Corgan released his first solo album TheFutureEmbrace on June 21st, 2005. It warranted mostly lukewarm reviews from the press and only sold 69,000 copies. It was followed by a tour of Europe, USA, Australia, and Japan.
Trivia:
The scars on his arms and hands in the artwork for TheFutureEmbrace are his birthmarks.
Corgan is also a huge sports fan.
Walking Shade
Billy Corgan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look at ya
Torn estates
Took forever
Couldn't wait on words, on sound
I just want you so
You're everything, so cold
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
The chase, the bells below
Taken from my soul
On the 9th day God created shame
I'm out walking shade
To brush these fires aside
To calm the rising fight
To build you a new life
Should you choose
I've picked the best for you
It's your turn and my time to test
I'll second guess the rest
Look at ya now
Look at ya
Nothings faced
Took advantage of my faith and called me out
I just want you so
You're everything I'm told
Dumb enough to scold this tongue
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
A kingdom for your rain
A pocket for your soul
I just want you so
You're everything although
The risk is getting close to you
I'm out walking shade
The sun is going out
The word is getting round
That I just want you so
In the song "Walking Shade," Billy Corgan is reflecting on a past love that has left him with torn estates, or shattered emotions. He couldn't wait for words or sound to fully express his feelings to her, and now he is left with the regret of not speaking up. The song is wrought with longing and desire for this person. Corgan sings that he just wants her and that she is all he thinks about even though she is so cold. He compares her to a rose in bloom, which is delicate and beautiful, but also has thorns that can hurt. He wants her so badly that he has become a walking shade, which can be interpreted as someone who is in the shadows or hiding from something.
The song takes a religious turn when Corgan sings "On the 9th day God created shame." This line is open to interpretation, but it could mean that the feelings he has for this person are shameful or that shame is what stopped him from pursuing her before it was too late. He then acknowledges that he is out walking shade to brush fires aside, calm the rising fight, and build her a new life, should she choose to come back to him. He has picked the best for her and will second guess the rest, but he also knows that she took advantage of his faith in her and called him out.
Line by Line Meaning
Look at ya now
Reflecting on the current state of the person being addressed
Look at ya
Repeating the previous line for emphasis
Torn estates
Their life is in disrepair and in a state of ruin
Took forever
It took a long time for things to change or improve
Couldn't wait on words, on sound
They had to take action instead of waiting for something to happen
I just want you so
The singer desires the person being addressed
You're everything, so cold
The person being addressed is perfect, but perhaps emotionally distant
The perfume of your rose in bloom
A metaphor for the attraction and beauty of the person being addressed
Anywhere I go
The singer thinks of the person being addressed no matter where they are
The chase, the bells below
The pursuit of the person being addressed is accompanied by a sense of urgency
Taken from my soul
The desire for the person being addressed is consuming and intense
On the 9th day God created shame
A commentary on the negative power of societal shame and how it affects people
I'm out walking shade
The singer feels like an outsider and is trying to hide their true feelings
To brush these fires aside
The singer wants to avoid conflict and move on
To calm the rising fight
The singer wants to quell their own internal battle
To build you a new life
The singer wants to start fresh with the person being addressed
Should you choose
If the person being addressed decides to be with the singer
I've picked the best for you
The singer thinks they are the best option for the person being addressed
It's your turn and my time to test
The singer is willing to take a chance on the person being addressed, but also wants to see if they reciprocate
I'll second guess the rest
The singer won't consider anyone else as an option
Nothings faced
The person being addressed has not dealt with their problems or emotions
Took advantage of my faith and called me out
The person being addressed betrayed the singer's trust
You're everything I'm told
The person being addressed is everything society says is desirable
Dumb enough to scold this tongue
The singer is willing to risk criticism to express their feelings
A kingdom for your rain
The person being addressed has power over the singer and can make them feel both powerful and submissive
A pocket for your soul
The singer is willing to sacrifice for the person being addressed
You're everything although
The person being addressed is still perfect, in spite of any perceived flaws
The risk is getting close to you
The singer knows getting closer to the person being addressed could be dangerous but is willing to take that risk
The sun is going out
The singer is losing hope
The word is getting round
Other people are beginning to take notice and gossip about the singer's feelings
That I just want you so
Reiterating the singer's desire for the person being addressed
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WILLIAM PATRICK CORGAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sharesomethingbeautiful6992
Look at ya now
Look at ya
Torn estates
Took forever
Couldn't wait on words, on sound
I just want you so
You're everything, so cold
The perfume of your rose in bloom
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
The chase, the bells below
Taken from my soul
On the 9th day God created shame
I'm out walking shade
To brush these fires aside
To calm the rising fight
To build you a new life
Should you choose
I've picked the best for you
It's your turn and my time to test
I'll second guess the rest
Look at ya now
Look at ya
Nothin's faced
Took advantage of my faith and called me out
I just want you so
You're everything I'm told
Dumb enough to scold this tongue
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
A kingdom for your rain
A pocket for your soul
I just want you so
You're everything although
The risk is getting close to you
I'm out walking shade
The sun is going out
The word is getting round
That I just want you so
@youtube_Yatra1968
LYRICS : Billy Corgan "Walking Shade"
"Look at ya now
Look at ya
Torn estates
Took forever
Couldn't wait on words, on sound
I just want you so
You're everything, so cold
The perfume of your rose in bloom
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
The chase, the bells below
Taken from my soul
On the 9th day God created shame
I'm out walking shade
To brush these fires aside
To calm the rising fight
To build you a new life
Should you choose
I've picked the best for you
It's your turn and my time to test
I'll second guess the rest
Look at ya now
Look at ya
Nothin's faced
Took advantage of my faith and called me out
I just want you so
You're everything I'm told
Dumb enough to scold this tongue
I just want you so
Anywhere I go
A kingdom for your rain
A pocket for your soul
I just want you so
You're everything although
The risk is getting close to you
I'm out walking shade
The sun is going out
The word is getting round
That I just want you so
@avedic
This solo album is actually really brilliant. I love how Billy's signature writing style is evident....yet tonally it sounds unlike anything else he'd ever put out. At first I was iffy on the guitar tone....but now I honestly love it. It's the polar opposite of the bass-heavy big muff pi crunch Billy perfected through the 90s.....instead it's this cool shoe-gazey wash of tonality. And it really works. As with so much of Billy's work, it only sounds better as time goes on. I honestly don't think that will be the case with the latest string of utter let-down albums SP has released lately....but oh well. Billy's already proven himself many times over to be a overwhelmingly prolific and undeniably creative songwriter....easily one of the best, if not the best, of his generation. So if the recent stuff falls flat....that sucks, but it doesn't bother me. Billy's already enriched my life with the sort of music 10 talented songwriters would be hard-pressed to create in their lifetimes. He's a musical genius....
@Lord_Thistlewick_Flanders
Perfect summation! His body of work will outlast all us mere mortals. I'm hoping future generations give this man his due and his name is mentioned alongside the greats like Mozart and Beethoven. The period from 1991-2000 was perfection and the fact the sound changed so drastically from genre to genre makes it all the more impressive.
@Losttracks2
I remember liking this when it came out because it reminded of a bit of Adore and still managed to keep that crafty melancholy sound. It even further explored elements of shoegaze and electronica. Definitely a high point in BC's career.
@mr.ortega7140
Lol. I wrote a similar comment and just read yours. Adore was a life changing album for me, and The Future Embrace was very unappreciated and brilliant
@jam_xg
his guitar sound on this album is just a thing of beauty
@ninacorreia9449
Amo demais essa musica !! Perfeita !! 🖤
@darialarsson8542
The best thing about Billy C is that there is only one singer like this. You cannot confuse him, his voice or style with anybody and anything. I remember his last concert in 2000 I think, it wss in Oberhausen, Germany...
@randismith2926
This is so cool, I am from Utah, but was living in Germany in 2000 and drove 3 hours to Oberhausen to see them that year! He's one of the greats for sure. 😊
@darialarsson8542
@Randi Smith, so probably we were there at the same time! Cool! ❤️ I know Utah, it is a beautiful State. I spent one week there once - it was very special to me. . Regards. ☘️
@mr.ortega7140
This was a very underappreciated album. I still like coming back to it, and Adore. Billy is an artists artist. Uncompromising in his vision and always willing to take risks.