Shangri-La
Caitlyn Scarlett Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Lonely pavements, shards of glass reflect the evening sky
And I think of peach blossom
Concrete tumours, competing greed and height
And all I see are Himalayas

I've heard about a place with trees
Where springs run clean through valleys and peaks
And the air can heal you as you breathe
Not like the smoke that fills these streets
I read about a place somewhere far
You can't get there by car
Where misty vales hide mystery trails
I think they call it Shangri-La

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
The escape [?]
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-La
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
All I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La

Where the proof machines and roofs block my view
And I just think of lost horizons
Drains engorged with filthy water
I make birdsongs out of sirens

I've heard about a place with trees
Where springs run clean through valleys and peaks
And the air can heal you as you breathe
Not like the smoke that fills these streets
Yeah, I read about a place somewhere far
You can't get there by car
Where misty vales hide mystery trails
I think they call it Shangri-La

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
The escape [?]
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-L

a
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
All I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La

I'm trading grey for green
I'm gonna throw it all away for my Utopian dream
The holy grail of fairy tales calls to me
And I've become my own queen

I'm never going back, no way, don't wanna
I'm never going back, [?] nirvana
I'm never going back, no way, don't wanna
I'm never going back

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
The escape [?]
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-La
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
And all I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La
Now think of peach blossom
And all I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now




I think they call it Shangri-La
(Boom)

Overall Meaning

The song "Shangri-La" by Caitlyn Scarlett is a contemplation of the modern world and the desire for a utopian paradise, which is crystallized by the recurring reference to "Shangri-La." The lyrics describe a world of "lonely pavements" and "shards of glass" that fill the air with "smoke." This is contrasted with the idea of a utopian paradise described in literature where "springs run clean through valleys and peaks" and the "air can heal you as you breathe." Shangri-La is imagined as a place where nature still rules, and even the act of breathing is curative.


The lyrics suggest that the modern world is far removed from this utopian paradise, yet the hope for something better endures. As the artist sings, "I'm trading grey for green/I'm gonna throw it all away for my Utopian dream." The escape to Shangri-La is seen as a chance to leave behind the chaos of the modern world and attain a sense of freedom.


In summary, the song is both an indictment of the modern world and a call for something better. Overall, it expresses the desire to find an idyllic sanctuary uncorrupted by the perils of the modern world.


Line by Line Meaning

Lonely pavements, shards of glass reflect the evening sky
The streets are empty and littered with broken glass, reflecting the fading light.


And I think of peach blossom
A peaceful image comes to mind in contrast to the noisy and chaotic reality.


Concrete tumors, competing greed and height
The urban landscape is dominated by oppressive skyscrapers and a sense of constant competition.


And all I see are Himalayas
A longing for a simpler way of life and a place where nature reigns supreme.


I've heard about a place with trees
A mythical land is described, one that is full of natural wonders.


Where springs run clean through valleys and peaks
A serene landscape with pristine waters and majestic mountains.


And the air can heal you as you breathe
The purity of the air is said to have healing properties for the mind and body.


Not like the smoke that fills these streets
The polluted air of the city is a stark contrast to that of the peaceful land described.


I read about a place somewhere far
The far-off nature of this place adds to its mystique and allure.


You can't get there by car
This land is so remote that it can only be accessed by foot or other means.


Where misty vales hide mystery trails
A foggy landscape with hidden paths and trails.


I think they call it Shangri-La
The mythical land has a name that only adds to its appeal.


Paradise waits
This utopian dream is one of perfection and paradise.


Only for the lonely
This destination is for those who feel lost or alone in the world.


Freedom is a place
The idea of freedom is tied to this land, as it represents an escape from the constraints of society.


Let's run away, I know the way
The artist is eager to escape to this mythical land and is confident in their path.


To somewhere far
The land is far away, yet worth it to find true peace and freedom.


They call it Shangri-La
The name of this land is once again highlighted, emphasizing its importance.


Where the proof machines and roofs block my view
The buildings and machines of the city obscure the natural beauty of the world.


And I just think of lost horizons
The possibility of something lost or missing is on the artist's mind.


Drains engorged with filthy water
Even the ground itself is contaminated and dirty in the city.


I make birdsongs out of sirens
The artist imagines things differently, hearing the beauty in the noise.


I'm trading grey for green
The singer is making a change in their life, opting for a more natural and peaceful world.


I'm gonna throw it all away for my Utopian dream
The idea of the perfect world is worth sacrificing everything for.


The holy grail of fairy tales calls to me
This land seems almost magical, like a fairy tale come to life.


And I've become my own queen
The singer has taken control of their own life and direction to find happiness in their own way.




Contributed by Nolan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@KLLPOP

- Here for the lyrics.


Lonely pavements, shards of glass reflect the evening sky
And I think of peach blossom
Concrete tumours, competing greed and height
And all I see are Himalayas

I've heard about a place with trees
Where springs run clean through valleys and peaks
And the air can heal you as you breathe
Not like the smoke that fills these streets
I read about a place somewhere far
You can't get there by car
Where misty vales hide mystery trails
I think they call it Shangri-La

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
They escape inside their brains
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-La
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
All I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La

Where the proof machines and roofs block my view
And I just think of lost horizons
Drains engorged with filthy water
[?]
I make birdsongs out of sirens

I've heard about a place with trees
Where springs run clean through valleys and peaks
And the air can heal you as you breathe
Not like the smoke that fills these streets
Yeah, I read about a place somewhere far
You can't get there by car
Where misty vales hide mystery trails
I think they call it Shangri-La

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
They escape inside their brains
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-La
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
All I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La

I'm trading grey for green
I'm gonna throw it all away for my Utopian dream
The holy grail of fairy tales calls to me
And I've become my own queen

I'm never going back, no way, don't wanna
I'm never going back, [?] nirvana
I'm never going back, no way, don't wanna
I'm never going back

All I see are Himalayas
(Boom)

Paradise waits
Only for the lonely
They escape inside their brains
Freedom is a place
Let's run away, I know the way
To somewhere far
They call it Shangri-La
(Boom)
Now think of peach blossom
And all I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La
Now think of peach blossom
And all I see are Himalayas
Paradise waits
Freedom is a place, now
I think they call it Shangri-La
(Boom)



All comments from YouTube:

@Quokka325

This song is so badass. This is the type of song that would be behind an awesome movie scene

@nolan2128

IKR

@snitchinkitty2421

omg when i first heard this song i became obsesseed! i love the lyrics :3

@iveyyy1559

cant stop replaying this!!!❣πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯πŸ’₯

@siohead9021

Love from Myanmar! This is such a bop :)

@duygukaya3725

It's awesome, loves from Turkey πŸ’•

@pablo_rogger

QUE HINOOOOOOOOOO

@Aeizium

i wish i could go here

@thefastpawnwolf6136

Love this! Shangri-La is a fantasy made up by the westerners dreaming of what the East was like. To bad that there isn't a place like that in real life :(

@llovefood4927

I wonder if this song is based off the book Lost horizon

More Comments

More Versions