Shadow Man
David Bowie Lyrics
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Who believes at where he is
And there`s a girl
Up ahead who says she knows
And the street overflows
With the folk who understand
But for the guy who can`t be seen
And the Shadow Man is close at hand
Take a turn and see his smile
Made of nothing but loneliness
Just take a walk and be a friend
To the Shadow Man
You can call him Joe, you can call him Sam
You should call and see who answers
For he promises to come running, guided by the truth
But the Shadow Man is really you
Look in his eyes and see your reflection
Look to the stars and see his eyes
He`ll show you tomorrow, he`ll show you the sorrows
Of what you did today
You can call him foe, you can call him friend
You should call and see who answers
For he knows your eyes are drawn to the road ahead
And the Shadow Man is waiting round the bend
Oh, the Shadow Man
Ohooooo oooo
Shadow man, shadow man
It`s really you, it`s really you, it`s really you
He`s the shadow man
Oh yeah
Shadow man
The lyrics of David Bowie's "Shadow Man" describe a mysterious individual who is unseen but ever-present, known as the Shadow Man. While some people on the street claim to understand him, there are others who cannot even see him. The singer encourages listeners to befriend the Shadow Man, who promises to come running when called upon. However, it is later revealed that the Shadow Man is actually a reflection of the listener themselves, symbolizing their own fears, doubts, and insecurities.
The song can be interpreted as a meditation on the nature of identity and the role that one's emotions and inner demons play in shaping their persona. The Shadow Man can be seen as a symbol of the darker aspect of one's self, ever-present but often ignored or repressed. The singer implies that by confronting and acknowledging this aspect of themselves, listeners can gain a greater understanding of who they are and how their actions impact the world around them.
Overall, "Shadow Man" is a deeply introspective and reflective song that urges listeners to acknowledge and confront the less appealing aspects of their own personalities. It is a powerful reminder that one's identity is shaped not just by their accomplishments but by their fears, regrets, and vulnerabilities as well.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a man back a-ways
There's someone in the past who did not accept where he was in life
Who believes at where he is
That person thinks he knows his place in life
And there's a girl up ahead who says she knows
There's a person in the future who thinks she already figured it all out
And the street overflows with the folk who understand
There are people who feel comfortable with their place in life
But for the guy who can't be seen, he's the Shadow Man
For the person who feels lost or overlooked, he is the Shadow Man
And the Shadow Man is close at hand
Everyone has a Shadow Man inside them
Take a turn and see his smile
If you embrace your Shadow Man, you will feel good about yourself
Made of nothing but loneliness
The feeling of loneliness is what creates the Shadow Man
Just take a walk and be a friend to the Shadow Man
By accepting your Shadow Man, you will become a better person
You can call him Joe, you can call him Sam
You can call your Shadow Man by any name you want
You should call and see who answers
You should try to talk to your Shadow Man
For he promises to come running, guided by the truth
By facing your Shadow Man, you will come to a realization of the truth
But the Shadow Man is really you
Your Shadow Man is a part of you and cannot be separated from you
Look in his eyes and see your reflection
The Shadow Man is a reflection of yourself
Look to the stars and see his eyes
When you are lost, your Shadow Man will be your guiding light
He'll show you tomorrow, he'll show you the sorrows of what you did today
Your Shadow Man will help you learn from your mistakes and grow as a person
You can call him foe, you can call him friend
Sometimes, the Shadow Man can appear as an enemy or a friend, depending on how you approach him
You should call and see who answers
You should attempt to communicate with your Shadow Man and understand him better
For he knows your eyes are drawn to the road ahead
Your Shadow Man understands what motivates you and what you hope to achieve
And the Shadow Man is waiting round the bend
Your Shadow Man will always be there for you, wherever you may go
Oh, the Shadow Man
The Shadow Man is a central figure of the song
It's really you, it's really you, it's really you
The Shadow Man is a part of you, and by accepting him, you accept yourself
He's the shadow man, oh yeah, shadow man
The song title is reiterated at the end of the song
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARRY BONNER, DAVID BOWIE, ALAN GORDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dolaylitumlec
He is not dead, he is living in our hearts ⚡
@torresalex
Forever
@Joshua_Simpson_Piano
He is living on mars
@philoza1000
His 75th birthday tomorrow. Hope he's singing with the angels...
@astralandreid
He's waiting in the sky
@rebelrebel11
Forever and ever always !
@dkno5941
Bowie's vocals are so amazing in this hauntingly beautiful song. It's a bittersweet time of the year for his fans. I love him and will miss him always. ❤
@leatherscent7831
Always...
@coreykretsinger
Made me want to cry. Rest in peace, David. :(
@waynenorthspacebuoy3529
Totally ... I play Bowie covers on YT purely to stay in touch with his spirit ... its spiritual.