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.
Playing House
Sam Shaber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But was it worth the while?
Sunny day, takes her pain away, opens up her eyes
Inside her knots untie
Until it turns to rain again
Turns to rain again
Turns to rain again
As he sleeps quietly she weeps, staring at the moon
And then she turns and studies the room
All their things, how it stings, to see how well they fit
Like a happy home, but just a parody of it
And then it turns to rain again
Turns to rain again
Turns to rain again
Turns to rain again
She was never one of those girls playing house
She'd always been the rock star or the private eye
So how did she ever get into this game?
He comes home, probably stoned, and players place your bets
It might be fine, their limbs entwined, and gentle eyes, and smiling sighs
If she can just keep herself from getting wet
Rain again
Turns to rain again
Rain again
Turns to rain again
The lyrics to Sam Shaber's song "Playing House" reflect on a relationship that has lost its spark and has become a routine. The song starts with a description of a night that ends with a big fight, but the couple manages to make up and smile. The next day, a sunny day takes the woman's pain away, and she feels relieved as the knots inside her untie. However, the joyous feeling doesn't last long, and soon it turns to rain again, symbolizing the return of their problems.
When the man sleeps quietly, the woman weeps and studies the room, looking at their possessions and how well they fit together. She realizes that they have created a happy home, but it is just a parody of it, lacking the real connection and intimacy they used to share. The woman is puzzled as to how she ever got into this game of playing house, as she had always seen herself as a rock star or a private eye.
The chorus repeats the phrase "turns to rain again," emphasizing that the relationship has become a cycle of good times and bad times. The woman struggles to keep her emotions in check as the man comes home, possibly stoned. The song's ending is open-ended, leaving the listener to wonder if they can salvage their love or if it will continue to turn to rain again.
Overall, "Playing House" is a poignant reflection on a relationship that lacks the passion it once had. The lyrics capture the feelings of confusion and frustration that come with trying to revive a love that has lost its spark.
Line by Line Meaning
Long night, big fight, ending up in smiles
A long, arduous night filled with conflict eventually concluded with a sense of satisfaction and happiness.
But was it worth the while?
Despite the favorable outcome, it begs the question of whether it was truly worth the effort and hardship.
Sunny day, takes her pain away, opens up her eyes
In contrast, a sunny day brings relief from the singer's pain and allows her to perceive things more clearly and positively.
Inside her knots untie
The artist's internal struggles and anxieties begin to unravel and dissipate.
Until it turns to rain again
However, this newfound sense of tranquility never lasts long before it all comes crashing down.
As he sleeps quietly she weeps, staring at the moon
While her partner sleeps soundly, the singer is filled with quiet sorrow and fixates on the lunar cycle.
And then she turns and studies the room
She takes stock of her surroundings and everything in it, analyzing it with a more critical eye.
All their things, how it stings, to see how well they fit
Observing all of the couple's shared items and seeing how perfectly they mesh together causes a painful sting of realization.
Like a happy home, but just a parody of it
The idea of a happy, functioning household is apparent, but it feels like a mere imitation or caricature of what that ideal should be.
He comes home, probably stoned, and players place your bets
As her partner returns, potentially under the influence, there's a sense of unpredictability and unease surrounding their interaction.
It might be fine, their limbs entwined, and gentle eyes, and smiling sighs
Despite the uncertainty, there's a possibility of it ultimately being alright - physical intimacy and affection are present.
If she can just keep herself from getting wet
However, the artist must protect herself in this relationship to avoid being hurt or left vulnerable.
Rain again
The metaphorical storm returns, bringing chaos and turmoil.
Turns to rain again
The cyclical nature of their relationship and emotional state is reiterated, with the occurrence of 'rain' becoming a foregone conclusion.
Rain again
The cycle continues, with no real resolution or reprieve in sight.
Turns to rain again
The lyrics close with a final acknowledgement of how the storm 'turns' yet again, mirroring the cyclical pattern of the song.
Contributed by Charlie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.