Weekly Shinedown - Song Eight - 45!

Hey There!

We're almost coming up to the time when my Shinedown journey took a major turn, and went all uphill. It was on Sunday 31st August 2014 that I heard this song, and it was on the same day that I heard 45 - Acoustic.

My favourite part of this song has got to be (yet again) the introduction. I absolutely love the guitar that plays on its own at the beginning. Another reason as to why I real love 45 is because of the build-up in the song. It starts off all quiet and simple, and then it gradually gets louder and louder in the first verse. Then by the time the chorus starts, and the drums come in, the song is just all up there! The song then continues to build up even more, and the end of the song is where it really takes off!

The main reasons why I really like 45 and 45 - Acoustic is because the song manages to be so simple, yet so complex at the same time, and this is something that Shinedown seems to be amazing at!

I remember when I first listened to 45, and I really liked the lyrics to the chorus, so I spent all of my days trying to learn the lyrics, and even quizzing myself on them, which seems quite weird! I even remember one time when I was on holiday in Scotland, and when I went swimming, I just decided that I would randomly sing "Swimming through the ashes of another life". I probably seemed totally abnormal to everyone around me. But who cares? I was giving them a free Shinedown education!

I often listen to 45 when I'm home alone, and have it on quite a high volume so that I can sing my heart along with the song, and not even care!

I really wish that I could play the introduction to this song on my guitar, because it is just so amazing. Most of the guitar chords to this song seem quite easy; it's just that awkward F-minor in the song that makes it quite difficult to play!

My Shinedown journey will soon develop even more, so make sure you stay in-tune to see more of me soon. Make sure that you are commenting down below some of your favourite Shinedown songs, and the reasons why you love them as much as I do!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to 45 below in case you're interested!

Send away for a priceless gift

One not subtle, one not on the list
Send away for a perfect world
One not simply, so absurd
In these times of doing what you're told
Keep these feelings, no one knows

What ever happened to the young man's heart
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart

And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45,
Swimming through the ashes of another life
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45

Send a message to the unborn child
Keep your eyes open for a while
In a box high up on the shelf, left for you, no one else
There's a piece of a puzzle known as life
Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight

What ever happened to the young man's heart
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart

Everyone's pointing their fingers
Always condemning me
And nobody knows what I believe
I believe

And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45,
And I'm swimming through the ashes of another life
There's no real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45

45
Staring down the barrel of a 45

Weekly Shinedown - Song Seven - Simple Man - Rock Version!

Hey There!

If you look back through my earlier blog posts, you can see that around June or July of 2014 was when I first came across Simple Man Acoustic by Shinedown.

Unfortunately, during the month of August, I barely listened to any songs by Shinedown because I was on holiday for most of the month. However, not long after I got home, I decided that I would make a whole playlist of my favourite Shinedown songs on Saturday 30th August 2014. The Shinedown songs that I have already posted about were the first songs to be added into this playlist. Then on Sunday 31st August 2014, I decided that it was finally time to listen to the non-acousic versions of the Shinedown songs that I love.

The first one that I listened to was of course the rock version of Simple Man. What I liked about this song was that the introduction was quite similar to the acoustic version, but during the song, the rock guitars that are used really add something to the song!

I have heard my Uncle Peter play Simple Man plenty of times on his guitar, so it is a really familiar song to me. I also know that it is one of his favourite songs that Shinedown have sang, because of it being originally sang by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Since I wrote my blog post about Simple Man Acoustic, I have been more adventurous on my guitar, and I finally attempted to play Simple Man on my guitar. I would't say that it was a difficult song to play, because the only chords used are C, G and Am. But I find it quite hard to sing in time with my strumming because of it being a tricky rhythm to master.

So here is how my Shinedown journey developed even further! I would love it if you could comment below some of your favourite Shinedown songs, and why you love Shinedown so much!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Simple Man - Rock Version below incase you're interested!

Well mama told me, when I was young
Said sit beside me, my only son
And listen closely to what I say
And if you do this, it'll help you some sunny day

Ahhh
Yeah it will

Or take your time don't live to fast
Troubles will come and they will pass
You'll find a woman and you'll find love
And don't forget that there's is a someone up above

Be a simple kind of man
Be a something you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can
(if you can)

Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need now is in your soul
And you can do this(oh baby)if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Be a something that you love and understand
Baby be a simple kind of man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can
(if you can)

Oh don't you worry
You'll find yourself
Follow your heart
And nothing else
And you can do this(oh baby)if you try
All that I want from you my son is to be satisfied

And be a simple kind of man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can
So baby be a simple be a simple man
Oh won't you do this for me son if you can

Weekly Shinedown - Song Six - Save Me - Acoustic!

Hi There!

The sixth Shinedown song that I heard was yet another acoustic track. The day that I listened to Save Me - Acoustic was the exact same day that I listened to the other three Shinedown acoustic tracks. So it was around June or July of 2014, and when I searched for "Shinedown acoustic" on Spotify, Save Me was fourth on the list. Therefore, it was the last song that I heard out of the first four Shinedown acoustic tracks that I heard.

My favourite part of Save Me was obviously the introduction, where the guitar strumming is very vigorous. I also really like the end of this song, where there is a lot of fast guitar playing. It is also the sort of song that I am able to listen to for ages on repeat, and still not become bored of it.

I guess since I have always rooted for acoustic music, obviously listening to Shinedown cover stripped versions of their songs is incredible!

To me, the lyrics of this song aren't exactly relatable to me, but only selected Shinedown songs do have relatable meaning to me!

As much as I do love to listen to this song, it seems impossible to play on the guitar. The main reason is because when I looked at the chords, the chord B-minor is frequently used. This is the one chord that I doubt I will ever be able to master, no matter how hard I tried. Anyway, if I do see any tutorials on YouTube for simple ways to play this song, I will definitely look into them.

This is the last of the original Shinedown acoustic songs that I first heard, so there won't be any acoustics for a while.

I'd love to hear in the comments how some of you came to hear of Shinedown, and what your favourite songs are in particular.

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Same Me - Acoustic below incase you're interested!

I got a candle
And I've got a spoon
I live in a hallway with no doors
And no rooms

Under a windowsill
They all were found
A touch of concrete within the doorway
Without a sound

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland

How did I get here
And what went wrong
Couldn't handle forgiveness
Now I'm far beyond gone

I can hardly remember
The look of my own eyes
How can I love this a life so dishonest
It made me compromise

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland

Jump in the water
Jump in with me
Jump on the altar
Lay down with me

The hardest question to answer
Is why

Why

Someone save me if you will
And take away all these pills
And please just save me if you can
From my blasphemy in my wasteland

Someone save me
Someone save me
Somebody save me
Somebody save me
Please don't erase me

Weekly Shinedown - Song Five - Second Chance - Acoustic!

Hey There!

I said a few weeks ago in my Second Chance post that I also enjoyed the acoustic version too. So the next Shinedown song that I heard was Second Chance - Acoustic!

It would have been on exactly the same day that I also heard three other acoustic tracks by Shinedown on Spotify. Once again, I was hooked to all four songs, and I constantly listened to them on repeat.

Second Chance - Acoustic was actually my favourite out of the four. I think that the win reason was because I already knew the original Second Chance off by heart, so to hear an acoustic version was right up my street!

The main reason as to why this is one of my all-time favourite songs is because of the quick guitar strums at the beginning of the song. I also really like the piano in the background at the start of the second verse; I think that it really adds something to the song. And my final part of the song that I really like is just at the last chorus is about to begin, and the guitar strums are really vigorous. It just makes the song so special to me!

One of the bonuses of acoustic songs is that they are a lot easier to sing. So when I ever sing Second Chance, I always tend to sing the acoustic version, because it just flows better with my voice. Since Second Chance was my first Shinedown song to learn on the guitar, it obviously means a lot to me. It is by far my favourite song to play on guitar, mainly using the chords Am, C and F, with the occasional G and D.

Right through the summer of June and July 2014, this was by far my favourite song. No matter what mood I was in, I always felt up for listening to it.

Here is how my Shinedown Journey developed! Make sure you follow me to see my Shinedown Journey continue to develop! And please feel free to tell me about your own Shinedown Journey!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Second Chance - Acoustic below incase you're interested!

My eyes are open wide
And by the way,
I made it through the day
I watched the world outside
By the way,
I'm leaving out today

I just saw Halley's comet
She waved
Said, "Why you always running in place?"
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realise
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Please don't cry one tear for me
I'm not afraid
Of what I have to say
This is my one and only voice
So listen close,
It's only for today

I just saw Halley's comet
She waved
Said, "Why you always running in place?"
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realise
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Here's my chance
This is my chance

Tell my mother,
Tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realise
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying...
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance

Sometimes goodbye is a second chance