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.
Santa Fe
Shawn Mullins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the burning heart of downtown Santa Fe
Picking on a Gibson and singing "Baby Can't You See"
She was buzzing like a battlefield tracer
She was grinding like gears on a Pacer
I said sister Bloody Mary, won't you do a little number for me?
Just pull up a bar stool and buy me another beer
Take me away, take me away from here
Take me far away, Santa Fe, Santa Fe
He was living with some hippies in school bus
They had puttered here from Boulder covered in dust
He said I know a little lady living 30 miles up the road
I got a feeling that my ride ain't gonna take me
If I don't see my little lady it will break me
Another 24 hours here, I think I might just explode
I been doing everything I know to try and stay free
Working for the man just ain't no kind of plan for me
So take me away, take where I wanna be
Take me far away Santa Fe, Santa Fe
I'll sing you any song that you wanna hear
It will sound a lot better if you have yourself another beer
Take me away, take me away from here
Take me far away Santa Fe, Santa Fe
The song Santa Fe by Shawn Mullins depicts the stories of two wanderers who are keen on leaving their current lives behind in hopes of finding solace and freedom in the city of Santa Fe. The first character is a woman sitting in the corner of a cafe in downtown Santa Fe, playing guitar and singing. She is described as being full of energy and passion, "buzzing like a battlefield tracer" and "grinding like gears on a Pacer." The singer of the song (presumably a man) asks her to sing for him, and she obliges saying that she will sing any song that he wants to hear.
The second character is described as living with some hippies on a school bus not too far away from Santa Fe. He seems to be dissatisfied with his current situation and is eager to see a woman living just 30 miles up the road. The prospect of not seeing her is described as potentially "making him explode." The singer of the song then sings, "I been doing everything I know to try and stay free, working for the man just ain't no kind of plan for me." He then asks to be taken away to Santa Fe, a place where he believes he can find the freedom he longs for.
Overall, the song Santa Fe depicts two characters who are dreaming of a better life in Santa Fe. The song highlights the desire for freedom, the ambition to pursue one's dreams, and the power and magic of music. The song's chorus is particularly memorable, with lines such as "Take me far away Santa Fe, Santa Fe" and "Take me away, take me away from here."
Line by Line Meaning
She was sitting in the corner of a cafe
She was sitting in the corner of a cafe in Santa Fe
In the burning heart of downtown Santa Fe
The cafe was located in the downtown area of Santa Fe, which is known for its vibrant atmosphere
Picking on a Gibson and singing 'Baby Can't You See'
She was playing a Gibson guitar and singing a song called 'Baby Can't You See'
She was buzzing like a battlefield tracer
She was filled with energy and excitement, like a tracer bullet used in military operations
She was grinding like gears on a Pacer
She was moving with a level of intensity and persistence, like the gears of a Pacer car
I said sister Bloody Mary, won't you do a little number for me?
He asked her to perform a song for him
She said I'll sing you any song that you wanna hear
She agreed to sing any song that he wanted to hear
Just pull up a bar stool and buy me another beer
He was instructed to sit next to her and buy her another beer
Take me away, take me away from here
She wanted to be taken away from her current setting
Take me far away, Santa Fe, Santa Fe
She wanted to go to Santa Fe, which represented a place of freedom and escape for her
He was living with some hippies in school bus
He lived with hippies in a school bus
They had puttered here from Boulder covered in dust
The hippies had driven to Santa Fe from Boulder and were covered in dust from the journey
He said I know a little lady living 30 miles up the road
He mentioned knowing a woman who lived 30 miles away
I got a feeling that my ride ain't gonna take me
He suspected that his mode of transportation might not take him where he wanted to go
If I don't see my little lady it will break me
He believed that not seeing the woman he mentioned earlier would be devastating for him
Another 24 hours here, I think I might just explode
He was feeling restless and impatient, and couldn't stand the thought of being in Santa Fe for another day
I been doing everything I know to try and stay free
He had been attempting to maintain his freedom and independence
Working for the man just ain't no kind of plan for me
He did not enjoy working for someone else and desired a different lifestyle
So take me away, take where I wanna be
He wanted to be taken to a place that he desired
Take me far away Santa Fe, Santa Fe
He wanted to leave Santa Fe and go somewhere else
I'll sing you any song that you wanna hear
He offered to sing any song that she wanted to hear
It will sound a lot better if you have yourself another beer
He suggested that drinking another beer would enhance the experience of hearing him perform
Take me away, take me away from here
He also wanted to be taken away from his current setting
Take me far away Santa Fe, Santa Fe
He desired to leave Santa Fe and go somewhere else
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SHAWN MULLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind