Shaber took this one step further on February 18th, 2006 when she recorded her new live album, in my bones (live in chicago). Fans from all over the country were encouraged to email requests and the result is a collection of previously unreleased songs that have long been crowd favorites, such as the passionately yearning title track "In My Bones;" If I was alone on a desert island/ I wouldn't be alone/I'm never alone/'cause you're in my bones; the upbeat summer anthem "Jersey to O.C.;" Grab the great unknown/Lean in to every breeze/Unturn every stone/From Jersey to O.C.; and the most requested song, "Cryin' Shame," about a lovesick teenage Scottish boy (complete with accent!); It's a cryin' shame/That you don't even know my name/An' ah swear sometimes it smarts/To feel you breathing down my heart.
There are also some tracks of pure Shaber banter, covering everything from high school crushes to Grey's Anatomy to a dinner party filled with sexually charged guests. Always impromptu, these moments are another large reason people love to see Sam live in concert. She is known for sending the audience from roaring laughter to deep saddness and back again in a matter of minutes. After a recent show, an audience member put it best when she sighed, "That was a work-out." Gene Shay at WXPN-fm in Philadelphia says Shaber is "Stark, raving, great!" Folkweb.com calls her "a riveting performer," and Femmusic.com voted her Top Female Performer.
Touring nationally year 'round, Shaber has won awards in the John Lennon, Billboard, and USA Songwriting Competitions for her driving melodies, smart lyrics, and soaring voice. She also won the ear of Columbia recording artist/producer Shawn Mullins ("Lullabye"), who produced her last album, eighty numbered streets, released in 2003 to great critical acclaim. Said Paste Magazine, "eighty numbered streets is confessional and emotional, but Shaber's salty falsetto and the stark beauty of this CD won't leave you drowning in your own tears." Daughter of late-screenwriter David Shaber (The Warriors, Nighthawks) and artist Alice Shaber, Sam uses her observer's eye and sharp wit. Her strong guitar style and broad voice have won comparisons as diverse as Alanis Morissette, Joni Mitchell, and Stevie Wonder. And her passion for showing an audience a good time is never more clear than in this intimate, raw, live release. Because in my bones is put together without pauses, the listener lives an entire show from beginning to end, a true document of one night, one Shaber, in Chicago.
Eldorado
Sam Shaber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My demons are back and they're so convincing
The world could end if I don't keep up my pace
And you're so patient
You're always open but never vacant
You clear a path so I can feel the space
Like a light through the black
Like a cool river flows
Like a break against the cold
Like the value of gold
Eldorado
Eldorado
Eldorado
It's kinda silly
How something as big as New York City
Can be invisible when you're staring at your feet
And it's kinda scary
How much you mean and yet how rarely
I say I love you when we speak
Like a light through the black
Like a strong hand on my back
Like a cool river flows
Like a break against the cold
Like the value of gold
Eldorado
Eldorado
And proud in my face to carry a trace of you
Your song in my voice
And more than a name you have given me a frame on which to
Build any house of my choice
Like a light through the black
Like a strong hand
Like a cool river flows
Like a break against the cold
Like the value of gold
Like a light through the black
Like a strong hand
Like a cool river flows
Like a break against the cold
Like the value of gold
Eldorado
Eldorado
Eldorado
It's kinda scary
How much you mean and yet how rarely
I say I love you when we speak
The song "Eldorado" by Sam Shaber is an ode to love and appreciation for a partner who serves as a guiding light and a source of comfort. The song begins with the singer expressing her struggles with her demons and how they constantly remind her of the importance of keeping up with her pace. However, her partner is always there, patient and understanding, clearing a path for her so that she can feel the space. The use of similes in the chorus compares her partner's support to a light through the black, a strong hand on her back, a cool river flowing, a break against the cold, and the value of gold. These comparisons emphasize what her partner means to her and how they bring light to her life.
As the song progresses, the singer recognizes how easy it is to get caught up in the chaos of life and how New York City, a massive and bustling city, can become invisible when one is too focused on their feet. She admits to her partner that she rarely says "I love you," but acknowledges how much he means to her. She goes on to express her gratitude for the way her partner has impacted her life. She concludes the song by stating that her partner's love has given her a frame on which to build any house of her choice - a metaphor for the freedom and support he has given her to pursue her dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Again I'm squinting
Once again, I am struggling and unable to see things clearly
My demons are back and they're so convincing
The negative thoughts and emotions that haunt me are back and they seem so real
The world could end if I don't keep up my pace
I feel a great burden to constantly work and perform perfectly, or else everything will fall apart
And you're so patient
Despite my struggles, you are always understanding and kind towards me
You're always open but never vacant
You are always available to listen and support me, but never empty or lacking in your presence
You clear a path so I can feel the space
You help me navigate through my struggles and create a sense of openness and freedom
Like a light through the black
You shine a light of hope through the darkness of my struggles
Like a strong hand on my back
You provide a strong and supportive presence, pushing me forward
Like a cool river flows
You bring a sense of calm and fluidity to my life
Like a break against the cold
You provide a much-needed respite from the harsh and cruel realities of life
Like the value of gold
You are incredibly valuable and precious to me
Eldorado
You are like a mythical, treasure-filled destination that I am constantly in search of
It's kinda silly
It may seem foolish or trivial
How something as big as New York City
Even a massive and important thing like New York City
Can be invisible when you're staring at your feet
Can go unnoticed when you are too focused on your own struggles and problems
And it's kinda scary
It is also a bit frightening
How much you mean and yet how rarely
You are incredibly important to me, yet I do not express it enough
I say I love you when we speak
I do not express my love for you often enough
And proud in my face to carry a trace of you
I am proud to have your influence and presence with me at all times
Your song in my voice
Your message and values are so ingrained in me that they come out in everything I say and do
And more than a name you have given me a frame on which to
You have given me more than just a name, but a sense of identity and purpose
Build any house of my choice
I am able to create and build my life according to my own desires and dreams, thanks to your influence
Contributed by Noah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.