While studying anthropology at Franklin and Marshall College, McNally began singing and playing guitar in clubs. After graduating and honing her skills on the streets of Paris as a busker, she secured a deal with Capitol Records in 1997. McNally was intent on making an acoustic record and entered the studio with studio professionals including Jim Keltner, Benmont Tench, and Greg Leisz. The resulting album Jukebox Sparrows was not released at the time.
In the interim, McNally opened for Stevie Nicks and Ryan Adams, and was part of the 1999 Girl's Room tour with Tara MacLean, Kendall Payne, and Amy Correia. She also modeled for Urban Decay cosmetics. In 2000, McNally issued the holdover EP Bolder Than Paradise. When Capitol finally issued Jukebox Sparrows in January 2002, it did so into a market that had already embraced such roots-flavored material as Ryan Adams and the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. McNally embarked on a press tour, and spent the summer of that year supporting John Mellencamp. In late 2002, she released the Ran on Pure Lightning EP, a collaboration with songwriter Neal Casal.
In 2005, McNally returned with the country, blues, and soul influences on the album Geronimo. The album's June release was accompanied by a summer's worth of live dates. Early 2006 saw the release of McNally's third album, North American Ghost Music. Tour dates with Son Volt also coincided its release.
McNally took off most of 2008 and 2009 after the birth of her first child. She has resumed performing and recording and toured with Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women. In 2009 she released the album Coldwater with her band Hot Sauce. McNally currently resides near Oxford, Mississippi.
In 2013, McNally released Small Town Talk, a tribute album to the songs of Bobby Charles. In an interview, McNally said that she was a longtime friend of Bobby Charles and Small Town Talk was inspired by Charles' first, self-titled album from 1973
It Ain't Easy Being Green
Shannon McNally Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He's a songwriter, he got something to say
He says, "People in this city are too busy to hang out
This town's so spread out, no one would hear you if you shout"
Everyone's got a script to sell and someplace else they want to be
There's always a lock that would open if you could just find the key
But I know the patron saint of desperate causes
Some say there's no solution to all this disillusion
What am I to say to you who simply doesn't care?
There's a lonely girl riding the bus in the middle of the night
She calls herself up to hear a friendly voice
And she says, "Hi, this is Casandra, leave your name and your number
And I'll call you back if I have the time or if I remember"
Patty cake, patty cake, barkeep man
Pour me a beer as fast as you can
What to do with all this sadness that I see
Lord knows it ain't easy being green
Some say there's no solution to all this disillusion
What am I to say to you who simply doesn't care? Oh yeah
Oh some say, there's no solution to all this disillusion
What am I to say to you who simply doesn't care? Oh yeah
Some say there's no solution to all this disillusion
What am I to say to you who simply doesn't care?
Who simply doesn't care, oh yeah, yeah
Shannon McNally's song "It Ain't Easy Being Green" is a poignant reflection on the struggles of life in a big, bustling city. The song's protagonist knows a songwriter from far away, who observes that people in the city are too busy to hang out and that the town is so spread out that no one would hear you if you shout. The songwriter notes that everyone in the city has a script to sell and someplace else they want to be, and that there always seems to be a lock that would open if you could just find the key. But even in the midst of this desperation, the singer clings to hope, invoking the patron saint of desperate causes, who doesn't ring his fingers with diamonds and ruby roses.
The song goes on to portray the loneliness and isolation that can result from life in a city. A lonely girl rides the bus in the middle of the night, calling herself to hear a friendly voice. And at the bar, the singer asks the barkeep to pour him a beer as fast as he can, asking what to do with all the sadness he sees around him. Despite the challenges, the song ends with a note of defiance, challenging those who don't care about the struggles of others.
Overall, "It Ain't Easy Being Green" is a powerful reflection on the difficulties of navigating life in a big city, where it can be easy to feel alone and disconnected. However, even in the midst of this isolation, there is still the possibility of hope and connection, as long as we keep reaching out.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I know a guy, he's from far far away
I'm acquainted with a songwriter who hails from a distant place
He's a songwriter, he got something to say
This individual has a message to convey through his musical compositions
He says, "People in this city are too busy to hang out
According to him, the inhabitants of this urban area are preoccupied to spare any time
This town's so spread out, no one would hear you if you shout"
The vast expanse of this location makes it impossible for one to be heard by merely screaming out loud
Everyone's got a script to sell and someplace else they want to be
People have their own agenda to pursue and are solely concerned with selling their idea or product
There's always a lock that would open if you could just find the key
There's a solution to every problem if one tries hard enough to find it
But I know the patron saint of desperate causes
I'm informed of a higher power that provides assistance to those in dire predicaments
Doesn't ring his fingers with diamonds and ruby roses
This entity doesn't flaunt his wealth or luxury possessions to signify his status
Some say there's no solution to all this disillusion
Certain individuals believe that there's no remedy for this feeling of disappointment and dissatisfaction
What am I to say to you who simply doesn't care?
What can I communicate to someone who's indifferent and not concerned about this situation?
There's a lonely girl riding the bus in the middle of the night
A solitary female is traveling via bus at midnight
She calls herself up to hear a friendly voice
To combat her isolation, she phones herself to hear her own voice and simulate a conversation
And she says, "Hi, this is Casandra, leave your name and your number
She introduces herself and invites others to leave their contact information
And I'll call you back if I have the time or if I remember"
She offers to contact the caller if she remembers to do so or if she has the chance
Patty cake, patty cake, barkeep man
The singer requests the bartender to attend to him urgently
Pour me a beer as fast as you can
He entreats the bartender to immediately provide him with a mug of beer
What to do with all this sadness that I see
The artist is overwhelmed by the sorrow he perceives around him
Lord knows it ain't easy being green
It's extremely challenging to cope with the adversity of life
Who simply doesn't care, oh yeah, yeah
They are individuals who exhibit a total lack of empathy or interest in these issues
Contributed by Julia Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.