Stuart comes from South Alabama. He was raised mostly in Mobile, and grew up with family and friends along the gulf coast, and in New Orleans. He began playing piano at an early age, then began to take up new instruments.
In high school, he played trumpet in the marching band, which allowed him to march in Mardi Gras parades and travel around the South. He began playing in bands outside of school as well, and did gigs with short-lived bands as a drummer, bass player, and keyboardist.
Stuart's knack for both literature and music led to some scholarships and a period of academic pursuit at the University of Alabama. There, Stuart again marched in the marching band, this time travelling the country.
After three years at UA, Stuart was approached by an 8-piece punk/ska band called PAIN that needed a trumpet player for a national tour. Stuart then left school and toured the USA extensively in a Ford van. Stuart recorded several studio and live albums with PAIN, and he contributed accordion, piano, organ, backing vocals, ukelele, and even a little writing to PAIN's studio albums. PAIN even got some exposure through Cartoon Network and MTV2.
After the breakup of PAIN, in 2001, Stuart went back to UA to finish what would become an English degree. At school, he founded a poetry reading series and wrote many sarcastic letters to the school newspaper's editorial page. At the same time, he bagan recording his first collection of original songs. In 2002, Stuart released his first CD of original material, titled "I Can't See Over the Accordion". It contained 24 songs, and no two were alike. Some were folky, some punky...one was techno, and one was sung in Spanish. A couple of the funny songs from the CD got national airplay on some quirky specialty shows like "Dr. Demento".
Next, Stuart began Red Label Revolver, a young and fun band that would be the vehicle for his songs fo a couple of years. It was a four-piece, and recorded two CDs. The second one was recorded in Nashville by a less-than-competent producer. The chaotic and expensive recording experience, and the lack of decent product, meant the demise of RLR. It also meant that Stuart was without a band, without the products he had hoped for, and quite out of money.
This led to a period of rebuilding in which Stuart found himself in the small town of Montevallo, AL. Here, Stuart began an earnest spiritual quest that involved increased immersion in nature and meditation. He began recording a new set of songs that would become the CD "Building a Fire". "Building a Fire" was released in 2004, and received a fair amount of national airplay thanks to a radio promotions agency and some compilations that made the rounds.
That CD allowed Stuart to start meeting more people and playing at more venues around the Birmingham area and the Gulf Coast. Over time, Stuart would meet the players that would make up the Contraband, and this began would begin to make a name for itself. Stuart began recording again in 2006, in preparation for a new studio CD. Stuart released two samplers of this material in 2007. The first sampler, titled "Make Levee's, Not War", included some of Stuart's politial statemets relevant to Hurricane Katrina. Some of this music has been used by environmental groups and documentarians in the New Orleans area.
Stuart released an 18 song acoustic collection in October 2008. Recorded at Birmingham's premier Capture Music Studios, the project showcases Stuart's songs distilled and presented in their true essence.
More projects are on the way, including live and in-studio full band projects, some live bootlegs, and a spoken word project. Stay tuned!
Can't Be Good
Stuart McNair Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
woke up this morning with a pain in my head
i need a doctor and a white linen bed
i'd call for help if only I could
and i know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
surrounded by chaos since the day I was born
and I'd strike that day from the books if only I could
‘cause I know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
but if I had money, and if I had fame,
generosity and goodness would follow my name
and if a had patience and if I had grace
i'd help everyone that I could
but I know that this can't be good
ain't got wheels, so i'm walking
when I'm walking it rains
when it rains it pours and I'm stuck here again
i'd leave in a second, you know that I would
because I know that this can't be good
i know that this can't be good
but if I had money and if I had fame
the salvation army would know me by name
if I had freedom and a little good luck
i'd help everyone that I could
but I know that this can't be good
and a winner draws a crowd,
but you're alone when you lose
i could use a hot meal and a new pair of shoes
i can hang laundry, scrub floors and chop wood
and I know my prospects ain't good
i know that this can't be good
and I've always been misunderstood
The lyrics to Stuart McNair's song "Can't Be Good" depict a sense of struggle and dissatisfaction with life. The singer wakes up with a physical and metaphorical pain, symbolized by the need for a doctor and a white linen bed. They feel trapped and unable to ask for help, knowing that their situation cannot be good. The repetition of this realization emphasizes the singer's sense of hopelessness.
The second verse introduces the concept of being the eye of a needle in the eye of a storm, highlighting the constant chaos and turmoil that the singer feels surrounded by. They express a desire to erase the day they were born from history, emphasizing their overwhelming dissatisfaction with their life. Despite imagining a different life with money, fame, generosity, and patience, they acknowledge that these things cannot change their reality.
The third verse continues to depict a difficult existence, with the singer being stuck and unable to escape their circumstances. Again, they imagine a life filled with money, fame, and freedom, believing that these things would enable them to help others. However, they remain aware that their current situation cannot be good.
The song concludes with the acknowledgment of being misunderstood. This may suggest that the struggles and dissatisfaction the singer experiences are not easily understood or recognized by others. It reflects a sense of isolation and longing for understanding.
Overall, "Can't Be Good" conveys a sense of frustration, hopelessness, and longing for a better life. The lyrics delve into themes of struggle, the desire for material success, and the belief that such success would allow the singer to make a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
woke up this morning with a pain in my head
I started the day feeling physically and mentally unwell
i need a doctor and a white linen bed
I require professional help and a peaceful environment to recover
i'd call for help if only I could
I would seek assistance if it were possible for me to do so
and i know that this can't be good
I am aware that this situation is not favorable
to be the eye of a needle in the eye of a storm,
To be in an extremely difficult and chaotic situation
surrounded by chaos since the day I was born
I have been constantly surrounded by disorder and confusion since birth
and I'd strike that day from the books if only I could
I wish I could erase that day from the history of my life
‘cause I know that this can't be good
Because I understand that this is not a desirable circumstance
but if I had money, and if I had fame,
If I possessed wealth and recognition
generosity and goodness would follow my name
Kindness and positive actions would be associated with me
and if a had patience and if I had grace
If I possessed patience and gracefulness
i'd help everyone that I could
I would offer assistance to anyone in need
but I know that this can't be good
However, I am certain that my current situation is not favorable
ain't got wheels, so i'm walking
I do not have transportation, so I have to walk
when I'm walking it rains
Whenever I walk, it begins to rain
when it rains it pours and I'm stuck here again
When things go wrong, they tend to escalate, and I feel trapped in this situation once more
i'd leave in a second, you know that I would
I would depart from here immediately if given the chance
because I know that this can't be good
Because I am certain that this is not a favorable circumstance
but if I had money and if I had fame
If I possessed wealth and recognition
the salvation army would know me by name
The charitable organization would be familiar with and grateful for my contributions
if I had freedom and a little good luck
If I had personal liberty and some fortunate circumstances
i'd help everyone that I could
I would assist anyone in need
but I know that this can't be good
Nevertheless, I am aware that my present situation is not favorable
and a winner draws a crowd,
A successful person attracts attention and followers
but you're alone when you lose
However, when you experience defeat, you often find yourself alone
i could use a hot meal and a new pair of shoes
I am in need of a warm meal and fresh footwear
i can hang laundry, scrub floors and chop wood
I can perform household chores such as hanging laundry, cleaning floors, and chopping wood
and I know my prospects ain't good
And I am aware that my future prospects are not promising
i know that this can't be good
I understand that this situation is unfavorable
and I've always been misunderstood
Throughout my life, I have consistently been misinterpreted or not fully understood by others
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Stuart Michael McNair
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind