Catriona Irving is a young singer/songwriter based in London. Her debut rel… Read Full Bio ↴Catriona Irving is a young singer/songwriter based in London. Her debut release was the self-released ‘Running on Empathy’, followed by the Stitch EP which enjoyed excellent reviews (“DIY music at it’s best”, said FACT, while the Metro called her “an artist to watch out for”). Her latest release, due on November 16th 2009, is the "Sitting on The Shelf EP" which features the Julien Plaisir De remix of the title track, which is proving to be hugely popular with fans in France. A second EP in this series is due for release early in 2010. In the meantime Catriona has been building a reputation for her live show, playing at venues such as 93 feet east, the 12 bar Club and the Borderline, and supporting the Espers and Emilie Simon along the way. Combining clever lyrics and sweet melodies that stick in your head for days, with a sweet and witty live performance, Catriona is making a significant mark on the DIY scene.

Sitting On the Shelf Without Shelly
Catriona Irving Lyrics

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Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
It's not quite as fun as I thought it could be
Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
It's like sitting on the shelf with just me

I thought we'd get down from here together
Or maybe just hang out here forever
I guess things are different now

If you love them you let them go
Like baby Moses and the melting snow

But somehow I feel my hand reach out
And words form in my mouth to shout
If I'd seen it coming I'd have clung on for dear life
But she slipped you see and she fell on her feet
And now she seems happy me and my shelf
Cannot compete

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
It's not quite as fun as I thought it could be

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
It's like sitting on the shelf without me

Overall Meaning

In this song, Catriona Irving discusses the feeling of being left behind and forgotten about by a friend or loved one who has moved on to bigger and better things. The song centers around a metaphor of sitting on a shelf, which means being put aside or overlooked. The first verse highlights the disappointment that comes with realizing that sitting on the shelf is not as exciting as it had initially seemed to be. The second verse emphasizes the feeling of being left behind and forgotten as a result of someone else's success, and how it's important to let go of loved ones in order for them to reach their own dreams.

The third verse suggests a sense of regret and reveals that the singer wishes they had held on tighter in order to keep the relationship from slipping away. The chorus repeats the somber feeling of sitting on a shelf without someone who was once there with you, but now seems to be happy without you. The lyrics "If you love them you let them go like baby Moses and the melting snow," is a reference to the biblical story of Moses, who was left in a basket to float down the river, and how sometimes letting someone go is the best way to ensure their success.

Overall, this song resonates with anyone who has experienced the feeling of being left behind and forgotten about by someone they once cared for deeply.

Line by Line Meaning

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
Being alone on this shelf without Shelly by my side

It's not quite as fun as I thought it could be
This was not as enjoyable as I thought it would be without Shelly, I am finding it hard to cope

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
Loneliness is taking a toll on me as there's no one else to talk to

It's like sitting on the shelf with just me
I am all alone without my best friend, Shelly

I thought we'd get down from here together
I believed that we would be together for this journey and we would move on from this shelf to something else

Or maybe just hang out here forever
I was okay to stay here forever as long as Shelly was with me

I guess things are different now
The current situation is not the same as it used to be

If you love them you let them go
If you love someone, you have to let them live their own life and make their own choices

Like baby Moses and the melting snow
Just like the story of baby Moses being sent down the river in a basket, sometimes things happen that are outside of our control

But somehow I feel my hand reach out
I am enduring a strong urge to reach out for Shelly despite her being not here with me

And words form in my mouth to shout
I feel like shouting out to make myself feel better

If I'd seen it coming I'd have clung on for dear life
I would have held on tight to Shelly if I had known what was going to happen

But she slipped you see and she fell on her feet
However, Shelly fell but was able to regain her control and land on her feet

And now she seems happy me and my shelf Cannot compete
Shelly looks happy and content without me but I am struggling to cope without her on this shelf

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
I cannot stop thinking about how lonely I am without her by my side

It's not quite as fun as I thought it could be
This situation is not living up to my expectations and I am finding it hard to enjoy

Sitting on the shelf without Shelly
I feel like I am stuck in a limbo without Shelly

It's like sitting on the shelf without me
Without Shelly, I feel like I am not really here with me on this shelf

Contributed by Alyssa J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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