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.
Lonesome I Know You Too Well
Shawn Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's 3am and the snakes have moved in,
I'm playing to 4 drunks and me,
but the beer is cold and the memories old
and the lights are so bright I can't see
And lonesome I know you to well,
You ring in my ears, Just like a bell,
Lonesome, I know you to well
Now time stands still
and it spins like a wheel
whenever I see her around,
but she doesn't know and I'll never show,
there's to many eyes in this town
And lonesome, I know you to well,
You ring in my ears Just like a bell,
And your hollow Like a dark empty well,
Lonesome, I know you
It's 3am and the snakes have moved in!
The lyrics of Shawn Mullins's song Lonesome I Know You Too Well are about a musician playing a gig at 3am in a bar with only four drunk people and himself in the audience. Although they have no audience, he continues to play as the beer is cold and he's reminiscing about old times. He describes the lights as bright, signifying how he's using his music to shine some light into the dark night.
In the second verse, Mullins sings about how time seems to stand still when he sees someone he cares about in the same town. However, he knows he can't show his affection due to too many people knowing too much about the situation. In both verses, he talks about "Lonesome" like a person who is his close companion, who always rings in his ear like a bell and is as hollow as an empty well.
Overall, the song alludes that "Lonesome" is a metaphor for a feeling of depression and loneliness that never quite goes away. Mullins expresses that he knows it too well and the lyrics suggest that he has been trying to use his music as a source of light to overcome this feeling, even when he's playing to a small audience at 3am in a bar.
Line by Line Meaning
It's 3am and the snakes have moved in
It's a late hour and I'm feeling uneasy and lonely, like snakes in the night.
I'm playing to 4 drunks and me
I'm performing for an audience of only a few people, who are all drunk.
but the beer is cold and the memories old and the lights are so bright I can't see
The alcohol and nostalgia are both comforting, but the bright lights are overwhelming.
And lonesome I know you to well, You ring in my ears, Just like a bell, And your hollow Like a dark empty well, Lonesome, I know you to well
Loneliness is a constant companion that echoes in my mind and feels like an empty, echoing well.
Now time stands still and it spins like a wheel whenever I see her around
My perception of time is both stagnant and rapidly changing every time I see the person I desire.
but she doesn't know and I'll never show, there's to many eyes in this town
I keep my feelings hidden because there are too many people watching and judging me.
And lonesome, I know you to well, You ring in my ears Just like a bell, And your hollow Like a dark empty well, Lonesome, I know you
Loneliness is so familiar to me that it's like a constant ringing in my ears and an empty void within me.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN MULLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind