"...an artist of such raw talent, ambition and good will... Phillips' main attraction is still his voice. Reedy and flexible, with a remarkable falsetto, it is a potent dramatic instrument. " that's what Rolling Stone Magazine had to say about Shawn Phillips, a musician whose work literally fits into no category.
Shawn Phillips has almost twenty albums to his credit (of which millions have been sold) and a host of associations with some of the most respected names in the industry including Donovan, Paul Buckmaster, J Peter Robinson, Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and many others, yet he is virtually forgotten except by his cadre of loyal fans. The Texas-born singer/songwriter was called "The best kept secret in the music business," by the late rock impresario Bill Graham.
Beginning in the 1960s, Phillips made noteworthy contributions to popular music. He performed at the "Isle of Wight" festival and was cast to play the lead in the original production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" (he had to withdraw due to his heavy recording and touring schedule.)
Throughout the 60s Phillips worked the folk music scene in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, New York's Greenwich Village, and London. In 1967 Phillips moved to Positano, Italy, where he remained throughout the 1970s, writing some of his most well known work. This period produced the albums 'Contribution', 'Second Contribution', 'Collaboration' and 'Faces".
Four of his albums "Faces," "Bright White," "Furthermore" and "Do You Wonder" made it into the Billboard Top 100. In addition, the singles, "Lost Horizon," "We" and "Woman" made Billboard's top 40. One of the most sought after Christmas songs is Phillips' 1970 45rpm release of "A Christmas Song" on A&M 1238. The track is now available on the re-issue of Faces.
His latest album, 'No Category' featuring his longtime collaborators Paul Buckmaster and Peter Robinson was released in 2002.
Today Shawn lives in Port Elizabeth, South Africa dividing his time between writing, touring, and his work as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and firefighter.
Official Shawn Phillips website : www.shawnphillips.com
Shawn Phillips Merchandise can be purchased here: http://www.zazzle.com/shawnphillips_emh
Circles
Shawn Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
People keep talkin' bout money and problems in their lives
Puttin' other people down behind their back, they gotta criticize
Hardly ever get a chance to say that we are much obliged
Cause we're going in a circle babe
And nobody really knows where the circle begins
What you gonna buy when the well runs dry
You know what that implies
All of us sittin' round wonderin' are they tellin' us lies?
If they are, then we're in trouble
And now everybody better think about where this ends
Hurtin' people gotta keep workin' it just to stay alive
Two weeks in the sun is not a lot of fun, and I apologize
'Spect a bunch of people now agree that they all sympathize
Cause the rich keep gettin' richer
And the poor had better think about where that's at
Makin' your life a misery ain't never gonna satisfy
If you keep thinkin' that you're gonna be sinkin'
Then everybody say goodbye
Keepin' your humanity full of common dignity
Now that's the one that justifys
Cause we're only simple people babe
And nobody really knows
And we're going in a circle babe
And nobody knows where the circle begins
The song "Circles" by Shawn Phillips is a commentary on the human condition and how people tend to fall into patterns of behavior without really understanding why they are doing so. The lyrics describe how people talk about money and their problems, and how they criticize others behind their backs. The song also talks about how people often focus on themselves to the point of self-despise, without considering the bigger picture. The line "what you gonna buy when the well runs dry" reinforces this idea by suggesting that people should think beyond immediate gratification.
The song suggests that people need to think beyond themselves and consider the impact their behavior has on others. It also highlights the growing disparity between the rich and the poor and encourages listeners to consider the consequences of such a divide. The line "makin' your life a misery ain't never gonna satisfy" suggests that people should aim for a greater sense of purpose beyond material wealth and personal gain.
Overall, the song emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding in human relationships. The repeated line "cause we're only simple people babe, and nobody really knows" reinforces the idea that people are not perfect and do not have all the answers. The song encourages us to approach life with a spirit of humility and a willingness to learn and grow.
Line by Line Meaning
People keep talkin' bout money and problems in their lives
People talk a lot about the issues money can cause and the problems they face.
Puttin' other people down behind their back, they gotta criticize
People are often negative about others and talk badly about them.
Hardly ever get a chance to say that we are much obliged
We don't often take the time to appreciate or thank others.
Cause we're going in a circle babe
We're stuck in a cycle of negativity and criticism.
And nobody really knows where the circle begins
No one knows exactly how or why this cycle started.
Singular methods of keepin' you into your self despise
Constantly focusing on oneself can lead to negative thoughts and emotions.
What you gonna buy when the well runs dry
What will you do when you've exhausted your resources?
You know what that implies
You understand the consequences of running out of resources.
All of us sittin' round wonderin' are they tellin' us lies?
We all question the honesty of others and their intentions.
If they are, then we're in trouble
If others are lying to us, it could have serious consequences.
And now everybody better think about where this ends
We need to consider the long-term effects of our actions and decisions.
Hurtin' people gotta keep workin' it just to stay alive
People who are struggling have to work hard just to get by.
Two weeks in the sun is not a lot of fun, and I apologize
Being in a difficult situation is not enjoyable and can be apologized for.
'Spect a bunch of people now agree that they all sympathize
Many people can relate to and feel sorry for those who are struggling.
Cause the rich keep gettin' richer
Wealthy people continue to accumulate more wealth.
And the poor had better think about where that's at
Those who are less fortunate need to consider how this affects them.
Makin' your life a misery ain't never gonna satisfy
Focusing on negativity and making life miserable for others will never bring satisfaction.
If you keep thinkin' that you're gonna be sinkin'
If you continue having negative thoughts and emotions, your situation will worsen.
Then everybody say goodbye
This will result in a negative outcome for everyone involved.
Keepin' your humanity full of common dignity
Treating others with respect and compassion maintains our humanity and dignity.
Now that's the one that justifys
This is the philosophy that is most justifiable and logical.
Cause we're only simple people babe
We are all just ordinary people.
And nobody really knows
No one knows the solution to the problems we face.
And we're going in a circle babe
We're still stuck in this cycle of negativity and criticism.
And nobody knows where the circle begins
We still don't know how or why this cycle started or how to stop it.
Contributed by Oliver A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.