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.
Walkin' At Night
Sam Shaber Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The whole damn place can be one shitty pity, but hey, that's atmosphere
Now New York's a very crowded space, it's real hard to get from place to place
And all that damn cigarette smoke blowin' in your face, and comments on your rear
But when the lights on the Empire State are dark
And no one with sense goes into Central Park
When the rich folk are sleeping up on Carnegie Hill
If you look you just might find me walkin' at night
Yeah there's something so right about walking at night
Now most of my friends think that I'm insane, they say
"That Sam even walks home in the rain"
But I'd just rather get wet than wait around for a train gettin' restless and blue
And hungry taxis try to get me to ride; they slow down and pull up to my curbside
But I just wait for the light, I don't look them in the eye and then I push on through
And when the bands are loading up their cars
And all the stools are up on the bars
When the gates have been locked around Tompkins Square
And the street urchins dream upon the synagogue stairs
If you look you just might find me walkin' at night
Yeah there's somethin so right about walkin' at night
Cause when you ain't got no cash for no cab fare
And the subway's down way too deep under there
You ain't gonna find a bus anywhere
And there's something so serene about that city night air
I had a gig last night, an old friend showed up and boy was he lookin' fine
I said hey let's go grab a glass of wine or a coffee
So we went outside, he bought me a falafel, and as I munched I thought it wouldn't be awful
If I found myself eating an Eggo waffle with him the next day (You catch my drift)
He said my friends are hangin', they're very cool
So I went along, but I was a fool
They threw a Star Trek movie in the VCR
I thought if gettin' some means this then this is going too far
And so I said "Goodbye" and now I'm walkin' at night
Yeah there's something so right about walkin' at night
Yeah there ain't nothin' wrong with walkin' at night
Hell, I wrote this song while I was walkin' at night
The song "Walkin' At Night" by Sam Shaber is a reflection on the experiences of living in New York City. The lyrics describe the challenges people face with the crowded space, the polluted air, and the cigarette smoke on the streets, which can feel like a hopeless pity. However, the song suggests that walking at night can be a calm and serene experience, without the hustle and bustle of daily life. There is something special about the city after the rich have gone to sleep, the bars have closed, and the streets are deserted.
The song presents the idea that walking at night is a unique experience in New York City, where one can explore and get lost in the city's beauty without any distractions. The song's melancholic melody complements the lyrics, which demonstrate how the singer walks at night to escape the stress of the city and the expectations of her friends. She prefers to get wet in the rain than wait for a train, even if her friends think she is insane. When she takes a nighttime walk, it is a time for self-reflection and to escape from her daily struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I live in New York City, the pavement's cracked and the air is gritty
I currently reside in New York which is characterized by road damage and dirty atmosphere.
The whole damn place can be one shitty pity, but hey, that's atmosphere
The place is often considered undesirable, but it has an exceptional ambiance.
Now New York's a very crowded space, it's real hard to get from place to place
The place is congested which makes it difficult to navigate.
And all that damn cigarette smoke blowin' in your face, and comments on your rear
The air is also polluted with smoke from cigarette and derisive remarks are made frequently.
But when the lights on the Empire State are dark
However, when illumination in the Empire State fades out,
And no one with sense goes into Central Park
and it's unsafe to walk into Central Park,
When the rich folk are sleeping up on Carnegie Hill
when affluent residents nestled in Carnegie Hill are asleep,
And down on 59th the carriage horses stand still
and the carriage rides near 59th street have stopped,
If you look you just might find me walkin' at night
At this hour, you might find me taking a stroll in the city.
Yeah there's something so right about walking at night
I find gratification in taking a walk in the dead of the night.
Now most of my friends think that I'm insane, they say
Some of my acquaintances believe I'm insane and have told me so,
"That Sam even walks home in the rain"
They have highlighted the fact that I'd rather walk home drenched by rain.
But I'd just rather get wet than wait around for a train gettin' restless and blue
Regardless, I prefer to brave the rain than wait for slow train rides that leave me feeling anxious.
And hungry taxis try to get me to ride; they slow down and pull up to my curbside
Sometimes taxi drivers will attempt to coax me into a ride; they'll slow and position their vehicle conveniently.
But I just wait for the light, I don't look them in the eye and then I push on through
However, I'll pause, pretend not to see them, wait for the green light and continue walking.
And when the bands are loading up their cars
When bands are loading their equipment,
And all the stools are up on the bars
Bars have closed their doors,
When the gates have been locked around Tompkins Square
and the gates of Tompkins Square have been locked,
And the street urchins dream upon the synagogue stairs
while homeless young people rest and dream on the steps of a synagogue,
If you look you just might find me walkin' at night
you might come across me wandering the streets.
Yeah there's somethin so right about walkin' at night
The experience of a walk during night hours is overwhelmingly appealing to me.
Cause when you ain't got no cash for no cab fare
When one isn't financially able to afford taxi fare,
And the subway's down way too deep under there
and there's no way to reach the subway, which is underground,
You ain't gonna find a bus anywhere
then there's no chance of finding bus transportation anywhere,
And there's something so serene about that city night air
which makes taking a walk in the city's silent night atmosphere more relaxing.
I had a gig last night, an old friend showed up and boy was he lookin' fine
I had a performance yesterday, and a friend who attended looked particularly attractive.
I said hey let's go grab a glass of wine or a coffee
I suggested that we go out and get a coffee or a glass of wine.
So we went outside, he bought me a falafel, and as I munched I thought it wouldn't be awful
While we were outside, he purchased a falafel wrap for me, and I thought it wouldn't be terrible to see him again the next day.
If I found myself eating an Eggo waffle with him the next day (You catch my drift)
I might be inclined to have breakfast with him the next day or further intimacy might be possible.
He said my friends are hangin', they're very cool
He invited me to hang out with friends, claiming they are sociable and fascinating.
So I went along, but I was a fool
I agreed to accompany him, but I made a mistake in judgment.
They threw a Star Trek movie in the VCR
His friends decided to watch a Star Trek movie on the video cassette recorder,
I thought if gettin' some means this then this is going too far
I believed that the desire for sexual interaction shouldn't be linked to watching such a movie and thought it was an absurd idea.
And so I said "Goodbye" and now I'm walkin' at night
Hence, I said goodbye to them and am wandering the street.
Yeah there's something so right about walkin' at night
I find my peace of mind while walking the streets at this hour.
Yeah there ain't nothin' wrong with walkin' at night
I believe walking at night not faulty in any manner.
Hell, I wrote this song while I was walkin' at night
This song was composed while I was walking the streets of New York City at night.
Contributed by Camden F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.