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.
Honey
Sam Shaber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Flooding summer skies
I danced to your heartbeat, pressing close to stay dry
You brought me honey
Spoke in lullabyes
Now I tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes
We shaped the hollows, placed our laughter there
With yellow hair
Blue dawn in Yellowstone
Your breath even at my side
To be with you all over again, again I'd drive all night
You called me honey
Under Sweetwater skies
Now I tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes
We shaped the hollows, placed our laughter there
And now I try to replicate the tone in everyone
With yellow hair
A breakdown in Montana become a picnic spot
Alleyways of Laramie beside the railroads lots
A view of the Rockies stretching on and on and on
Where's my silver lining now that you are gone
New day New Mexico
Coffee in the sun
Could I have known by that Taos mountain that you would be the one
You brought me honey
You warmed me inside
And now I'll tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes
The lyrics to Sam Shaber's song "Honey" are filled with imagery of memorable moments and experiences that she had with her lover in various locations, from New Mexico to Montana and Yellowstone. The lyricist describes dancing in the rain with her lover in New Mexico, and how their intimacy was amplified in the midst of a storm. The rain brings a sense of cleansing and renewal, as it washes away past pains and unfulfilled desires. The honey that her lover provides is another symbol of this nurturing and comforting connection between them, and the lyrical use of the word "lullabyes" suggests a sense of ease and relaxation.
As the song progresses, the lyricist reminisces about other moments with her lover, such as visiting Yellowstone and driving all night to be together again. These physical spaces are intertwined with the emotional and mental landscapes of the relationship, and the experiences they shared in each place have become meaningful and memorable. The line "We shaped the hollows, placed our laughter there" suggests a sense of ownership and belonging, as if the couple created a special space that only they could inhabit.
The repeated line "now I tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes" creates a sense of metaphorical overflow, as the memory of her lost love is so overwhelming that it spills out in the form of tears. The bottle could represent both the physical act of drinking in order to dull the pain, as well as a metaphorical container for her emotions. The nostalgic and bittersweet nature of the song suggests that these memories will remain potent and poignant, even as time passes.
Line by Line Meaning
Nighttime New Mexico
The singer references a specific time and place to set the scene for the story she is about to tell.
Flooding summer skies
The singer describes the weather and suggests that it was either raining heavily or about to rain.
I danced to your heartbeat, pressing close to stay dry
The singer and the person she's addressing sought shelter from the rain and used their bodies to keep each other dry.
You brought me honey
The person the artist is addressing did something sweet or special for her.
Spoke in lullabyes
The person the artist is addressing had a calming presence or spoke softly to her.
Now I tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes
The singer is drinking excessively to cope with her sadness or memories of the person she's addressing.
We shaped the hollows, placed our laughter there
The singer and the person she's addressing had a deep connection and shared many happy memories together.
And I try to replicate the tone in everyone
The artist is trying to find someone else who makes her feel the way the person she's addressing did.
With yellow hair
The person the artist is addressing had yellow or blonde hair, which could represent their uniqueness or something that made them stand out to the artist.
Blue dawn in Yellowstone
The artist references another time and place, suggesting that she and the person she's addressing have shared many memories together in different locations.
Your breath even at my side
The singer feels the closeness and comfort of the person she's addressing even though they aren't physically together at the moment.
To be with you all over again, again I'd drive all night
The artist misses the person she's addressing so much that she would go to great lengths to be with them again.
You called me honey
The person the singer is addressing gave her a nickname or term of endearment.
Under Sweetwater skies
The singer references another specific time and place, indicating that she and the person she's addressing have shared many memories in different locations.
We shaped the hollows, placed our laughter there
The singer and the person she's addressing have shared many happy memories together.
And now I try to replicate the tone in everyone
The artist is trying to find someone else who makes her feel the way the person she's addressing did.
With yellow hair
The person the artist is addressing had yellow or blonde hair, which could represent their uniqueness or something that made them stand out to the artist.
A breakdown in Montana become a picnic spot
The singer and the person she's addressing turned a negative situation into something positive and memorable.
Alleyways of Laramie beside the railroads lots
The singer references another specific location where she and the person she's addressing created happy memories together.
A view of the Rockies stretching on and on and on
The artist describes the beauty of the location she and the person she's addressing have visited.
Where's my silver lining now that you are gone
The artist is struggling to find something good in her life since the person she's addressing is no longer there.
New day New Mexico
The artist references another specific time and place to set the scene for another part of her story.
Coffee in the sun
The singer is enjoying a simple pleasure in life, which could represent a moment of happiness or peace despite her sadness.
Could I have known by that Taos mountain that you would be the one
The artist wonders if she could have predicted that the person she's addressing would become so important to her based on a specific memory or location.
You brought me honey
The person the singer is addressing did something sweet or special for her.
You warmed me inside
The person the singer is addressing made her feel happy and comfortable.
And now I'll tip the neck of this bottle 'til it's pouring out my eyes
The singer is drinking excessively to cope with her sadness or memories of the person she's addressing.
Contributed by Riley O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.