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.
if not for you
Shakey Graves Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If for little old you
And you see that sun as an obvious group
Yeah, he comes around after the moon goes down
Yeah, just to have a little fun
Until the day is done
Well I saw why
Oh to find an alibi
If you come around I hope you stay the whole damn night
And bring some friends and bring some foes and come along and tell some jokes
And if you're anything like me, oh baby, just you wait and see
Mmm never seems like a good idea
Well if all
Well if all the lights said stop
And the oceans they did drop
Then I'd always feel so on top if not for you
Oh, but oh how time went by
And the oceans they did rise
And I always felt so hypnotized and not by you
And not by you
And not by you
And not by you
And not by you
And not by you
And not by you
The opening lines of the song “Well, which one is your world? If for little old you. And you see that sun as an obvious group” could be interpreted as a reflection of the idea that what we perceive in the world around us is subjective and therefore not necessarily indicative of objective reality. The lines could also be interpreted as expressing the sentiment that people often cling to their own beliefs and opinions, even if they don't necessarily align with truth. The imagery of the sun being part of an "obvious group" could be suggesting that the things we take for granted as being immutable or obvious can also be subject to change.
The chorus of the song "Well if all the lights said stop, And the oceans they did drop, Then I'd always feel so on top if not for you" represents the idea that even in a world where everything has been upended, the singer would feel in control if not for the subject of the song. While the lyric "And not by you" is repeated several times, there is no clear explanation of who or what "you" could be. This may indicate that the song is meant to be open to interpretation and that the listener is free to draw their conclusions.
Overall, the lyrics of the song If Not for You may speak to the idea that the world we perceive is subjective, and that our experiences and relationships shape our worldview. The song may also be seen as a reflection on the fleeting nature of time and memory and the power that others have over us.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, which one is your world
Which reality do you choose to live in?
If for little old you
If everything revolved around you
And you see that sun as an obvious group
When you think of the sun, you see it as part of a larger system.
Yeah, he comes around after the moon goes down
The sun only appears after the moon has set.
Yeah, just to have a little fun
The sun's appearance is just for enjoyment.
Until the day is done
Until it sets and nightfall arrives.
Well I saw why
I understand the reason for something
Ooh, do you even try
Are you even making an effort?
Oh to find an alibi
Oh, to come up with an excuse
If you come around I hope you stay the whole damn night
If you visit, I want you to stay for the entire night
And bring some friends and bring some foes and come along and tell some jokes
Bring whoever you'd like and share some laughs with us.
And if you're anything like me, oh baby, just you wait and see
If you relate to me, just wait and see what'll happen
Mmm never seems like a good idea
It always seems like a bad idea.
Well if all
If everything
Well if all the lights said stop
If every light signaled to stop
And the oceans they did drop
If the oceans receded
Then I'd always feel so on top if not for you
I'd feel like I'm in control, but not because of you.
Oh, but oh how time went by
Time passed by so quickly.
And the oceans they did rise
The oceans surged and got bigger.
And I always felt so hypnotized and not by you
I always felt mesmerized, but not because of you.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
And not by you
Not because of anything you did.
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: ALEJANDRO ROSE GARCIA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind