Soul Shadows
Bill Withers Lyrics
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Don't know if I'm waking or I'm dreaming
Riding with Fats Waller on the Super Chief
He said, musics real, the rest is seeming
Oh, he played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of his soul in the air
And I know
He left those soul shadows
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
He left a soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago
Coltrane reaching for the notes his mind can hear
They remain a part of all that I know
Oh, they played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know
They left them soul shadows
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
They left a soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Oh, they played
A feeling that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know
Soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Soul shadow
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
And Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago
You oughta hear them play
Feelings that won't go away
Left a sound of their souls in the air
I hear up there
And I know
They left them soul shadows
All on my mind, on my mind, all on my mind
They left them soul shadows
All on my mind, on my mind
In Bill Withers's song Soul Shadows, he reminisces about his life as a musician and how the sound of jazz greats like Fats Waller, Jelly Roll Morton, Louis Armstrong, and John Coltrane has impacted him. The first verse takes place in San Francisco and Withers is unsure if he is dreaming or waking up to the clear and cold morning. He imagines that he is riding on a train with Fats Waller who tells him that "music's real, the rest is seeming," which means that music has a profound effect on people, while everything else is relative and insignificant. This statement is what inspires Withers to write about the impact of musical legends on his life.
The chorus repeats the phrase "soul shadows on my mind" that refers to how the jazz greats have left their mark on Withers's life through their music. Withers mentions that he can hear their music even in a far-off place and that their sound has infiltrated his soul. The second verse expands on this idea by mentioning other jazz musicians like Jelly Roll Morton in Storyville and Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago. As Withers hears jazz music in different places, he realizes that it has become an integral part of his identity and his music.
In conclusion, the song Soul Shadows is Bill Withers's love letter to the jazz music that has shaped his life. By mentioning specific jazz musicians, Withers shows how jazz has left its imprint on his soul, and how he hears their music everywhere he goes. The idea of "soul shadows on my mind" signifies the lasting impact that their music has on his soul, which he can never forget.
Line by Line Meaning
San Francisco morning coming clear and cold
The song begins with the singer describing a clear and cold morning in San Francisco, but he can't decide if he is in a dream or he has actually woken up
Don't know if I'm waking or I'm dreaming
The singer expresses his confusion about whether he is awake or asleep
Riding with Fats Waller on the Super Chief
The singer describes himself as riding with Fats Waller, a renowned jazz pianist, on a train called the Super Chief
He said, musics real, the rest is seeming
Fats Waller stated that music is real, and everything else is just illusionary
Oh, he played
The singer begins to reminisce about the music played by Fats Waller
A feeling that won't go away
The music played by Fats Waller left a lasting impression on the singer
Left a sound of his soul in the air
The music played by Fats Waller was so moving that it seemed like his soul was lingering in the air
I can hear it up there
The singer can hear the sound of Fats Waller's music lingering in the air
And I know
The singer is confident about the lasting impact of Fats Waller's music
He left those soul shadows
Fats Waller left a lasting impression on the singer's mind and soul
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
The singer repeats the phrase 'on my mind' to emphasize the lasting impact of Fats Waller's music
Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
The singer is standing by a window and watching as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
The singer claims he can hear music from a distant place
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
The singer mentions the name of a jazz musician called Jelly Roll Morton who used to play in Storyville, New Orleans
Satchmo wailing somewhere in Chicago
The singer mentions Satchmo, a nickname for Louis Armstrong who is known for his trumpet playing and who used to play in Chicago
Coltrane reaching for the notes his mind can hear
The singer talks about another jazz musician called John Coltrane, who is known for his saxophone playing and his ability to reach notes that he can hear in his mind
They remain a part of all that I know
The singer acknowledges the lasting impact of Jelly Roll, Satchmo, and Coltrane's music on his life and everything he knows
Soul shadow
The singer repeats the term 'soul shadow' to emphasize the impact that soulful music has on his mind and soul
You oughta hear them play
The singer recommends that the listeners should listen to the music of Jelly Roll, Satchmo, and Coltrane
All on my mind, on my mind, all on my mind
The singer repeats the phrase 'on my mind' to emphasize the lasting impact of the music played by Jelly Roll, Satchmo, and Coltrane
They left them soul shadows
The singer emphasizes the enduring impact of the soulful music played by Jelly Roll, Satchmo, and Coltrane
All on my mind, on my mind
The singer repeats the phrase 'on my mind' to underscore the rising intensity of his emotions as a result of the soulful music
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Joe Sample, Will Jennings
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Ugaritic
San Francisco morning coming clear and cold
Don't know if I'm waking or I'm dreaming
Riding with Fats Waller on the Super Chief
He said, musics real, the rest is seeming
Oh, deep pain
Feeling that won't go away
There's the sound of his soul in the air
I can hear it up there
And I know he left those soul shadows
On my mind, on my mind, on my mind
He left the soul shadows on my mind
On my mind, on my mind
Soul shadows on my mind
On my mind, on my mind
Standing by the window as a fog rolls in
I swear I can hear a far-off music
Jelly Roll is playing down in Storyville
And Satchmo is wailing in Chicago
You ought to heard 'em play
Feelings that won't go away
Left the sound of their souls in the air
I hear out there and I know
They left them soul shadows all on my mind
On my mind, on my mind
They left them soul shadows all on my mind
On my mind, on my mind
They left soul shadows on my mind
They left them shadows on my mind
They left them soul shadows on my mind
@reimass9244
Thanx man! I am a musician and a walking history of Music. I dare to say
I had the utmost opportunity to be born blessed in the family of
musicians with over 4000 Lp records so I suffer from the Obelix sindrom
and I am the Real Music Revolutionary of Today born out of a deep love
with the history of music, so when I change something or when I say
something else is better, it has a good reason! Check out my channel but
look especially for the playlists. You will be surprised. I play 14
instruments and am a Violin professor and a composer! Welcome! :) Listen
to the whole playlists they are considered as albums. Cheers!
@JR-jq4dp
Mr. Bill Withers 'Still Bill' RIP Brother! God bless your wife and children. Thank you for all the great songs that live on and sharing your life with us!
@princesskarmynnbeautybarbo3444
RIP Bill Withers😢 You are already missed😭😭😭😭
@jasonallen3678
Yes
@angelafletcher667
Having a solo Bill party tonight in lockdown UK, your music forever in our hearts, thank you for that .. Legend R.I.P xx
@emmastevenson1962
Doing the same a year later in isolation ❤️ ❤️
@glorymaxam912
Reminds of my late husband. We used to dance for the song. He is now the one who has left his soul shadows on my mind and in my heart ❤
@Beauty4Ashes444
Oh my gosh. I was just thinking the exact same thing about my late beloved husband. We used to dance to this too. We bonded over music, good music, ALL genres. We will dance with them again. Blessing to you my Sister. RIP to our dearly beloved husbands who left them soul shadows on minds 🕊🌷
@doncost7239
He left those soul shadows..
RIP Legend
@mirandazannos336
Lovely comment.
@milanstupar3020
R.I.P Bill. You have opened the heart of so many people and your legacy will live forever. 🙏♥️