Weekly Shinedown - Song Forty Three - Shed Some Light!

Hey There!

This next Shinedown song, Shed Some Light, is one of my favourite Shinedown songs that I have ever heard. It also had such a personal meaning to me, that it is a really important song in my life!

I think that the first time that I heard it was in January 2015, when I was really getting into Shinedown's second album called Us And Them. Shed Some Light really stuck out to me, and I instantly fell in love with the song. From looking into the song, I saw that the meaning of the song was that it was about someone who was pleading to God for him to give them answers about their faith, and I always imagine that this person needed strength to help them believe, due to the immense power of this song! I also remember when Shinedown sang an acoustic version of Shed Some Light on their tour when they were playing at Kansas City, Brent Smith told the audience that Shed Some Light is his father's favourite song, and he actually wrote it with his dad in mind!

However, I didn't discover the true meaning of the song until I was walking to school one day on Tuesday 10th February 2015, and Shed Some Light came up on my Spotify shuffle play, so I let the song play. Then it hit me around halfway into the song that Shed Some Light really does describe the testimony of my cousin-in-law Joel, of how he became a Christian!

This is how the story goes: Joel grew up in a Christian family, although when he was around 16 years old, he turned away from God so that he could start hanging out with his mates. However, when Joel was 17, one of his best mates called Rob sadly dies because he was hit by a car. This threw Joel right off track, and really upset him. Then on Joel's 18th Birthday, he attended Rob's funeral. Afterwards, he went down to Whitby Beach, and just cried his heart out, and that evening, he became a Christian. He wanted God to Shed Some Light on him, give him faith, and lead him in the right direction so that he could follow God, and from then on, Joel's life was changed, and God was able to help him out, especially by leading him on the right path to meeting my cousin Kerry so that they could eventually get married!

Somehow I seem to be so obsessed with Shed Some Light that as well as constantly listening to the original Shinedown version, I also seem to constantly listen to other versions such as with Lzzy Hale, acoustic versions, live versions, and even other covers. Now every time that anyone mentions the phrase about shedding light on something, it instantly brings back memories of this song, and how truly wonderful it is!

Surprisingly, I actually know how to play the whole of Shed Some Light on my guitar, because the chords are really easy to play, such as Em, C G and D. Everytime that I play Shed Some Light on my guitar, it always makes me reflect on how Joel became a Christian on the beach.

Don't forget that you can always read all of my earlier blog posts on this page, and stay tuned for more Shinedown posts from me.

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Shed Some Light below incase you're interested!

I'm falling apart again
And I can't find a way to make amends
And I'm looking in both directions
But it's make believe, it's all pretend

So...
Shed some light on me
And hold me up in disbelief
And shed some light on me
And tell me something that I'll believe in

It's innocence within the maze
But I have chosen the wrong way
I'm still getting over who I was
There's no sense of trust, there's no definition of love

So...
Shed some light on me
And hold me up in disbelief
And shed some light on me
And tell me something that I'll believe in

I know now, it's not who you are
It's who you know
And I see clearly now, which way to go
I remember the way I fell from above
And I recall the way I was

So...
Shed some light on me
And hold me up in disbelief
And shed some light on me
And tell me something that I'll believe in
Shed some light on me
And hold me up in disbelief
And shed some light on me
And tell me something that I'll believe
Tell me something that I'll...
Tell me something that I'll believe
Tell me something that I'll believe
Something I'll believe

Weekly Shinedown - Song Forty Two - One!

Hey There!

I think that I heard One for the first time around the beginning of February 2015. I was just listening to Shinedown's full digital albums that they had put onto Spotify, and when One came up, I really loved the song. Originally, I didn't actually know that Shinedown only covered it, and that's why it was called One - Clear Channel Stripped. Afterwards, I listened to the original version by U2, and also, some other top covers, such as Johnny Cash. 

The song just seems so powerful, and that is probably because of it being stripped down to just Brent's voice and a guitar. For once, I don't think that I have a favourite part of this song. Instead, I love it as a whole, and I think that every part of the song links together very well to sound like a masterpiece altogether!

From looking at other people's interpretations of One, it is not set in stone what the meaning is about, which means that it is open to anyone's creativity. Personally, I see it more as two people who love each other dearly, but their relationship is failing, and everytime that they come back to each other during a moment of weakness, they can't help but feel angry, hurt, and most of all, confused. Not really much of a relatable song to my life, but nice anyway!

I do actually remember that I played One on the guitar a while ago, although I have no idea where I found those chords from. Anyway, I hope to see you all again soon!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

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

Is it getting better,
Or do you feel the same?
Will it make it easier on you, now?
You got someone to blame.

You say, one love, one life,
When it's one need, in the night,
One love, we get to share it,
It leaves you, baby, and you don't care for it.

Did I disappoint you,
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love,
And you want me to go without.

Well it's, too late, tonight,
To drag the past out into the light,
We're one, but we're not the same,
Well we carry each other, carry each other,
One...

Have you come here for forgiveness?
Have you come to raise the dead?
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head?

Did I ask too much, more than a lot?
You gave me nothing, now it's all I got,
We're one, but we're not the same.
Well, we hurt each other,
And we do it again.

You say "Love is a temple, love a higher law,
Love is a temple, love the higher law."
You asked me to enter, and then you made me crawl,
But I can't keep holding on, to what you got,
When all you got is hurt.

One love, one blood,
One life, you got to do what you should,
One life with each other,
Sisters, brothers.

One life, but we're not the same,
We get to carry each other, carry each other...
One...
One... (yeah-ah)

Weekly Shinedown - Song Forty One - Fake!

Hey There!

As far as I know, I believe that I discovered Fake immediately after listening to Atmosphere by Shinedown, because around January 2015, I had been listening to Shinedown's full album of Us And Them. Us And Them really got me through all of my dreadful coursework that I had to do for IT, and everytime that I hear the full album again and again, it will always remind me of the old times that I spent in IT, and how much I do miss those times!

My favourite part of Fake by far is between 2:24 and 2:28 seconds, where there is a rock guitar playing on it's own, and to me, it just seems so powerful. I remember after I had only heard this album once or twice, and I had that little section of the song circling around in my head for ages. I could not think for the life of me where it was from, but eventually, I was able to replay more and more of the song in my head, until eventually, I could recall that it was Fake by Shinedown. Now, everytime that I know the song is building up to this section, I have to stop, and really listen carefully so that I don't miss anything!

I feel that Fake really fits in with the whole theme of the Us And Them album, but as well, the meaning behind it is a similar like the meanings of For My Sake and Enemies, so once again, here is another Shinedown song that I can always relate to. It kind of shows a person, who has to pretend to be someone else to be able to fit in with their surroundings. However, at some point, their past breaking point, and they cannot push themselves any further, if you understand. I always seem to pair up Atmosphere and Fake together, and I'm also quite familiar with the demo versions too!

As much as I do love Fake, I somehow doubt that I will be able to play the song on guitar because it does look very complicated, and way past my capacity. But anyway, I hope that you enjoyed reading this post, and remember that you can read some f my earlier posts if you like!

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

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

This place has begun to cover me
I recall the light, but the dark smothers me
I prefer the feelings I know right now
I don't worry about feeling very proud

You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would
You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would

But I'm bleeding, and my hands are bruised
From the grip that I once had on you
And I'm open for a new way
Because there's not much more that I can fake

It's almost seeing your soul for the first time
And watching the mirror show you life in rewind
Capture the ridicule of everyone
I'm tired of trying, and they wonder why I'm gone

You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would
You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would

But I'm bleeding, and my hands are bruised
From the grip that I once had on you
And I'm open for a new way
Because there's not much more that I can fake

I can't fake it

You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would
You don't know how it feels
To be misunderstood
To reach for the sky
I thought you never would

But I'm bleeding, and my hands are bruised
From the grip that I once had on you
And I'm open for a new way
Because there's not much more that I can fake
But I'm bleeding, and my hands are bruised
From the grip that I once had on you
And I'm open for a new way
Because there's not much more that I can fake

Weekly Shinedown - Song Forty - Atmosphere!

Hey There!

It was around January 2015 when I discovered Atmosphere by Shinedown. I was studying at the time for my GCSEs, and I decided to listen to all of the full Shinedown albums on Spotify to keep me entertained. Atmosphere was quite a memorable song for me on the Us And Them album, and I remember listening to it many times after I had recognised it.

As well as really loving the extra long introduction to Atmosphere, I also really like the chorus of this song. The guitar riff during the chorus, and also at the end of the song is really powerful, and it fits in really well with the lyrics. I also think that the song really fits in with the general theme of the whole Us And Them album. Although I'm also pretty sure that I'll be posting about the Demo version of Atmosphere very soon, so watch out for that one!

Many people see the meaning of this song to do with a guy who has just died, and he is waiting to go to Heaven. This idea is actually quite a realistic meaning for me, especially where it talks about him having to wait in line. I believe that he is effectively waiting to be judged by God, and during this time, he is reflecting on his life that he had on Earth, and looking down at everyone, who is below the atmosphere to him. I also feel that Atmosphere is a good friend of the other Shinedown song called Fake, so I'll probably post on Fake another time!

Alas, I've only been able to find the tab sheets online for Atmosphere, and not the chords. So it doesn't look like I'll be learning any new Shinedown songs anytime soon. Feel free to have a read of some of my older posts, or even write about anything Shinedown below!

I'll see you al next Thursday!

Lois xx

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

Once I had a halo
But then it caught on fire
Once I knew a good man
But he turned into a liar
Once I saw a blind man
Still looking for his eyes

Once I met a bad guy

Who watched his father die

And now, I'll tell you how
I know them all

I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I'm took my number, and I waited in line
I'm not frail from the exposure
I'm taking pictures with my mind
I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I'm took my number, and I waited in line
I'm not frail from the exposure
I'm taking pictures with my mind

Once I met a leader
Born from genocide
Once I knew a preacher
To his faith, he said goodbye
Once I met a good girl
Who shows her face no more
It's hard to learn your lesson
When you become the whole world's whore

And now, I'll tell you how
I know them all

I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I'm took my number, and I waited in line
I'm not frail from the exposure
I'm taking pictures with my mind
I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I'm took my number, and I waited in line
I'm not frail from the exposure
I'm taking pictures with my mind

I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I'm looking down on the atmosphere
I know them all...

And now, I'll tell you how
I know them all
Looking down on the atmosphere
Looking down on the atmosphere
I took my number, and I wait in line
I'm looking down on the atmosphere

Weekly Shinedown - Song Thirty Nine - Junkies For Fame!

Hey There!

I recall listening to Junkies For Fame around the other time that I also listened to the other bonus tracks on Shinedown's album The Sound Of Madness. It was around January 2015, and especially during my IT lessons, I seemed to hear this song a lot whilst I was listening to Shinedown full albums on repeat.

Everytime I listen to Junkies For Fame, it does take me back to all of those late evening that I spent i IT in January 2015, when I was desperate to finish all of my coursework, and the only thing that was keeping me going was listening to Shinedown the whole time!

My favourite line of Junkies For Fame has got to be the line "I don't think they take me serious, normal life makes me delirious" firstly because of the background guitar strumming in this piece, which give the song a great edge, and also because the meaning behind this line has got to be that the person only wants the fame because they think that fame will make people respect them more, and all they crave is the fame and fortune!

I do believe that the song focuses on the fact that everyone sees fame as a glorious aspect in life, and in heir perception, everything seems just easy for them. However, once they get the fame that they once craved for, it is not all that it seems, and it breaks them in the end!

Once again, I've been highly unsuccessful in findings suitable for yet another Shinedown song, so I really do need to try and find some more reliable sources online. I hope you've enjoyed reading this week's post, and feel free to write about Shinedown below.

I'll see you all next Thursday!

Lois xx

P.S. I'll leave the lyrics to Junkies For Fame below incase you're interested!

Sunset, Broadway are all the streets I like
Neon billboards that make me feel alive
I don't think they take me serious
Normal life makes me delirious 

Ever think of changin your name
For all the attention you could gain (gain)
Has anybody told you your vain
Bow down bow down the sinners have the floor

Why are we just junkies for fame
Why because it's burned in our brains
When we wake up and we need it to stay up
You know I like it I've always been a junkie for fame
Why are we just junkies for fame why
Get rich get high get drunk on your desire
Stand back relax now watch me start a fire
I don't think they take me serious
Normal life makes me delirious 

Ever think of changin your name
For all the attention you could gain (gain)
Has anybody told you your vain
Bow down bow down the sinners have the floor

Why are we just junkies for fame
Why because it's burned in our brains
When we wake up and we need it to stay up
You know I like it I've always been a junkie for fame
Why Why

Ever think of changin your name
So everyone will think you're a saint
Anybody told you you ain't
Bow down bow down the sinners want some more

Why are we just junkies for fame
Why because it's burned in our brains
When we wake up and we need it to stay up
You know I like it I've always been a junkie for fame
Why are we just junkies for fame
Why because it's burned in our brains
When we wake up and we need it to stay up
You know I like it I've always been a junkie for fame

Why are we just junkies for fame
Why are we just junkies for fame
Why are we just junkies for fame
Why are we just junkies for fame