His first full-length album, Roll the Bones, which was self-released in 2011 and landed him a spot as the official busker of the Railroad Revival Tour with Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Mumford & Sons and Old Crow Medicine Show. Much more mellow than his current live performances, Roll the Bones highlights Rose-Garcia more as a lo-fi singer-songwriter, playing acoustic guitars and occasionally taming his growl to a whisper.
The son of artistic parents — his father was a longtime manager of the Paramount Theatre and his mother is an actress, director and writer — Rose-Garcia was always encouraged to pursue his musical and dramatic ambitions, and he clearly feeds off the wildly different personalities and talents of creative communities.
After his early stumbles in New York, he quickly earned respect in an inventive weirdo folk community; his stories of a Los Angeles scene centered in a garment warehouse converted into a loft/speakeasy have Moulin Rouge-level craziness. In Austin he’s connected with a community of musicians focused around Annie Street, while also bonding with indie bands such as Marmalakes, the Sour Notes, Wild Child, Hello Wheels, Whiskey Shivers and more.
Of course, none of those rock or country-influenced bands sound very much like Shakey Graves, and Rose-Garcia said their kinship is founded mostly on hard work and a desire to make the most of their talent in Austin and beyond.
For him that means a year that will be spent mostly on the road — he was among the first acts confirmed for South by Southwest 2013 and is booked for West Texas’ Utopia Fest and the Pickathon in Portland, Ore. — and weighing the biggest decisions of his still-young career.
Story of My LIfe
Shakey Graves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
yeah I'm gonna get rich
Off of the knowledge
that I learned from college
Yeah I know this girl
She acts like a bitch
but I bet I'll impress her
with some fancy lecture
Yeah I'll go to Africa
Feed all the kids
with nutritional knowledge
that I learned in college
I'll go to outer space
I'll build a ship
Find a new planet and populate it
On my new planet they'll hunger for thought and as we've established
that's just what I've got
I'll start a college and make it my own
The students will learn as I sit on my throne
The lyrics of Shakey Graves's song "Story Of My Life" are about a young college student who is ambitious and has a desire to become successful in life. The singer expresses his aspirations to use the knowledge gained from college to improve the world around him. The first verse highlights how the singer plans to use his college education to become rich. He also talks about his acquaintance, who he describes as "acting like a bitch," but he hopes to impress her with his newfound knowledge.
The second verse talks about the singer's dream to go to Africa to help feed malnourished children, using his nutritional knowledge that he learned in college. He goes on to imagine traveling to outer space, building a ship, finding a new planet, and establishing a population hungry for thought. The singer is confident in his ability to create opportunities as he believes he has the necessary knowledge and skills to do so. He imagines himself starting a college and controlling the learning environment while sitting on his throne.
In summation, "Story Of My Life" expresses the dreams and goals of an ambitious college student who wants to use what he learns to make a significant impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah I'm going to college
I have a plan to attend college.
yeah I'm gonna get rich
I have high hopes that with the acquired knowledge of college, I will make lots of money.
Off of the knowledge
I'm hoping to make money using the knowledge I learned from college.
that I learned from college
The source of my acquired knowledge is college.
Yeah I know this girl
I am familiar with a girl.
She acts like a bitch
The girl's behavior is unpleasant.
but I bet I'll impress her
I plan to impress the girl despite her behavior.
with some fancy lecture
I plan to impress the girl using a carefully crafted lecture.
Yeah I'll go to Africa
I have aspirations to travel to Africa.
Feed all the kids
I want to provide food to children in Africa.
with nutritional knowledge
I aim to offer nutritional education as well.
that I learned in college
The knowledge I gained in college will help me provide nutritional education in Africa.
I'll go to outer space
I've set my sights on space exploration.
I'll build a ship
I plan to construct a spaceship.
Find a new planet and populate it
I intend to find a new planet and create human life there.
On my new planet they'll hunger for thought and as we've established
I anticipate that the inhabitants of my new planet will yearn for knowledge.
that's just what I've got
I happen to possess a wealth of knowledge to share with the inhabitants of my new planet.
I'll start a college and make it my own
I plan to establish and take ownership of a college.
The students will learn as I sit on my throne
I will oversee the education of the students in my college, from my position of power.
Contributed by Gabriella P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
ZERO DUMONT
Still amazing after almost 10 years
Peter LaMarre
1. Roll the Bones (Live at Bismeaux Studios) 0:00
2. Willow Garden 5:09
3. Chinatown 8:17
4. Tomorrow 12:05
5. Passionate Kisses 15:13
6. Calendar Girl 18:25
7. LA 21:54
Don't forget 0:00 :D
ZERO DUMONT
Thank you
Lemon
I'm really liking this Shakey guy and his music, it's just a damn shame you can't seem to buy 90% of it..
Neil Stiskin
You can buy "And The War Game", "Roll the Bones", and "Donor Blues" on his Bandcamp.
McLain Poole
AllsehendSìtrònaDominus and he releases a lot of the hard to find stuff for three days on shakey graves day
Ryan Donohue
have any examples of any songs hes released on shakey graves day? i never seem to remember the day when it comes around or know where to find anything
f!
gosh, this is my first time hearing willow garden!! i hope he can play this song again someday <3
Akumako
I'm so glad I discovered this dude! He's such a talented artist!
Zachary Magee
All I can say after listening to this is, damn that was great. Shakey has made my Monday morning.