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
Leave Your Bags By The Door
Shannon McNally Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've been traveling all night and you'd like a place to stay
Well that's alright, baby leave your bags by the door
That's alright, honey you can even ask for more
I won't ask you where you're from
Where you're going or why you've come
For a lot of answers to all the questions on my tongue
That's alright, honey you can even ask for more
Well who are we two as we stand here tonight?
Are you a prince in paupe's rags come down from the heights
See the way your subjects live when you've turned your back
Taste the fruits of the common man and the purpose that you lack?
Or are you just a Tom wonderin' the night
Looking for a diamond mine and banking on it's might
Standing in the footprints of the wanders before you
Looking for fulfillment and hoping that there's more
Yes, my name is Jill Ryder and I'm a seamstress for the fleet
I stand five foot seven in my cold bare feet
And I've raised two daughters one from each of the loves of my life
I'm a widow two times, my girls are still alive
So why don't you come in out of the cold warm your feet by my fire
The cat's name is Lady , why don't you just sit down beside her
Listen to her purr, oh you know she's content
To left the world drift by and let those crooked lines stay bent
Don't be afraid to let it all hang out, 'cause I've seen it all before
And what harm could come from just a little bit more, just a little bit more?
In Shannon McNally's song "Leave Your Bags By The Door," the singer welcomes a traveler who has clearly come a long way and is in need of respite. The singer assures the traveler that they do not need to reveal where they are from, where they are going, or why they have come. The traveler can even ask for more than just a place to stay – the singer is happy to oblige. The lyrics suggest that the singer sees the traveler as a kindred spirit, someone who is searching for something more in life.
The song then shifts focus to the two individuals and what their respective identities might be. The singer wonders if the traveler might be a prince disguised in rags or perhaps just a wanderer seeking fulfillment. The singer herself introduces who she is - Jill Ryder, a seamstress who has raised two daughters and has been widowed twice. She invites the traveler to come in from the cold and warm their feet by the fire, assuring them that they have nothing to fear in revealing their true selves.
Overall, the song seems to promote the idea of connection without judgement, of accepting others for who they are without asking them to conform to any expectations. The singer welcomes the traveler with open arms, offering a warm fire and comforting presence. The lyrics urge the listener to embrace their vulnerability and let their guard down, for what harm can come from just a little bit more honesty and openness?
Line by Line Meaning
Well I can see by your eyes that you come from far away
I can tell that you have been travelling for a while just by looking at your eyes.
You've been traveling all night and you'd like a place to stay
You have been travelling all night and you need a place to rest.
Well that's alright, baby leave your bags by the door
It's okay, you can leave your bags by the door here.
That's alright, honey you can even ask for more
If you need anything else, feel free to ask.
I won't ask you where you're from
I won't inquire about your hometown or place of origin.
Where you're going or why you've come
I won't question why you are travelling or where you are headed.
For a lot of answers to all the questions on my tongue
There are many things I'm curious about, but I won't ask.
Well who are we two as we stand here tonight?
Who are we really, as we talk here tonight?
Are you a prince in paupe's rags come down from the heights
Could you be a wealthy prince who is travelling in disguise?
See the way your subjects live when you've turned your back
Do you know how your people really live when you're not there to see it?
Taste the fruits of the common man and the purpose that you lack?
Experience the simple pleasures that the common people have and the meaning it brings to their lives.
Or are you just a Tom wonderin' the night
Are you simply someone who is wandering the night, searching for something?
Looking for a diamond mine and banking on it's might
Are you seeking a valuable discovery that could potentially change your life?
Standing in the footprints of the wanders before you
Do you find yourself following in the footsteps of others who have wandered before you?
Looking for fulfillment and hoping that there's more
Are you searching for more meaning in your life and hoping to find it?
Yes, my name is Jill Ryder and I'm a seamstress for the fleet
My name is Jill Ryder and I work as a seamstress for the fleet.
I stand five foot seven in my cold bare feet
I am five feet seven inches tall and I don't have any shoes on right now, so my feet are cold.
And I've raised two daughters one from each of the loves of my life
I have two daughters, one from each of my past loves.
I'm a widow two times, my girls are still alive
I have been widowed twice, but my daughters are still alive.
So why don't you come in out of the cold warm your feet by my fire
Why don't you come inside and warm up by my fire, since it's cold outside?
The cat's name is Lady , why don't you just sit down beside her
My cat's name is Lady, why don't you join me and sit beside her?
Listen to her purr, oh you know she's content
Listen to the sound of her purring, it means she's happy and relaxed.
To left the world drift by and let those crooked lines stay bent
It's okay to ignore the world's problems and just let things be.
Don't be afraid to let it all hang out, 'cause I've seen it all before
You don't have to be afraid to be yourself, because I'm used to seeing different things.
And what harm could come from just a little bit more, just a little bit more?
What could go wrong from just doing a little bit more, taking a bit more risk?
Contributed by Charlie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.