Much like the man himself, Hayes' musical sensibilities defy easy categorization. Just because there's a banjo featured in a track, don't expect it to sound Appalachian -- and certainly don't expect that recurring tuba to have anything to do with Sousa and his severely metered marches. With his new album "Big Black Hole and the Little Baby Star", the North Carolina-bred, San Francisco-rooted artist continues to embrace the multifarious, channeling Billie Holiday in her more melancholy moments (Fucked Me Right Up) or hitting the pavement with broken-hearted, wild eyed friends who take strength in numbers (Calling All Cars). With subject matter that ranges from polka dot panties to innocent death row inmates, it's best to keep an ear cocked to sort out Hayes' lyrics. A masterful songwriter and fingerpicker, the singer plays guitar, mandolin, and banjo on the album.
Etienne de Rocher mans the piano, bass, keyboards and backup harmony vocals, and Ches Smith supplies percussion. Ara Anderson, who's added his horns to Tom Waits' and Jolie Holland's albums, adds some powerful oomph on trumpet and tuba. Hayes says that the process for getting this fourth record together has been "totally organic - - it has to do with time, and how the sound changes because of it, as well as with the people you play with."
A little over a year ago, while playing a warehouse show for local arts and culture mag Kitchen Sink, Hayes bumped into fellow musician de Rocher. It was a fortuitous meeting. De Rocher invited Hayes to record a few songs at his garage studio, and Hayes eventually recorded the whole of Big Black Hole there. Thanks in part to de Rocher's production, the album's sound is a departure from his previous discs. Now, Hayes sounds a little less folky, a little more languid and groovy, as if he loosened the knot on his hobo tie after tossing back a few Don Julios -- a better approximation of his live shows.. - Elka Karl
Powerful Stuff
Sean Hayes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got me circling like the moon round the sun
Acting crazy like a fool all drunk
Hear me, this is powerful stuff
There's no way for you to give this up
It's in your body it's all in your blood
It'll tear you down it'll lift you up
Alright, now, let's turn it up
Every day do like a flower does
The sun it rises and she opens up
The sun it rises and she sings
Oh, hit me, this is
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, mmm-hmm
Yeah, now tell me are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready when a thing's so strong?
You can't give it, won't give it up
Watch it turning, yearning, burning
Can't give it up, won't give it up
Even when you're yearning, burning, turning
Can't give it up, won't give it up
Mmm-hmmm
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, mmm-hmm
"Powerful Stuff" by Sean Hayes is a song that explores the intensity and uncontrollability of love. The lyrics convey the idea that love is a force that can consume us, leaving us feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. The singer compares this feeling to the pull of the moon around the sun, indicating the strength of this force. The repetition of the phrase "Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful" reinforces the idea that love cannot be ignored or denied.
The second half of the song focuses on the beauty and renewal that can come if we surrender to this force. The comparison to a flower opening up to the sun suggests that love can be a source of growth and transformation. The repeated question "Are you ready?" encourages listeners to embrace love and all its complexity.
Overall, "Powerful Stuff" is a song that celebrates the all-consuming nature of love, and encourages listeners to surrender to its power.
Line by Line Meaning
Aw, yes, this is powerful stuff
I am acknowledging that what I am feeling or experiencing is incredibly strong and impactful.
Got me circling like the moon round the sun
I am being drawn in and moved around by this powerful force, like the moon being pulled towards the sun.
Acting crazy like a fool all drunk
I am feeling so influenced by this powerful thing that I am behaving in a way that may seem irrational or out of character.
Hear me, this is powerful stuff
I want to make sure you understand that what I am experiencing is not something to be taken lightly - it is truly powerful.
There's no way for you to give this up
Once you have been affected by this powerful force, it is not easy to simply walk away or dismiss it.
It's in your body it's all in your blood
This powerful thing has become a part of you and is flowing through your veins - it's not just a passing emotion.
It'll tear you down it'll lift you up
This force has the power to both harm and heal you.
And keep you turning like it's never enough
You will constantly be drawn back to this powerful thing, as if never feeling satisfied by it.
Alright, now, let's turn it up
I am suggesting that we intensify this already powerful experience.
Every day do like a flower does
I am recommending that we approach this powerful force by allowing ourselves to bloom and grow, like a flower opening up to the sun each day.
The sun it rises and she opens up
This line is a continuation of the flower metaphor, emphasizing the idea of opening up to the powerful force, like a flower in the sun.
The sun it rises and she sings
The metaphor of the flower singing suggests that we should not be afraid to express our joy and excitement towards this powerful thing.
Oh, hit me, this is powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
I am once again exclaiming the strength and impact of this force, wanting it to really hit me.
Yeah, now tell me are you ready?
I am asking if the listener is prepared for the intensity of this powerful force.
You can't give it, won't give it up
This line suggests that once you have been affected by this force, it is impossible to let go of it willingly.
Watch it turning, yearning, burning
This line emphasizes the feeling of being caught up in the powerful force, as if being pulled and consumed by it.
Even when you're yearning, burning, turning
This further emphasizes the fact that you cannot simply walk away from this powerful experience, even when it may feel overwhelming or chaotic.
Mmm-hmmm
This is simply an exclamation, indicating agreement or affirmation towards the previous statements.
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
This repetition once again emphasizes the strength and impact of the force being described.
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
This repetition continues to drive home the idea of just how strong this force is.
Powerful, powerful, mmm-hmm
This final repetition is like a reverberation of the idea of something being truly powerful.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Sean Padrick Hayes
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Haylei
"Aw, yes, this is powerful stuff
Got me circling like the moon round the sun
Acting crazy like a fool all drunk
Hear me, this is powerful stuff
There's no way for you to give this up
It's in your body it's all in your blood
It'll tear you down it'll lift you up
And keep you turning like it's never enough
Alright, now, let's turn it up
Every day do like a flower does
The sun it rises and she opens up
The sun it rises and she sings
Oh, hit me, this is
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, mmm-hmm
Yeah, now tell me are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready when a thing's so strong?
You can't give it, won't give it up
Watch it turning, yearning, burning
Can't give it up, won't give it up
Even when you're yearning, burning, turning
Can't give it up, won't give it up
Mmm-hmmm
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, powerful, powerful
Powerful, powerful, mmm-hm"
Anothai Emwong
Oh yes this is powerful stuff
Got me circling like the moon round the sun
Acting crazy like a fool all drunk
Hear me this is powerful stuff
No way for you to give this up
It is in your body
It is in your blood
Tear you down
Lift you up
Keep you turning like it's never enough
All right then let us turn it up
Everyday do like a flower does
Sun rises and she opens up
Sun rises and she sings
Hit me
This is powerful
Powerful
Powerful
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
Are you ready?
When a thing is so strong
You can' t give it up
Won't give it up
Melissa Mccrackin
I think he writes his songs the way a child takes his first polaroid and waits for the process to magically develop into something unexpected. Always stripped down, raw, and inherently beautiful.
Cameron Fritz
How the hell do companies find music like this? I would have never thought to look up something amazing like this!
Stacy Ott
I walked down the aisle to this song. It will always give me chills.
Troy Pochop
Friggin awesome !
Channing B. McBride
I fell in LOVE with this song after hearing it on the Subaru commercial! Whether it's about love, weed or both, this song is amazing and original! Sure, some of us may have never heard it before seeing the Subaru commercial but one things is for sure: we are all alike in that we enjoy great music! We were destined to run with wolves!!
ch4nt0l
I love this! This is like the third song that I've heard on a commercial, looked it up, and absolutely loved it. Where do they find these songs!!!????!! It's crazy stuff.
ScandinavianBantu
OMG!!!!!! I'm thankful for that Subaru commercial too! What an amazing lyric... What an amazing voice!!!!!! Sean Hayes is new to me, but I sure hope I hear MORE from him! My husband & I are from the "old school" and we thought it might have been a newly uncovered "Wilson Pickiett" recording! God bless you Sean! May the wind always be at your back!
Mohan Babu
I keep coming back to this song from past few years. It carries lot of my memories from 9 years
lindylou961
Love it!! Now I have to listen to more Sean Hayes and see if the rest of his stuff is equally good!!
Taylor Barrett
I love this song. Thank you so much for showing it to me. Love you, Kelsie <3