Recently Adam and Joe have reached cult status again, this time through the medium of radio. Filling in for Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington, they began a 3 year stint at London-only radio station Xfm in 2003, which spawned a series of popular podcasts. Their move to BBC6 Music in 2007 reached larger audiences and their mix of shambolic presentation, pop-culture discussion and original comedy songs (pitted against each other in “Song Wars”) has earned their Saturday morning show a hardcore fanbase and, somewhat reluctantly, its own unexplainable catchphrase: “STEPHEN!”
The Shining
Adam & Joe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever happened to the old me?
Whatever happened to us?
Whatever it was, it doesn't matter now
Those days went speeding by
And left us in the dust
The car's on empty
Whatever this is, is permanent
A red wine stain or a scar
Like one of those if you flip the negative
You knew who I was and even before
I even knew
Now just look who we are
And these wheels turn fast
These wheels turn bright
Reflecting every blurry moon that long goes shining
Shining through the dark of the night
Shining through the dark of the night
You know that house that I wanna buy
I wanna buy it for you
The walls are made out of the wishes I make
When I close my eyes and I'm lying here with you
Whatever this is, is everything
My feet are sore and blue
Everything I ever said I did before
Was just to get me here, get me here next to you
And these wheels turn fast
These wheels turn bright
Reflecting every moon that long goes shining
Shining through the dark of the night
These wheels turn fast
These wheels turn bright
Reflecting every moon that long goes shining
Shining through the dark of the night
Shining through the dark of the night
Shining through the dark of the night
Shining through the dark of the night
Shining through the dark of the night
The lyrics of Adam & Joe's song "The Shining" touch upon themes of nostalgia, change, love, and the passage of time. The repetition of "one, two, one, two, three, four" at the beginning sets the rhythm and establishes a sense of counting, perhaps indicating a contemplation of the past.
The opening lines, "Whatever happened to the old me? / Whatever happened to us?" suggest a longing for the past and a feeling of lost connection. The singer reflects on how time has moved quickly, leaving them feeling left behind and forgotten. The metaphor of the car being on empty and rattling in the rust symbolizes a sense of decay and uncertainty.
The lyrics further explore the concept of change and permanence, comparing it to a red wine stain or a scar. There is a sense of acceptance that things have changed and can never go back to the way they were. The line "You knew who I was and even before I even knew" suggests that the connection between the singer and the listener was deep-rooted and existed even before they were aware of it.
The song then shifts focus to love and the desire to make a commitment. The mention of a house the singer wants to buy for their partner symbolizes a permanent and stable future together. The walls made of wishes signify the depth of love and devotion the singer feels when they imagine a life with their loved one. The declaration of "Whatever this is, is everything" emphasizes the importance and significance of the relationship.
The chorus emphasizes the brightness and intensity of love and the moon acting as a symbol of guidance and illumination. The repetition of the line "Shining through the dark of the night" emphasizes the power of love to overcome darkness and uncertainty.
In summary, "The Shining" is a heartfelt reflection on the passage of time, love, and the desire for a stable future. It explores themes of nostalgia, change, and the deep connection between two individuals. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and acceptance, ultimately celebrating the transformative power of love in overcoming darkness.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two, one, two, three, four
Counting the beats to set the rhythm of the song
Whatever happened to the old me?
Confusion and longing for who I used to be
Whatever happened to us?
Questioning the state of their relationship
Whatever it was, it doesn't matter now
Realizing that dwelling on the past is futile
Those days went speeding by
Feeling like time has slipped away quickly
And left us in the dust
Left behind and forgotten
The car's on empty
A metaphor for feeling drained and lost
It rattles in the rust
Symbolizing the decay and uncertainty in their lives
Whatever this is, is permanent
Accepting that their current situation is long-lasting
A red wine stain or a scar
Comparing their circumstances to a permanent mark or injury
Like one of those if you flip the negative
Reflecting on the ability to see things differently
You knew who I was and even before
Someone who understood them deeply
I even knew
Awareness of the impact they had on each other
Now just look who we are
Recognizing the current state of their relationship
And these wheels turn fast
Life moves quickly and relentlessly
These wheels turn bright
Finding beauty and hope in the passing of time
Reflecting every blurry moon that long goes shining
Finding comfort in the presence of distant memories
Shining through the dark of the night
Symbolizing hope and guiding light in the darkness
You know that house that I wanna buy
Desiring a future together, building a home
I wanna buy it for you
Expressing love and commitment
The walls are made out of the wishes I make
Dreams and aspirations shaping their shared space
When I close my eyes and I'm lying here with you
Finding solace and happiness in their togetherness
Whatever this is, is everything
Their relationship holds immense importance and meaning
My feet are sore and blue
Metaphor for the hardships they've endured
Everything I ever said I did before
Past actions and words were all leading to this moment
Was just to get me here, get me here next to you
All the choices made to be close to their loved one
Shining through the dark of the night
Hope and love guiding them through difficult times
Shining through the dark of the night
Symbolizing resilience and strength in adversity
Shining through the dark of the night
Finding light and comfort in the darkest moments
Shining through the dark of the night
A beacon of hope and love in the darkness
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ryan Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
goldenantlers
this is so beautifully done 😘👌🏼 i get this song in my head more often than you'd expect; it's so nice to have a great video to watch with it
iloveconverse
that was great Cornballs! I loved that song too! miss you and Adam, my Saturdays just aren't the same without you both! xxx
HillierSmith
What the hell did Edgar Wright just send me to?
TechState
very nicely done :)
Deborah Darling
Brillz skillz! :D Miss you and Adam! Hope the directing is going well! :) x
Ryan Alders
Was gonna skip but never, true to the plot of the movie even with room 237, I'm sure kubrick would've loved it.
Ryan McKerley
OMG This was so amazing!!!! xD
Josh H
YES. Looking forward to the movie and a return to the Big British Castle!
bankholiday
Probably quite satisfying for Adam & Joe fans that even to Edgar Wright fans, their work is incomprehensible, haha.
torz77
Miss you J-Corn! Come back soon! Oh, and aren't you meant to be directing a film or something?... you seem to have far too much free time on your hands at present. Not that I'm complaining. Any new nugget is a golden one :)