Shawn's voice varies widely standing out along with his rythym acoustical, electric guitar strokes. Shawn travels with his sound man and tour manager, Big Kip Conner.
Mullins's earlier work was influenced by acoustic and power-pop groups such as the Violent Femmes, The Producers and the Indigo Girls. However, his most significant and enduring influences are rock singer-songwriters like James Taylor and country musicians such as Kris Kristofferson.
He is known for playing many cover songs during his live performances, including "Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle as well as introducing some lighthearted, quirky elements into his song and stage elements.
Shawn Mullins released a new recording February, 2006, entitled "9th Ward Pickin Parlor."
In 2008, he released "Honeydew," which includes a new recording of the song "All in My Head" which was featured in an episode of "Scrubs." He supported Dar Williams on her Fall 2008 tour.
Amy
Shawn Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She gets low
She lives her life straight
Just like a Serpico
She starts to sneeze
And pronounces bless me
Whipes her nose on a shirt that says
She takes away the hurt real fine
Kinda like listenin to Jimi
Or Patsi Cline
Whirlin round
In the air
People say she's crazy
But she just don't care
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I would realize
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
She picks a seat
At Johnny Cash
But she hates Courtney Love
With a passion
She's got a mom
She calls Denise
Her daddy cuts hair
But he always wanted to be a priest
Heaven know's where she's from
She blows me away
Just like a machine gun
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I would realize
Somehow sees bluer skies than I do
If I believed in myself
If I was somebody else
I'd run right up to her and say
Your faith is my pride
I've gotta have you beside me
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I would realize
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I'd be satisfied
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
In this song, Shawn Mullins sings about a girl named Amy who is seemingly carefree and unapologetically unique. The song opens with an acknowledgment of her range of emotions, as Amy "gets high" and "gets low." Despite this, Amy still manages to "live her life straight, just like a Serpico." This comparison to Frank Serpico, a New York City police detective known for his honesty and integrity, suggests that Mullins sees Amy as someone who is true to herself, even if it means going against the grain.
The next few lines describe some of Amy's quirks, including her habit of saying "bless me" after she sneezes and wiping her nose on a shirt that has the provocative phrase "Kill whitey" on it. Despite these idiosyncrasies, Amy has a way of easing other people's pains, much like the music of Jimi Hendrix and Patsy Cline. Mullins notes that people say she is crazy, but it's clear that he has a soft spot for her.
In the chorus, Mullins voices a desire to see the world through Amy's eyes, suggesting that she has a perspective on life that he finds intriguing. He speculates that if he were in her shoes, he might "realize somehow she sees bluer skies than [he does]." This idea is repeated at the end of the song when Mullins sings that if he could see the world through Amy's eyes, he would "be satisfied" with what he sees.
Overall, the song is a celebration of Amy's uniqueness and a reflection on how seeing the world through different lenses can be both eye-opening and satisfying.
Line by Line Meaning
She gets high
Amy consumes substances that alter her state of mind.
She gets low
Amy experiences lows in her emotional state.
She lives her life straight
Just like a Serpico
Amy leads an honest life, much like Frank Serpico, a police officer known for his honesty.
She starts to sneeze
And pronounces bless me
Whipes her nose on a shirt that says
Kill whitey
Amy sneezes, says 'bless me,' and proceeds to wipe her nose with a shirt that has a controversial message on it.
She takes away the hurt real fine
Kinda like listenin to Jimi
Or Patsi Cline
Amy is able to soothe pain well, similar to how listening to Jimi Hendrix or Patsy Cline's music can be comforting.
Whirlin round
In the air
People say she's crazy
But she just don't care
Amy spins around in the air, causing others to think she's crazy, but she doesn't let their opinions affect her.
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I would realize
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
The singer wishes they could see the world through Amy's eyes, as they believe she has a more positive outlook on life.
She picks a seat
At Johnny Cash
But she hates Courtney Love
With a passion
Amy chooses to sit at Johnny Cash's music venue, but has a strong dislike for Courtney Love.
She's got a mom
She calls Denise
Her daddy cuts hair
But he always wanted to be a priest
Heaven know's where she's from
Amy has a mother named Denise and a father who works as a hairdresser but had aspirations to become a priest. It is unknown where she originates from.
She blows me away
Just like a machine gun
Amy impresses the artist, leaving them in awe, comparable to the effect of a machine gun.
If I believed in myself
If I was somebody else
I'd run right up to her and say
Your faith is my pride
I've gotta have you beside me
The singer wishes they had the confidence to tell Amy that they admire her and want her to be a part of their life.
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I would realize
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
The artist reiterates their desire to see the world from Amy's perspective, as they believe she has a more optimistic view.
And if I could see through Amy's eyes
Chances are I'd be satisfied
Somehow she sees bluer skies than I do
The singer emphasizes that being able to see the world through Amy's eyes would bring them immense satisfaction and joy.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN MULLINS, JULIAN RAYMOND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind