Story Behind The Song
This song was forged out of an experience that happened to me while I attended the Contemporary Music Center on Martha's Vineyard. This was a school to help budding songwriters and music executives. When I arrived, I wasn't much of a songwriter, and really felt out of place. I was more of a cover musician, having the ability to imitate other artists. I was sitting with a professor and asked him if he thought I could really do it as an artist, or if I was just better off as a player for other artists. He said "I don't know. I've only seen you do your canned imatations of everyone else." That so fueled my desire to actually be a songwriter and artist, that I went and wrote "Shine" in 1 sitting. It's a song about reaching potential. Having that desire to really go above and beyond who you currently are and truly Shine.
Song Description
Lyrical description
Verse 1 details a feeling of uninspired disilusionment: a feeling of being completely "dead inside."
The chorus is a desprit plea to rise above this disilusioned feeling and reach one's full potential, but not feeling as though they have a voice or song that's truly their own that they may "Shine"
Verse 2 is a continuation of verse 1's lament, likening the individual's current headspace to a "cold and lonely time." It's as if one of the things holding back this individual from truly reaching their full potential is their own excuses: they make up reasons why they can't find their true voice or the "rhymes." But they know that something will change because deep inside of them is a seed despritly wanting to give birth to change or "dying just to live."
The bridge is a realization that this individual is holding out on themselves and they are praying for the day when they can reach their potential and find their voice.
The song ends with a plea to turn the stale water of disenchantment into the whine of inspiration.
Musical description
A drum fill introduces the song, with all instruments coming in at full bore. It is a short instrumental statement of the chorus.
The verses are bass, drums, wurlitzer, and lead vocal, with a slight build with some muted guitars in the prechorus.
The chorus introduces itself with a soring vocal, thick rhythm guitars, and layered backing vocals,.
Upon completion of the second chorus, the floor drops out to introduce the bridge, whose beginning is strictly vocals and melotron. The second half of the bridge is a build into the guitar solo with the adition of piano, backing vocals, and lesley guitar. THe chorus material is reintroduced with a blazing guitar solo. The floor drops out once again to introduce the last chorus. After several tags, the song finally ends on a sustaining a-flat
minor chord, which rings out for about 10 seconds.
| Song Length |
4:04 |
Genre |
Pop - Rock, Pop - General |
| Tempo |
Slow (71 - 90) |
Lead Vocal |
Male Vocal |
| Subject |
Change, Determination |
Similar Artists |
Queen, Todd Rundgren |
| Language |
English |
Era |
2000 and later |
Lyrics
Verse1.
I've been sitt'n here for so long
I've got the music, but I just ain't got the song.
Oh I feel so dead inside.
I count to 10, but I can't find out where I hide.
I need a remedy, from this calamity.
Somebody tell me if I'm fine.
Chorus
Cause I really wanna shine.
Wowe I really wanna shine.
I don't think that I can find,
A song that's truly mine,
so I can shine.
Verse 2.
This is a cold and lonely time.
I keep on makin up reasons why I just can't find the rhyme.
Oh I know somethin's got to give.
Somethin deep down inside of me, that's been dying just to live.
I feel it underneath my skin.
There ain't no way in hell I'm ever givin in.
Chorus
Cause I really wanna shine.
Wowe I really wanna shine.
I'd pay a dollar to a dime,
If I could only truly find,
a way to shine.
Bridge
I'm sick and tired of holdin out on me all the time.
I'm waitin for the day when I can be,
the one to shine.
Chorus
Oh I really wanna shine.
Wowe I really wanna shine.
Turn this water into wine,
cause I'm thurstin for a time,
when I can shine.
Turn this water into wine,
cause I'm thurstin for a time,
when I can shine.
When I can shine.
When I can shine
When I can shine.