Unshaken
D'Angelo Lyrics


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May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world

Did I hear a thunder?
Did I hear you break?
I can't quite remember
Just what guided me this way, oh, oh
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world

The pines, they often whisper
They whisper what no tongue can tell
He who drinks from the deep water (ooh, ooh)
May he know the depths of the well (ooh, ooh)
Well

May I stand unshaken (may I)
Amid, amidst a crashing world (mmm)
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world

Mmm, oh, traveler
What have you seen?
Were there crossroads
Where you been, where you been?
I once was standing tall
Now I feel my back's against the wall

May I stand unshaken (oh)
Amid, amidst a crashing world
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
Solo

The morning light
When it comes to me
It was there but I could not see
Am I to wander
As a wayward son?
Will the hunter be hunted
By the smoking gun? (oh)

May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world (world)
May I stand unshaken (may I)
Amid, amidst a crashing world (world)




May I stand unshaken (may I)
Amid, amidst a crashing world

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to D’Angelo’s song Unshaken are a plea for strength and resilience in the face of chaos and uncertainty. The repetition of the line “may I stand unshaken” serves as a mantra or prayer, a reminder to himself or perhaps to a higher power that he wants to remain steadfast in the midst of a world that is crashing down around him. The verses show a sense of reflection and questioning, as the singer wonders if he has heard thunder or if he has been guided to his current path. The mention of the pines whispering and the deep water alludes to a sense of nature and spiritualism, as if he is seeking guidance and wisdom from the natural world.


The chorus returns with the same plea for stability and strength, but adds an emphasis on feeling the weight of the world’s turmoil. The mention of feeling his back against the wall suggests a sense of being trapped or cornered, but the singer remains hopeful that he can stand unshaken despite the circumstances. The song ends with a sense of questioning and uncertainty, as the singer wonders if he will wander aimlessly or become a victim of violence, but the repetition of the chorus suggests that the desire for resilience remains constant.


Overall, the lyrics to Unshaken depict a struggle to remain grounded and steadfast in a tumultuous world. The repetition of the chorus serves as a reminder of this goal, and the verses explore the emotions and doubts that come with that struggle. The references to nature and spirituality suggest a search for meaning and guidance beyond the physical world.


Line by Line Meaning

May I stand unshaken
I hope that I can remain steady and resilient


Amid, amidst a crashing world
Despite the chaos and uncertainty around me


Did I hear a thunder?
Was there a warning that I missed?


Did I hear you break?
Did something important suddenly fall apart?


I can't quite remember
It's hard for me to recall what led me to this moment


Just what guided me this way, oh, oh
What forces shaped my path up until now


The pines, they often whisper
Nature speaks to me in ways I can't explain


They whisper what no tongue can tell
The secrets of the natural world can't be put into words


He who drinks from the deep water (ooh, ooh)
Someone who seeks out profound truths


May he know the depths of the well (ooh, ooh)
Will gain a greater understanding of the world


The morning light
Daybreak brings a new beginning


When it comes to me
After a restful night's sleep, I feel refreshed


It was there but I could not see
I missed something important that was right in front of me


Am I to wander
Do I have no clear path forward


As a wayward son?
Like someone who has lost their purpose


Will the hunter be hunted
Is there danger lurking around every corner


By the smoking gun? (oh)
Will I suddenly find myself in a precarious situation


Mmm, oh, traveler
Someone who has journeyed through many challenges


What have you seen?
What wisdom have you gained from your experiences


Were there crossroads
Did you have to make tough decisions along the way


Where you been, where you been?
What places have you visited, and what have you learned from them


I once was standing tall
There was a time when I felt confident and secure


Now I feel my back's against the wall
But now I feel trapped and unsure of what to do next


Solo
A musical interlude


May I stand unshaken (oh)
I hope that I can weather any storm


Amid, amidst a crashing world
Even when everything seems to be falling apart


May I stand unshaken (may I)
May I stay strong and unwavering


Amid, amidst a crashing world (world)
Even when the world seems to be in chaos


May I stand unshaken (may I)
I hope that I can remain calm and steady


Amid, amidst a crashing world
Despite all of the upheaval and turmoil around me




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Daniel Roland Lanois, Michael D'angelo Archer, Rocco S De Luca

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@ryanmitchell6913

May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
Did I hear a thunder?
Did I hear you break?
I can't quite remember
Just what guided me this way, oh
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
The pines, they often whisper
They whisper what no tongue can tell
He who drinks from the deep water
May he know the depths of the well
Well
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
Mmm, oh, traveler
What have you seen?
Were there crossroads
Where you been, where you been?
I once was standing tall
Now I feel my back's against the wall
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
The morning light
When it comes to me
It was there but I could not see
Am I to wander
As a wayward son?
Will the hunter be hunted
By the smoking gun?
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world
May I stand unshaken
Amid, amidst a crashing world



@und3adcrows727

To be fair, Arthur didn't want people to know he was sick. It took him until the half way point to even admit to himself that he might be sick. By the time he admitted to Charles he was dying, he was near the end. He also tells Mary-Beth that he's dying. The rest of the gang members, most notably Micah, learn that he is sick just not HOW sick. With the exception of Dutch, who at this point in the game is so paranoid that I think he refused to believe that he could lose Arthur.

There's a few other NPCs that Arthur tells he is sick to. The doctor, the nun, and Agent Milton are the only people he directly tells he has TB to. (He might tell Strauss or Swanson, but I've yet to see it.) Thomas Downes hoped he would get the TB but dies before any confirmation but his wife and son find out later in the game.

Rains Fall is also told that Arthur will die. While it's not confirmed as Arthur that Charlotte knows he is sick, if you go back to her as John she will say something along the lines that she knew he didn't have much longer to live. Mickey is another potential character to discover thar Arthur is dying.

On multiple occasions, store owners and station clerks will ask if Arthur is okay and he will outright deny being sick to most of them. I believe he is honest to a few of the Valentine shop keeps however, specifically the general store owner.

There might be a few I missed but the bottom line is that Arthur didn't really want most people, especially people in his gang to know he was sick. So he kept working. The people he did tell, with the exception of Agent Milton and the Valentine general store owner, are people that are either wise enough or kind enough to understand. The Downes family learn it by proxy.



@potato1674

@@Yemre_____ Y'know he possibly did
Because only 1/10 people that have TB actually have it visible and die from it
Most of them just have it and it breaks out when their immunesystem is to weak, or they can live up to 10 years with it if they care for themselves a lot.

Also in the last stand off when you kill Micah he coughs twice I believe
He coulde've possibly had it and we wouldn't know

Interesting to think about
But sry for the essay



All comments from YouTube:

@BabyBunny-rd5pl

The scene riding back to Shady Bell while this song was playing was one of the most iconic Rockstar moments ever.

@Neobahamutfr36

I almost felt Arthur worrying for his friends so much he was ready to exhaust his horse to death.

@julienviscloakeddemon_8701

Don't get me wrong cause it is my favorite song but wouldn't it be better if you heard this song when you are riding back to camp in the mission Red Dead Redemption

@BabyBunny-rd5pl

@@julienviscloakeddemon_8701 Yeah, maybe.

@LAST_STAND_FAN

I missed this song on my first play through because I didn't want to steal a horse and walked all the way back.

@BabyBunny-rd5pl

@@LAST_STAND_FAN Oh my gosh haha

169 More Replies...

@SlySamurai-wr3yl

I wish we never had to rescue Micah from that damn jail in strawberry

@kerryc

Or could at least kick his ass a few times after we did... I felt so cheated not being able to punch him after taunting him & making him all "het up."

@nunziopuzo9210

The game tries to trick you with this mission by making him seem not that bad.

@deffonotdio6751

Fun fact, if you wait as long as possible to free him you learn that either someone else visited him or there's a mistake, Dutch mentions that micha told him about the next base location before Arthur and Charles changed it to the one closer to the lake

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