Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter. His albums repres… Read Full Bio ↴Steve Gunn is a New York-based guitarist and songwriter. His albums represent milestones of contemporary guitar-driven, forward music. Mining the catalogs of Robbie Basho, Sandy Bull, Michael Chapman, and Sonny Sharrock, among other titans of stringed-things, Steve has steadily processed these inspirations into a singular, virtuosic stream. Close listening reveals the influence of Delta and Piedmont country blues, free jazz, and psych on the continually unfolding compositions. Friendships and collaborations with Jack Rose, Tom Carter, Meg Baird, and Michael Chapman colored the disciplined evolution of the deconstructed blues sound, at once transcendent and methodical, that is now Gunn’s signature.

With a career spanning nearly fifteen years, Steve has produced volumes of critically acclaimed solo, duo, and ensemble recordings. Gunn’s 2009 solo masterpiece, Boerum Palace, demonstrated a fully realized power for songcraft. Steve started to sing more and developed a commanding vocal style equal to his guitar practice. His acclaimed instrumental duo recordings with Truscinski, Sand City (2010) and Ocean Parkway (2012), cemented his place among the top of his peers, both present and past. These documents display Gunn’s compositional penchant for charting musical travelogues that ramble through city and wilderness alike. Dispatches home are not merely descriptive but corporeal; the evocative, rhythmic power of his writing and phrasing carries the listener along bodily. Steve builds songs as exploratory vessels, opens them up for mechanical tinkering, and lives in them through ceaseless improvisatory permutations.

Two solo albums have been released on Three Lobed Recordings, and two albums as one half of Gunn-Truscinski Duo also released on Three Lobed.

Luciano
Steve Gunn Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's all right here on the floor
A sea of shadows by the door
Roll the gate, turn your key
Unlock your golden song from me
Good morning, hello
Before the big rush of the day
Make sure that you're not in the way
This is my first place space in time

So I'll just hang and watch the light
Move slowly, with you

I'll take you down
Glad I'm found
Pick me up
Safe and sound
I'll take you down
Glad I'm found
Pick me up
Safe and sound, here

Night time here with all demands
I hear him howling with his friends
Sometimes it's Jesus who he calls
And you just hope that they're all
There for you
Just like he was there for me

I'll take you down
Glad I'm found
Pick me up
Safe and sound
I'll take you down
Glad I'm found
Pick me up
Safe and sound, here

Luciano
Luciano
Luciano

Luciano
Luciano, Luciano

Overall Meaning

The song Luciano by Steve Gunn is a reflective piece that seems to be based on the personal experiences of the artist. The first line, "It's all right here on the floor," is a metaphor for the memories and experiences that the artist has accumulated over the years. The "sea of shadows by the door" indicates the darker aspects of these experiences, which may be difficult to confront.

The next two lines are directed at someone, asking them to unlock their "golden song" from the artist. This may refer to a creative spark that the artist needs from their muse, or it could be an invitation for someone to share their own experiences and stories with the artist. The lines "Before the big rush of the day, make sure that you're not in the way" suggest that the artist wants to take some time for introspection before the distractions of daily life take over.

The chorus of the song, "I'll take you down, glad I'm found, pick me up, safe and sound," suggests that the artist has found a kindred spirit who they can rely on for support. The repetition of Luciano's name at the end is unclear, but it could be a reference to someone who has been a constant presence in the artist's life or a symbol of hope and faith.

Overall, the song is a moving piece that captures the universal theme of the human experience. It encourages listeners to take time for introspection, seek support from others, and embrace the highs and lows of life.

Line by Line Meaning

It's all right here on the floor
Everything that is important is present and visible here, on the ground before us.

A sea of shadows by the door
A large amount of darkness can be seen by the entrance, symbolically indicating that there may be something to overcome before reaching the light.

Roll the gate, turn your key
Open the barrier that separates us from what lies beyond by using your key, tool or method to access and unlock the path.

Unlock your golden song from me
Free the unique and valuable expression from within that has been trapped inside, waiting to be revealed and shared with the world.

Good morning, hello
A friendly greeting shared at the start of a new day or interaction.

Before the big rush of the day
Prior to the chaotic and busy events of the day that will soon begin.

Make sure that you're not in the way
Ensure that you are not obstructing the path or impeding others before proceeding.

This is my first place space in time
This is the current moment or location I inhabit first, before any others.

So I'll just hang and watch the light
I'll remain here and quietly observe the illumination, whether it be a physical or metaphorical light source.

Move slowly, with you
Advance or progress at a relaxed pace, accompanying and following another individual closely.

I'll take you down
I'll guide or lead you towards a lower level or ground.

Glad I'm found
I'm happy to be present and discovered.

Pick me up
Lift me or raise me from my current position or state.

Safe and sound
Protected and secure, free from harm or danger.

Night time here with all demands
During the hours of darkness, when requests, needs, or responsibilities must still be managed.

I hear him howling with his friends
I perceive the sound of an individual vocalizing loudly with their companions, potentially communicating messages or emotions.

Sometimes it's Jesus who he calls
Occasionally the name of the religious figure Jesus is invoked or invoked upon.

And you just hope that they're all
You simply desire or wish that all present and involved parties are okay, safe or satisfied.

There for you
Providing support, assistance, or camaraderie to assist or comfort another individual.

Just like he was there for me
Comparable to how another individual supported or aided me in the past.

Luciano
A direct address or reference to an individual named Luciano.

Luciano
A repetition of the direct address or reference to the individual named Luciano.

Luciano
Another repetition of the direct address or reference to the individual named Luciano.

Luciano
Yet another repetition of the direct address or reference to the individual named Luciano.

Luciano, Luciano
A final repetition of the direct address or reference to the individual named Luciano.

Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Steve Gunn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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