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.
Sometimes It Hurts
Sam Shaber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then why can't I just drift along a gentle wave and smile
If life is just a tapestry and heartache just a square in its weave
Then why can't I just hang it up, praise the winding patterns, and heal
Some words sound better in the rain
Sometimes it hurts to hear my name
Then why can't I just leave you behind and welcome the new day
If life is just a lesson to be filed away like two and two
Then why can't I just close the book on you
Some words sound better in the rain
Sometimes it hurts to hear my name
Once I was offered the Eiffel Tower by a Romeo on his knees
But what good is the Eiffel Tower once that Romeo leaves
Once I was offered a taste of passion by a Romeo in the rain
But what good is that taste of passion when it comes with a measure of pain
Some words sound better in the rain
Sometimes it hurts to hear my name
If life is just a yellow brick road with a rainbow at the end
Then why can't I just close my eyes
And why can't I just click my heels and hold my breath and mend
Some words sound better in the rain
Sometimes it hurts to hear my name
The lyrics to Sam Shaber's song 'Sometimes it Hurts' speak to the complexities of life and the pain that often accompanies it. The singer is grappling with the idea that life is just an ocean or tapestry, a journey or a lesson, and wondering why it can't be something simpler. The idea of drifting along on a gentle wave or closing the book on someone seems like the easier path, but she can't seem to let go of the hurt that she feels.
The repetition of the phrase 'sometimes it hurts to hear my name' adds to the sadness of the song, suggesting that memories of the past can be painful reminders of what's been lost. The imagery of rain throughout the song also adds to the melancholic mood. Rain is often seen as cleansing or cathartic, yet here it seems to intensify the pain of the lyrics.
The final lines about the yellow brick road and clicking heels suggest that the singer wishes she could escape her pain and find a happier ending. However, the fact that she has to hold her breath to do it suggests that it's not a permanent solution, just a temporary escape from reality. In the end, she's left to face the pain again, as evidenced by the final repetition of the chorus.
Line by Line Meaning
If life is just an ocean, with people in and out like the tide
Life is unpredictable and people come and go in our lives without a clear reason or explanation, much like the ebb and flow of ocean tides.
Then why can't I just drift along a gentle wave and smile
Despite life's unpredictability, the singer wishes to simply go with the flow and find contentment in the present moment.
If life is just a tapestry and heartache just a square in its weave
Life is made up of various experiences, both good and bad, and pain is just one aspect of the intricate fabric of life.
Then why can't I just hang it up, praise the winding patterns, and heal
The artist wishes to accept and appreciate the complexity of life's experiences, even the painful ones, in order to find healing and growth.
Some words sound better in the rain
The natural sounds of rainfall can enhance certain emotions and experiences, making them more intense or poignant.
Sometimes it hurts to hear my name
The singer is experiencing emotional pain or trauma that is triggered by certain memories or reminders, such as hearing their own name spoken aloud.
If life is just a journey with a reason for each stop along the way
The singer acknowledges that life is a process of growth and change, with each experience and encounter offering an opportunity to learn and evolve.
Then why can't I just leave you behind and welcome the new day
Despite recognizing the importance of moving forward, the artist is struggling to let go of a painful past and embrace new beginnings.
If life is just a lesson to be filed away like two and two
Life is full of experiences that can teach us important lessons, but sometimes these lessons are difficult to learn or comprehend.
Then why can't I just close the book on you
The artist is struggling to let go of a painful relationship or experience and move on with their life.
Once I was offered the Eiffel Tower by a Romeo on his knees
The singer is remembering a past romantic encounter where someone offered them an extravagant or impossible promise.
But what good is the Eiffel Tower once that Romeo leaves
The artist recognizes that grand gestures or promises mean little if the person making them is not committed or dedicated to follow through.
Once I was offered a taste of passion by a Romeo in the rain
The singer is remembering another past romantic encounter where someone offered them a powerful or intense experience.
But what good is that taste of passion when it comes with a measure of pain
The singer recognizes that intense experiences can also bring pain or negative consequences, and is questioning whether they are worth pursuing.
If life is just a yellow brick road with a rainbow at the end
The singer is referencing the story of the Wizard of Oz to suggest that life might have a clear goal or destination, or at least a happy ending to strive towards.
Then why can't I just close my eyes
The artist is longing for a simpler or easier way to navigate life's challenges, perhaps by ignoring them or just letting things happen without resistance.
And why can't I just click my heels and hold my breath and mend
The artist is referencing another moment from the Wizard of Oz to suggest that they wish they could magically fix their emotional pain and find peace or resolution.
Contributed by Adam V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.