Andy Shauf - "Wendell Walker"

From the album ‘The Bearer Of Bad News’ (2015) • Pay what you want tndr.lv/andyshauf
Wendell Walker was a friend of mine. We’d stain our teeth in the summertime, and with lips of purple, the winter would roll past the boarded windows into our souls and shake our weary bones. Now this past winter was the coldest in years. It’s hard to explain if you’ve never lived here, but it locks your doors and starts your mind thinking in circles just to pass the time, and breaks your weary heart. Now Wendell Walker was a man of God, but he didn’t care much for his sober mind, and when the cold mixed in he was turned around. Heard the voice of God and the angels sound a message just for him: “My son, my son, she is the devil’s child. Won’t you save her while you can? Cut down the other man.” Now Wendell Walker was a friend of mine, but he married too young in the summertime. Their hearts weren’t ripe so they fell apart, and I found myself with a joyful heart as our secret lives began. We found our moments in between the hours when Wendell Walker drove his car to town. But one day he found a letter that I wrote for her on the top of her dresser and in his winter mind he heard the voice of God say: “My son, my son, she is the devil’s child. Won’t you save her while you can? Cut down the other man.” With the voice of the Lord ringing in his ears and the note to his wife that confirmed his fears, he sat down on the edge of the bed, read the letter again to see who’d sent it but it was signed ‘Forever Yours.’ He stood up slow like he’d just been hit, walked into the kitchen where his wife was sitting he said, “My mother called on the telephone. She says she needs some help so I’ll be back in the morning,” and he grabbed his heavy coat. My phone rang while I was watching the news. She said the house was ours to cure these winter blues. So I made my way, and we turned the blinds and Wendell walked in just in time to see our secret die and say: “My son, my son: I’m gonna have to cut you down.” He pointed his rifle to my eyes, but his hesitating hands were shaking from the cold. So I pushed his gun away just as he found his strength, and the bullet kissed her lips, and I cried: “My God, my God what have I done?” And he reloaded his gun, and he put it in his mouth, and I stood in the room that I’d created.
Meticulously written over four years and recorded over one in a makeshift studio set up in his parent’s basement, Shauf, whose delivery at times reminds of Elliott Smith or Paul Simon, plays nearly every instrument on The Bearer of Bad News. The album was crafted on his grandfather’s timeworn guitar and heavily influenced by the aforementioned-and newly learned-clarinet, which was a Christmas gift from family. In spite of his modest recording set-up, Shauf imbued The Bearer of Bad News with an enduring warmth and redolence that lingers long after the album ends.
iTunes: tndr.lv/1xvNuKH
Spotify: tndr.lv/1xvNwlG
Rdio: tndr.lv/1DGXW2h
Amazon: tndr.lv/1xvNwlD
Google: tndr.lv/1KsYn29
andyshaufmusic

[@danianmay]

This guy is a genius.

[@didierchapelot5671]

Totally agree

[@matthewm2528]

My God, my God... what have I just heard? It gets better every time I hear it. So beautiful and devastating. Goosebumps every time

[@playitoveragain1540]

best muder ballad I've ever heard so far

[@surrealmadrid7971]

Try John Wayne gacy by Surifan Stevens

[@roeihamani4652]

This one deserves more views.

[@YuriDeryous]

Fuck, this is incredible writing

[@MelissaxoFuller]

My heart.

[@terrywoodard9541]

I wanna jump up and cheer! Beautiful instrumention, parts voicing-Amazing!tw-a triumph of musical expression.

[@andrewhillmann3452]

he came back on for an encore and asked if we had a request. I screamed Wendell Walker. life made. stay strong through the winters my friends.

[@DougerArt]

did he play it? at the show I went to like 4 or 5 different people yelled 'Wendell Walker' and he didn't even play it.

[@fiercedeityfan]

This is poetry

[@partybots1111]

all these songs are just too much i can hardly take it.....

[@Langdon-t7k]

he a prophet.

[@kennethhagin-sermons]

Heard on 89.1 in saint Louis. Shared immediately. Very good and greatly appreciated. A haunting excellently executed.

[@naffy3327]

how the hell did you hear this song way out here? Whats the station called

[@elyse970]

Lyrics with more formatting :)
Wendell Walker was a friend of mine.
We'd stain our teeth in the summertime,
And with lips of purple, the winter would roll
Past the boarded windows into our souls
And shake our weary bones.
Now this past winter was the coldest in years.
It's hard to explain if you've never lived here,
But it locks your doors and starts your mind
Thinking in circles just to pass the time,
And breaks your weary heart.
Now Wendell Walker was a man of God,
But he didn't care much for his sober mind,
And when the cold mixed in he was turned around
Heard the voice of God and the angels sound
A message just for him:
My son, my son, she is the devil's child
Won't you save her while you can
Cut down the other man.
Now Wendell Walker was a friend of mine,
But he married too young in the summertime.
Their hearts weren't ripe so they fell apart
And I found myself with a joyful heart
As our secret lives began.
We found our moments in between the hours,
When Wendell Walker drove his car to town.
But one day he found a letter that I wrote for her
On the top of her dresser and in his winter mind
He heard the voice of God say:
My son, my son, she is the devil's child
Won't you save her while you can
Cut down the other man.
With the voice of the lord ringing in his ears
And the note to his wife that confirmed his fears,
He sat down on the edge of the bed
Read the letter again to see who'd sent it
But it was signed 'forever yours'.
He stood up slow like he'd just been hit.
Walked into the kitchen where his wife was sitting
He said, "my mother called on the telephone
She says she needs some help so I'll be back in the morning"
And he grabbed his heavy coat.
My phone rang while I was watching the news.
She said the house was ours to cure these winter blues.
So I made my way, and we turned the blinds
And Wendell walked in just in time
To see our secret die and say:
My son, my son I'm gonna have to cut you down.
He pointed his rifle to my eyes
But his hesitating hands
Were shaking from the cold.
So I pushed his gun away,
Just as he found his strength.
And the bullet kissed her lips
And I cried:
My god, my god what have I done?
And he reloaded his gun,
And he put it in his mouth.
And I stood in the room that I'd created.

[@marymary1779]

it's just perfect ... how can a song be so good

[@andresperez7582]

This song is... just damn

[@poisonvitriol]

This is such a good song. Beautifully written & composed.

[@marlenecorreia4571]

Can't wait to see you in May. Finally!

[@rodrigozuniga5769]

its on repeat now.

[@WhiteNacho]

WOW!

[@callanreece7067]

[@jameswaterford3292]

Can someone pleeeaassse make a music video for this????
I'd do it myself, but I have no skill at all..

[@richardalan5064]

this comment sponsored by skillshare

[@LolToalNoobs]

Doesn't need a music video. Music videos in general take away from the experience of the music. Just close your eyes and let the music take you.

[@joshuawisner4177]

@@LolToalNoobs they can be cool when the song is a bit more abstract, and the video just kind of shares the same theme, but I agree, I dont want a video for this song. Shit's too intimate to have every scene painted out in HD.

[@matthewm2528]

Hell, someone write a whole goddam movie

[@alexism4356]

The movie "The devil all the time" have a similar vibe

[@aymoreh65]

much more tragic than Bungalow Bill

[@robzstarrr2738]

sweet .. (kcrw)

[@donaldjeansonne5926]

Lynnwendywalker

[@donaldjeansonne5926]

Lynn

[@chubbyblackboi]

🦍💨

[@skeemag]

need some spacing in those lyrics

[@baileydihayco8873]

🙄