* "Soft Shell" by Motherlode
… Read Full Bio ↴Songs sampled in "Changeling"
* "Soft Shell" by Motherlode
* "Klondyke Netti" by Embryo
* "Invisible Limits" by Tangerine Dream
* "Imagination Flight" by the Chaffey College Jazz Ensemble
* "Touching Souls" and "Inner Mood I" by Kay Gardner
* "The Man Who Couldn't Cry" by Loudon Wainwright III
* "Here Comes the Meterman" by The Meters
Changeling
DJ Shadow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He cried, he cried, an' he cried, and he cried
Rained 40 nights
Played lots of chess
And he made lots of friends
He cried, he cried, an' he cried, and he cried
And he made lots of friends
And he wept every time it would rain
Latitude... Zero...
The lyrics to DJ Shadow's song Changeling are abstract and open to interpretation, but one possible reading is that they reflect the emotional turmoil and search for direction that can come with personal growth and change. The repeated refrain "Latitude... Zero..." suggests a desire to reset and find a new starting point, while the lines "Through the veil of the whirlwind, life's but a dream" evoke the disorienting feeling of being caught up in a tumultuous transformation. The mention of chess and making friends could represent attempts to find structure and support during this process, while the image of crying and weeping linked to rain might suggest a release of pent-up emotions or a connection to the natural elements.
Overall, the lyrics can be seen as capturing the confusion and disorientation that comes with significant life changes, as well as the potential for growth and new beginnings.
Line by Line Meaning
He cried, he cried, an' he cried, and he cried
The person has been crying excessively.
Rained 40 nights
It rained heavily for an extended period of time.
Played lots of chess
The person played a lot of chess, possibly trying to distract themselves from their sadness.
And he made lots of friends
Despite being so upset, the person was still able to form many friendships.
He cried, he cried, an' he cried, and he cried
The person continued to cry uncontrollably.
And he made lots of friends
Reiterating the fact that the person was able to form many friendships.
And he wept every time it would rain
The person would cry every time it rained, possibly triggered by some past event associated with rain.
Well once it rained...
This line leads into the next verse and indicates that the rain may have played an important role in the person's life.
Latitude... Zero...
This line seems to be a non-sequitur and doesn't have an obvious meaning by itself.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRISTOPH FRANKE, EDGAR WILLMAR FROESE, HANS PETER BAUMANN, JOSH PAUL DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind