"...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
Spaceman
Shawn Phillips Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joy is at the end of hoping
Happiness is there some days
Jesus told me I'm a spaceman
And I believe in every word he says
Sorrow can keep you crying
Can I borrow some of your trying willful way
Baby, you won't believe me when I tell you
I want to hear what you have to say
It's just as important to me
As the rising of the sun each day
Another stage
Play I'm in a cage
Say, won't you tell me why you're in a rage
Lovely blond lady in a loose dress
Gave me joy when she said to me
I don't have to leave right now
'Cause I'm telling you I am free
Tellin' me she is free
Tellin' me baby, tellin' me she is free
Tellin' me baby, tellin' me she is free
From her mother
See
She's another
Be
Like no other
Put your bag and baggage in your head now
Walk about salt and land
When you find what you're looking for
Come back to this lonely man
Joy is at the end of hoping
Happiness is there some days
Jesus told me I'm a spaceman
And I believe in every word he says
I believe in every word he says, yeah
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
The lyrics of Shawn Phillips’s song “Spaceman” capture the complexity of the human experience as it relates to finding joy and happiness and balancing it with the inevitability of sorrow and pain. The opening lines, “Joy is at the end of hoping / Happiness is there some days”, suggest that while one can find joy through hope, happiness is not a constant state of being. This idea is further reinforced in the lines “Sorrow can keep you crying / Tomorrow I may be dying”, acknowledging that sorrow and pain are part of the human experience and can sometimes feel overwhelming.
The chorus of the song takes an interesting turn when Phillips sings, “Jesus told me I'm a spaceman / And I believe in every word he says”. This line suggests a deeper layer of interpretation to the lyrics, as Phillips may be looking for some spiritual or extraterrestrial explanation for the struggles and joys of life. The lyrics also explore the complexity of relationships and the importance of communication and listening, as suggested in the lines “Baby, you won't believe me when I tell you / I want to hear what you have to say / It's just as important to me / As the rising of the sun each day”. The song ultimately ends on a hopeful note, with Phillips searching for meaning and joy in the world and believing in the power of faith to provide comfort and guidance in the face of life’s difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
Joy is at the end of hoping
Happiness only accompanies success after a period of hard work and optimism
Happiness is there some days
Contentment is elusive and only temporary
Jesus told me I'm a spaceman
A spiritual entity has informed me that I am an outsider in society or the universe
And I believe in every word he says
I implicitly trust the message conveyed to me and my personal beliefs align with spiritual teachings
Sorrow can keep you crying
Painful emotions tend to linger and may lead to depression
Tomorrow I may be dying
Life is fleeting and our death is never assured
Can I borrow some of your trying willful way
Can I seek your inspiration or guidance to overcome my emotional struggles?
Baby, you won't believe me when I tell you
My story will be so fantastical that you'll have trouble accepting it at first glance
I want to hear what you have to say
I've taken an interest in your perspective or input
It's just as important to me
It carries the same weightage of value as any other aspect of my life
As the rising of the sun each day
It's a regular occurrence and brings the same degree of happiness as before
Another stage
A new phase of life
Play I'm in a cage
I'm restrained or confined in my current situation
Say, won't you tell me why you're in a rage
Can you inform me about the reason behind your anger or frustration?
Lovely blond lady in a loose dress
A pretty woman dressed informally
Gave me joy when she said to me
I felt happy when she expressed something positive to me
I don't have to leave right now
I'm under no obligation to depart this moment
'Cause I'm telling you I am free
I'm expressing my sense of liberation
Tellin' me she is free
She's reiterating that she's free
Tellin' me baby, tellin' me she is free
She's emphasizing that she's free
From her mother
It's hereditary
See
Notice that it's true
She's another
She's unique or different from others
Be
Embody those qualities yourself
Like no other
Distinct and unparalleled
Put your bag and baggage in your head now
Mentally internalize your experiences and what you've learned
Walk about salt and land
Travel through different terrain
When you find what you're looking for
Once you achieve your goals
Come back to this lonely man
Return to me and share your newfound wisdom
I believe in every word he says, yeah
I remain steadfast in my faith and reiterate my trust in spiritual teachings
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
I wholeheartedly accept spiritual guidance and remain committed to following it
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
I am confident that spiritual teachings are true and accurate
I believe in every word, believe in every word he says
I maintain my belief in spiritual wisdom and refrain from doubting it
Contributed by Hailey N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.