Andy Shauf - Martha Sways (Lyrics)

Reflektor, Liège, Belgium, 2023-11-02. This song is off "The Party" (2016), played live and acoustic, and the video contains subtitles.
Thanks so much to Andy Shauf for coming around a second time this year. This time solo. I wasn't sure what to expect exactly, as I really like the instrumentation with a band, and the perfection in bringing together the tones from all instruments in the whole score. But it seems that Andy puts now so much love for detail in his own guitar play and his singing that he easily and completely distracts from the absence of a band. In fact, the concert was over so quickly that I could not believe it, every note was a celebration :-) Especially the quieter pieces work best, in my feeling. He had a slight cold, and wanted to keep the encore short. He used that today to excuse for not accepting the wish for an 8-minute Wendell Walker. The audience then let him go after a first encore, and we didn't get to hear The Magician this time around. And we never learnt about the reason for the alarm during "Spanish On The Beach".
Setlist:
Jenny Come Home
Wasted on You
Halloween Store
Spanish on the Beach
Clove Cigarette
Norm
The Worst in You
Where Are You Judy
Neon Skyline
Paradise Cinema
Telephone
Covered in Dust
To You
Quite Like You
Satan
Changer
Martha Sways (encore)
Lyrics for "Martha Sways" by Andy Shauf (The Party, 2016):
[Verse 1]
Martha's thin
Pretty, just like you
I held her close
Like I held you
[Verse 2]
Martha sways
And I follow suit
She fills my glass
And I toss it back
Into the space that once held you
[Chorus]
And dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
Dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
[Verse 3]
There's a weight
Holding me down
Martha says
It's all in my head
[Verse 4]
I look at the lights
Dancing in her eyes
And I wanna die
Dancing in her eyes
[Chorus]
Dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
Dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
Dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
Dance, dance to the radio
While the devil takes control
[Verse 5]
Martha spins
And I catch her hand
She smiles and laughs
Bringing me back

[@CronoXpono]

What I love so much of Martha Sways as a closer for The Party is that...there's no real catharsis. There's a slow understanding that things are a hell of a lot more complicated than the protagonist thinks. It "brings me back" makes me think he's feeling quite aware that things aren't as well as they seemed but jolts himself out of the realization. What a freaking amazing album, man, it gets better every listen!

[@CronoXpono]

What I love so much of Martha Sways as a closer for The Party is that...there's no real catharsis. There's a slow understanding that things are a hell of a lot more complicated than the protagonist thinks. It "brings me back" makes me think he's feeling quite aware that things aren't as well as they seemed but jolts himself out of the realization. What a freaking amazing album, man, it gets better every listen!

[@Qwerty-w7k]

Do you think he crafted the album deliberately to avoid catharsis, suggesting that providing such relief would misrepresent the narrative he's conveying? That's a profound interpretation if that's what you're implying.

[@CronoXpono]

@@Qwerty-w7k intentional? I can’t say. What I do think is that it’s pretty awesomely good at avoiding naturally pleasant closure. To You ends in humiliation, Quite Like You ends with pining after someone who’ll continuously run to their toxic relationship, Alexander All Alone is terrifying in its inescapable uncertainty.
Andy really doesn’t give you happy or even sad endings. Uncomfortable is his calling card and I hope it never changes. There’s a LOT more room for creativity when the hero doesnt always win, the villain doesn’t always get their comeuppance and we the listener don’t always get answers.

[@Qwerty-w7k]

@@CronoXpono Thank you for taking the time to write such a eloquent and thoughtful response. I understand perfectly now. I wasn't quite sure I understood at first since I find most of his music and story telling very cathartic.

[@CronoXpono]

@@Qwerty-w7k Don't let this be anything else other than my view. I'm not Andy lol I'm glad to share it because I love his music =)

[@Qwerty-w7k]

@@CronoXpono It is an insightful and thought-provoking view, to say the least. I am listening with a newfound appreciation and respect.
Any other bands/artists you would recommend?

[@borgesguerardi]

one of the most beautiful pieces ever ever made. honestly.

[@MaccaTaylor]

With you 100% on this. Haunting and stunning at the same time

[@anaflorentina3747]

Thank you! I love “Martha sways” acoustic! More than “Magician”.🙂

[@martinxoxo]

Yeah, your're probably right, The Magician really needs the synths and other instruments :-) I just find it so intriguing, that I miss it.