
they scourned my painting and said it was freightning
told me my buildings would fall to lightning and rain
soon they were saying that I was a failier
that I’d never make it I should be a tailor
of failing that try to see as a sailor of boats
so let others paint now theire touch is lighter
some other author can become the great fighter
I’ll be content just to be a writer of songs
and some will love them and others will hate them
and I’ll just hope that someone will rate them
and maybe some day investigate them seriously
The song "Writer Of Songs" by Harvey Andrews is a celebration of the beauty and power of songwriting. It describes the singer's journey of wanting to be renowned for his creations and finding disappointment in the world's response, but ultimately coming to peace with the fact that he is content with writing songs that touch people on a personal level.
The first stanza expresses the singer's lofty ambitions: he wants to be someone important, someone who achieves great things and gains recognition for his work. He mentions wanting to be a writer of books, a painter, an architect, and many other things, but the world does not appreciate his talents the way he wants them to. The next stanza reveals that despite his efforts to break through the facade, the world does not recognize his strengths, but instead they criticize and discredit his work. Nonetheless, he remains steadfast and decides to continue writing songs, holding onto the hope that someday someone will take his work seriously and give it the recognition he feels it deserves.
Overall, "Writer Of Songs" is a poignant reminder of the importance of creating for oneself rather than creating for others. It embodies the notion that true beauty and power are found in genuine, heartfelt expressions that connect with those who need to hear them.
Line by Line Meaning
I always wanted to be a someone
I had great aspirations to be someone significant
to climb those mountains that no one had stood on
I wanted to achieve remarkable feats that no one else had accomplished
to tell the world that I take it all on my shoulder
I hoped to use my success to show my strength and ability to carry the weight of the world
maybe a writer of books that made me
Perhaps I wanted to be a famous author
a name in papers that would acclaim me
I wanted to be recognized and celebrated in magazines and newspapers
the greatest writers would meet to name me genius
I envisioned being seen by the top writers as a genius in the field
I covered canvas with solid colour
I dabbled in painting, covering my canvases with bold hues
until that said that there was no other
I continued painting until it was determined that there were no other unique features or angles to my work
and old Picasso he’d call me his brother and friend
I hoped to earn the respect and admiration of artistic giants such as Pablo Picasso
I’d build the bridges the ships and the towers
I had aspirations to become an accomplished engineer, constructing impressive structures
I be Frank Lloyd Wright with Brunause powers
I dreamed of having the architectural prowess of Frank Lloyd Wright and the creativity of Brunause
and I would think of designs for hours each day
I spent countless hours immersed in the creative process, developing innovative designs
but they ignored my greatest writing
My literary efforts went unnoticed, despite their significance to me
they scorned my painting and said it was frightning
Those who did take notice of my paintings criticized them for being unsettling
told me my buildings would fall to lightning and rain
Critics disparaged my architectural creations, warning that they would be structurally unsound in inclement weather
soon they were saying that I was a failier
Over time, detractors labeled me as a failure and dismissed my work entirely
that I’d never make it I should be a tailor
They went as far as suggesting I pursue a different profession altogether, such as tailoring
of failing that try to see as a sailor of boats
Or, at the very least, they thought I should try my hand at something completely different such as captaining a boat
so let others paint now their touch is lighter
I have decided to let other painters take the reins, as they possess a more delicate touch
some other author can become the great fighter
I have come to terms with the fact that someone else will make a name for themselves as a famous author
I’ll be content just to be a writer of songs
I have found contentment with being a songwriter
and some will love them and others will hate them
I understand that not everyone will be a fan of my music
and I’ll just hope that someone will rate them
All the same, I hope to get my songs rated by someone, somewhere
and maybe some day investigate them seriously
Ideally, I hope someone will investigate and appreciate my work on a deeper level
Contributed by Sadie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.