Weekly Shinedown - Song Twelve - I'll Follow You!

Hey There!

I guess last week went quite deep, but I promise you that I won't go too personal this week. So after listening to Call Me on Spotify, I decided to just listen to even more songs by Shinedown. It was still Monday 1st September 2014, and I was still having my last day of the summer holidays. Since I figured that I was really into piano songs by Shinedown, I decided to listen to even more to see if they had written anymore songs on the piano.

Luckily, I found that I'll Follow You was a piano song too! I instantly took a liking to this song, and the main reason is because of the amazing piano chords at the beginning of the song. My favourite part of this song has got to be the first verse. I just find it amazing that a verse sang with only a piano can be so powerful!

The only person I know of that has heard this song was my brother Luke, and this was when I was in his bedroom, hunting for Nerf gun and bullets to have a Nerf war at church. I have no idea what his opinion of this song is, but I really like it!

The meaning of this song is really significant to many people's lives. I would say that it is written about the person in your life who will always be your best friend, spouse, or someone who is really close to you. And this person will always be there for you!

Unfortunately, the chords for this song seem absolutely impossible to play, so I have never attempted it. However, I have recently been looking at the piano sheet music for both Call Me and I'll Follow You, and it does seem manageable for me to learn, so that is one suggestion.

So I guess his is where my Shinedown journey was able to even more! Make sure you follow me to see my next posts, and don't forget to comment below some of your favourite Shinedown songs.

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to I'll Follow You below incase you're interested!

If I could find assurance to leave you behind
I know my better half would fade
And all my doubt is a staircase for you
Opened out of this maze

The first step is the one you believe in
The second one might be profound.

I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm.
I'll follow you down while we're passing through space
I don't care if we fall from grace
I'll follow you down

You can have the money and the world
The angels and the pearls
Even trademark the colour blue
Just like the tower we never built
In the shadow of all the guilt
When the other hand was pointed at you

Yeah the first step is the one you believe in
And the second one might be profound.

I'll follow you down, through the eye of the storm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm.
I'll follow you down, while we're passing through space
I don't care if we fall from grace
I'll follow you down...

...to where forever lies
Without a doubt I'm on your side
There's nowhere else that I would rather be
I'm not about to compromise,
Give you up to say goodbye
I'll guide you through the deep
I'll keep you close to me!

I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm
Don't worry I'll keep you warm.
I'll follow you down while we're passing through space
I don't care if we fall from grace
I'll follow you...

If I could find assurance to leave you behind
I know my better half would fade
I'll follow you down.

Weekly Shinedown - Song Eleven - Call Me!

Hey There!

Here is where my Shinedown journey really took off!

The first time that I heard this song was on Monday 1st September 2014. It was the last day of my summer holidays before I had to return back to school, and I decided to just spend most of the day listening to many songs by Shinedown. I was just aimlessly scrolling down the Shinedown songs on Spotify, and when I clicked on the song Call Me to listen to, I accidentally clicked the tick box at the side of it to save it into my lists. I am really glad now that I ticked the box to this song, because my Shinedown journey really did develop from this point on. 

The main reason that I was originally drawn to this song was because of the amazing introduction to the song. The first few piano keys really got me into the song, and when I listened to the song the whole way through, I really liked the fact that Shinedown had recorded a piano-based song.

Call Me was by far my favourite song for the whole month of September 2014, if not October too. I was so obsessed with the song that I decided that I would listen to it several times every day, and it was also the last song that I would listen to every night before I went to bed.

Now, on Sunday 21st September 2014, my Uncle Peter was taking home me and my friends: Nathan, Leah and Liz home from an evening at church. He played Second Chance on his CD player because that was the one song that we all knew. I even have a clip on my phone of us all singing a bit of this song. Since I was the last person to be dropped off, I was lucky enough to listen to the most songs by Shinedown.

The album that he had in his car was called The Sound Of Madness, so he was just scrolling though many of the songs, trying to find one that I knew. Back then, I didn't know a wide variety of Shinedown songs, but when he put Call Me on, I said to him "I know this song" so he left it on for me.

He said that it wasn't a favourite go his, but that is probably because the lyrics of the song are all based on a break up. Back then, I did not think that these lyrics would ever be applicable to me, because I have never had a bad break up, but despite this, the song is still quite relatable to me.

So I continued to listen to this song every single day, even when I was on holiday, and it just meant so much to me. However, during November 2014, I finally realised how much the lyrics to this song really related to a point in my life.

Basically, I had been very close to a church friend called Danny, and coincidently, on Monday 1st September 2014, I had realised that everything had come to an end. I had taken it really well, however, I wasn't really able to understand the situation much. Yet at the beginning of November, I had finally found a Shinedown song that I could relate to the situation. And no, it wasn't Call Me, but I will talk about this song very soon.

I guess that the realisation that the day of my departure from this situation was the same day that I had first started listening to Call Me daily just suddenly hit me in the face, and it all became extremely clear to me. So now, every time I do listen to this song, it will always bring back memories of Sunday 1st September 2014.

Unfortunately, I have only attempted to play this song on guitar once, because of the cry difficult chords to it. And I have rarely sang it, but it is probably one of my most listened Shinedown songs ever. It still does mean a lot to me, and even more now that I am able to see how it relates to me.

Please comment below if any Shinedown songs have ever been relatable to you, and in a few weeks time, I will talk about another extremely relatable Shinedown song!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

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

Wrap me in a bolt of lightning
Send me on my way still smiling
Maybe that's the way I should go,
Straight into the mouth of the unknown
I left the spare key on the table
Never really thought I'd be able to say
I merely visit on the weekends
I lost my whole life and a dear friend

I've said it so many times
I would change my ways
No, nevermind
God knows I've tried

Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favourite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way

I finally put it all together,
But nothing really lasts forever
I had to make a choice that was not mine,
I had to say goodbye for the last time
I kept my whole life in suitcase,
Never really stayed in one place
Maybe that's the way it should be,
You know I live my life like a gypsy

I've said it so many times
I would change my ways
No, nevermind
God knows I've tried

Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favourite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way

I'll always keep you inside, you healed my
Heart and my life... And you know I try.

Call me a sinner, call me a saint
Tell me it's over I'll still love you the same
Call me your favourite, call me the worst
Tell me it's over I don't want you to hurt
It's all that I can say. So, I'll be on my way
So, I'll be on my way
So, I'll be on my way

Weekly Shinedown - Song Ten - The Crow & The Butterfly!

Hey There!

My Shinedown journey continued to develop on Sunday 31st August 2014. It was late in the evening, and I had already listened to quite a number of Shinedown songs. And I had finally decided to do it, I'd actually adventured into even more songs by Shinedown. At the time, this was probably very brave of me to do, but looking back, I am very glad that I did!

So I was just aimlessly scrolling down the list of Shinedown's songs on Spotify. And then I just happened to click on any song to listen to. And this song happened to be called The Crow & The Butterfly!

I had already taken a liking to Shinedown's The Sound Of Madness album cover, because of the crows on the front, and I do love butterflies, so the title of this song really was a perfect match for me. 

This song really does have a deep meaning to it. It was written in the point of view of a mother who has just lost her child, and she has to go through the struggles of trying to move on after the death. I really like the fact that the crow symbolises death, and the butterfly symbolises life. So the concept of the song is that death is chasing life.

Apparently, Brent Smith got the idea of this song from a dream that he had, and he decided to turn this story into a song. Now I am a massive fan of dreams, and I am constantly looking into the meanings of some of my dreams, so to find out that this song was inspired by a dream was literally a dream come true for me!

I have at least attempted to play this song on my guitar, however, since the song uses the Bb plenty of times, it just seems too difficult for me to play.

My favourite part of this song is the chorus to this song, because to me, it just seems extremely powerful. I am also a massive fan of the instrumental section in this song, where the electric guitar has its own solo, because I believe that it signifies that although it will be very difficult, the mother is trying to move on after the tragedy.

All in all, it is such a wonderful song. Especially as the butterfly symbolises the care-free child of this song. I think that it would be a great song to analyse, and I truly love it!

Thank for reading this week's blog post, and please comment your Shinedown journey below, because I would rely love to hear!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to The Crow & The Butterfly below incase you're interested!

I painted your room at
Midnight, so I'd know
Yesterday was over
I put all your books on the top shelf,
Even the one with the four leaf clover
Man, I'm getting older
I took all your pictures off the wall
and wrapped them in a news paper blanket
I haven't slept in what seems like a century,
and now I can barely breathe

Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were getting high as outer space,
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late

Your words still serenade me,
Your lullabies won't let me sleep
I've never heard such a haunting melody.
Oh, it's killing me
You know I can barely breathe

Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were getting high as outer space,
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late

Just like a crow chasing the butterfly
dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were getting high as outer space,
I never thought you'd slip away -

Like a crow chasing the Butterfly
dandelions lost in the summer sky
When you and I were getting high as outer space,
I never thought you'd slip away
I guess I was just a little too late

Just a little too late

Weekly Shinedown - Song Nine - Save Me!

Hey There!

Once again Sunday 31st August 2014 was the day that I heard the original version of Save Me by Shinedown.

My favourite part of Save Me is obviously the introduction, when the one rock guitar is the only instrument playing. Although Save Me and Save Me Acoustic should be polar opposites, I do think that they seem very similar in terms of their structure. When I first heard the acoustic version, I had already fallen in love with the song. When I first heard the original version, I still had the same liking to it because it was just so similar, but just a rock guitar instead of an acoustic guitar.

Again, I'll probably never be able to play Save Me on guitar, either versions. This is mainly because of that awkward B-minor in the song, but nevertheless, I'll just have to appreciate everyone else who can play the perfect covers because they are just amazing at playing the guitar anyway!

The deep side of the lyrics don't have much of an affect on me, but if you look at them from a real point of view, I think that you could make a really cool music video of it. Such as being trapped in  room, holding a candle and a spoon.

Anyways, from next week onwards, you will be able to see how my Shinedown Journey changed forever, after me finding out about even more of their songs one day later.

I hope that you enjoy reading this blog, and don't forget to comment below some of your favourite Shinedown songs!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Save Me 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