The Paris, IL, native was visiting Nashville for the first time early in his sophomore year at Chicago's Elmhurst College. He was at the Station Inn, an historic bluegrass/country venue where many of the greats of both worlds have played. His cousin Terry, a veteran of Dolly Parton's band and now a member of the Grascals, was playing with a band called the Sidemen, and a mesmerized Brett was in the crowd.
"There was something so real and truthful about the songs they were playing," he says. “What happened next came as a shock.”
"He asked me to come up on stage and told me to pick a song to play with the band," says Brett. I said, 'Amarillo By Morning,' and when I heard that fiddle intro, chills shot up my spine. I sang it for the crowd there and it was a magical experience. That was the point where I thought, 'This is it. This is something I've got to do.'"
By the start of the next school year, he had transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and begun the round of writers' nights and writing appointments that led him eventually to a record deal.
The talent that let him turn that dream into reality—the depth of his writing and the sheer power of his smoky and expressive baritone—are both apparent in his first single. "Raymond" is the poignant tale of a nursing home employee mistaken by a patient with Alzheimer's for her deceased son, who was killed at war. It is a song whose inspiring reaffirmation of their mutual humanity is affecting listeners deeply. The single rings true for Eldredge as his Grandmother currently struggles through the disease.
"There are a lot of things I'll play live where people will say, 'I like that,' or 'That's a really cool song,'" Brett says, "but when I do this one, I get the chance to tell people how special a thing it's been in my life, and it always touches someone. A lot of people know someone with Alzheimer's and people react in a really emotional way to it."
Brett has earned a reputation as much for the strength of his writing as for his world-class voice. He and co-writer Pat McLaughlin landed a song called "I Think I've Had Enough" on Gary Allan's latest album, Get Off On The Pain, and one of his frequent collaborators is Country Music Hall of Famer and Grand Ole Opry stalwart Bill Anderson.
"He's one of my favorite people to write with," says Brett. "I love the fact that he believes in country music so much, because it's something I really believe in. My dream, as I find my place in country music, is one day to be an Opry member."
Brett heard all kinds of music growing up, and became a particular fan of the classic pop singers he heard in his grandfather's car.
"I heard a lot of Frank Sinatra, who is still a favorite of mine, and Ray Charles and Bobby Darin," he says. "When my mother convinced me to sing 'Mack The Knife' at a talent show, I got hooked on singing in public."
That was in Paris, a town of 9,000 with "cornfields and factories and lake right in the middle." Brett, his older brother and his parents—a traveling grain salesman and a nurse—lived on the lake and, says Brett, "We were on the water every day, from the time I was so little they could pull me on water skis in a paddle boat until I left for college at 18." Sports were a big part of his life, and he played basketball, baseball and football in high school.
He also sang everywhere he could, often the Big Band music of Sinatra, earning spending money and learning to work a stage. His appreciation for country music became a passion when he turned 16 and he and a friend rode around listening to a Brooks & Dunn greatest hits album.
"There was something about it that just struck me," he says. "I couldn't get enough of it. Ronnie Dunn is one of my favorite singers of all time—I love the soul in his voice—and one of the main reasons I got into this in the first place."
Brett spent two years in Chicago, where his older brother lived, performing with a school jazz band and with a Big Band around the region.
"One of the coolest gigs," he says, "was at the Field Museum, I was singing in front of a 12-piece band under this huge Tyrannosaurus Rex statue near some mammoths. It was quite the experience."
Then came that fateful visit to Nashville and his transfer to MTSU. He studied classic country stylists like Ray Price and George Jones, and later Vince Gill, absorbing everything he could.
"I was driving back and forth Nashville every day from Murfreesboro, which is thirty miles away," he says. "I had a guitar Terry had given me, which was originally a gift from Dolly, and I'd pretty much lock myself in my room and make myself learn songs. I would play writers' nights all around Nashville. There might be two people, there might be 40 or 50. I'd go play my songs and see what people liked and what they didn't. I'd screw up royally in front of them, but I learned."
He earned a degree, which, he says, "made Mom and Dad happy, and then I moved on to what I really wanted to do.
A staff writer for hit producer/publisher Byron Gallimore heard him at a writers' night and introduced him to Byron, who signed him.
"I wrote for about two years, developing my craft and writing with everyone I could. In the beginning, Byron just let me kind of find myself, because that takes a while. As you write more you starting homing in on what you sound good on. Eventually, Byron said, 'You've got something here' and we went in and started cutting songs. We did a showcase, and Carole Ann Mobley from Warner Music Nashville said, 'We've gotta sign this kid'. Mobley and Craig Kallman then signed Brett to Atlantic Records, making him the first official signing for the new imprint.
As he worked with his band tightening his show, he was offered a particularly gratifying gig.
"I opened for Blake Shelton at The Ryman and it was the coolest experience. I flew back from this house gig and all of a sudden I'm thrown into playing the Mother Church of Country Music, something I always dreamed of doing. I was operating on almost no sleep, but stepping out on that stage where everybody who's anybody in country music has been meant the world to me."
He remains active in sports, playing basketball and volleyball and playing on an intramural softball team in Nashville, and rooting for the Cubs and Bears. Meanwhile, he is dedicated to improving his craft.
"As a songwriter," he says, "my aim is to portray a little bit of me and my life along with the stories of other people and turn them into something that can really touch somebody's heart and soul. We sit down on Music Row every day and write songs and every once in a while a song like ‘Raymond’ comes from such a real place. I hope it's that real to other people and that I can make them feel the way I felt when I wrote it and when I sing it."
Judging from audience reaction, that’s exactly what he’s doing.
Shadow
Brett Eldredge Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My odds are evil, that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know I got a problem
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
He came uninvited
And I kinda like him the most
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda like him the most
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda like him the most
Gotta wait for that sun to go down
He's following me around
It gets worse at night
Alright, let me have a drink
The lyrics of Brett Eldredge's "Shadow" depict a man battling with his personal demons, represented by the shadow that follows him. The shadow can be interpreted as his addiction or self-destructive tendencies that threaten to drown him in whiskey. He admits to having a problem and acknowledges the need for help but finds solace in nicotine and alcohol- "Smoke 'em if you got 'em". He is consumed by his behavior and doesn't know if he can take it anymore. The line "I kinda like him the most" is a poignant reminder of his ambivalent feelings towards his addiction as he is often tempted back into it despite it being the root of all his troubles.
The chorus "Feeling good, Probably better than I should" is a telling indicator of his mental state, as he acknowledges the fact that he is not above self-destructive behavior. He is standing on the wire and dancing, metaphorically living dangerously. His behavior is making him paranoid and increasingly aware of his precarious predicament, as the shadow becomes more powerful at night. He pleads for help and intervention to break the chains that bind him, the addiction that is slowly destroying him.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a shadow and it follows me around
I have a dark presence within me that seems to control my actions and it's always present no matter where I go.
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
This inner darkness that I possess is always silent and unseen, yet it's omnipresent.
My odds are evil, that hunts me down and gets me
My addiction to alcohol is a negative force that keeps haunting me, catching me off guard and making me fall deeper into its grasp.
Finds a way to trick me
My addiction is a master of deception and it always finds a way to lure me back in.
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Once I'm caught in its grasp, it's like drowning in alcohol, there's no escape as it drags me deeper into its hold.
Hold up, I need some help
I need to stop this cycle of addiction and reach out for help from others to overcome it.
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
The more I give in to my addiction, the more it gains control and causes chaos in my life.
I know I got a problem
I am fully aware that I have a serious problem with addiction.
But you know what they say
There is a common saying that suggests if you have something available to you, you might as well make use of it regardless of the consequences.
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
In this case, the phrase refers to drinking and continuing my addiction to alcohol because I have access to it.
Feeling good
Despite my addiction, I feel pleasure and contentment from my actions and enjoy it.
Probably better than I should
I am aware that the feeling of pleasure and contentment associated with drinking is an unhealthy behavior, and I'm doing it more than I should.
It's gone far
My addiction has reached an extreme level, and it's time for me to take action before it's too late.
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
I am living my life on the edge and playing a risky game of balancing between addiction and recovery.
There's no denying
I can't deny the presence of my addiction and the hold it has on me.
He came uninvited
My addiction entered my life without any invitation, and now I'm trapped in its claws of addiction.
And I kinda like him the most
Although I know my addiction is harmful and I should stop, it still gives me a sense of pleasure that I can't resist.
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need help from a religious figure to pray for me and help me overcome my addiction.
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
I need someone to inspire me and guide me towards breaking free from my addiction and living a better life.
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
I'm scared of what might happen if I can't break free from my addiction and I'm asking for divine intervention for protection and help.
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
My addiction is affecting my physical and mental health, and I need someone to help me before it's too late.
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
I'm appealing to a religious figure or anyone with an angelic presence to help me and guide me away from my addiction.
Please just make him disappear
I'm requesting that this addiction that's harming me be removed from my life by divine intervention.
I don't know if I can take no more
I'm close to my breaking point and I need help now to prevent me from falling deeper into my addiction.
Gotta wait for that sun to go down
I'm waiting for the end of the day when I know I can indulge in drinking without anyone noticing, so I can be left alone with my addiction.
He's following me around
My addiction is constantly present and following me around, even when others can't see it.
It gets worse at night
My addiction worsens when I'm alone at night and when I have uncontrollable urges to give in to it.
Alright, let me have a drink
I'm giving in to my addiction once again and having a drink, even though I'm aware of the negative consequences.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRETT ELDREDGE, HEATHER LYNN MORGAN, ROSS COPPERMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brittney
I got a shadow and it follows me around
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My odds are [?], that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know I got a problem
But you know what they say
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Verse 2]
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Bridge]
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Outro]
[?]
He's following me around
It gets worse at night
Alright, let me have a drink
enigma protozoa
+brittney putzer
I got a shadow and it follows me around
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My alter ego, that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know, I got a problem
But you know what they say
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Gotta wait for that sun to go down
He's following me around
But it gets worse at night
Alright, give me another drink, C'mon
Keith Sabin
Uh, guys? From 1922. Yeah. 1922. I'm drunk on Brett--he's not responsible for the cribbing...read the whole thing...
Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today,
I wish, I wish he'd go away...
When I came home last night at three,
The man was waiting there for me
But when I looked around the hall,
I couldn't see him there at all!
Go away, go away, don't you come back any more!
Go away, go away, and please don't slam the door...
Last night I saw upon the stair,
A little man who wasn't there,
He wasn't there again today
Oh, how I wish he'd go away...
enigma protozoa
I got a shadow and it follows me around
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My alter ego, that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know, I got a problem
But you know what they say
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Gotta wait for that sun to go down
He's following me around
But it gets worse at night
Alright, give me another drink, C'mon
Bogart Bacall
I really hope he makes a music video for this some day.😍
Cheyenne Marshall
I absolutely love this song you are so talented, don’t ever stop singing or writing songs. ☺️
Brittney
I got a shadow and it follows me around
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My odds are [?], that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know I got a problem
But you know what they say
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Verse 2]
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Bridge]
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
[Chorus]
Feeling good
[?] than I should
It's gone far
I'm standing up here dancing on the wire
There's no denying
We came uninvited
And I kinda [?]
[Outro]
[?]
He's following me around
It gets worse at night
Alright, let me have a drink
enigma protozoa
+brittney putzer
I got a shadow and it follows me around
Wherever I go, it moves without a sound
My alter ego, that hunts me down and gets me
Finds a way to trick me
Then drowns me in the whiskey
Hold up, I need some help
The more you feed the beast, the more he raises hell
I know, I got a problem
But you know what they say
Smoke 'em if you got 'em
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Find me a preacher, I'm down on my knees
I need a leader to break these chains off of me
Don't let 'em hurt me, I'm getting kind of worried
Vision's getting blurry, please, somebody hurry
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Pretty little angel, whisper in my ear
Please just make him disappear
I don't know if I can take no more
Feeling good
Probably better than I should
It's gone too far
I'm standing up here dancing on the bar
There's no denying
He came uninvited
But I kinda like him, oh no
Gotta wait for that sun to go down
He's following me around
But it gets worse at night
Alright, give me another drink, C'mon
Allison Shillington
he is going to absolutely KILL this live on tour.
J.B. Crockett
Allison Shillington I already saw live and he was great!
Mike Youtube
Last two songs on this album are the most underrated and possibly the best.
Eliteben
I like Lose My Mind and Drunk on Your Love more, so that is number one and two. But this is definitely number three. severely underrated
Lucy Renaud
may be one of my favorites you have done!!!
Roni H
Love This! So Different And Refreshing.