Meece often incorporates classical piano works into his songs. "This Time" (from LEARNING TO TRUST) borrows its opening section, bridge and ending tag from Chopin's "Revolutionary Etude" (Op. 10, No. 12) in C minor. Similarly, the introductory melody for "You Can Go" (from the album 7) is taken from Bach's Two-Part Invention No. 13 in A Minor (BWV 784) and "Falling Down" (from COUNT THE COST) has its basis in a sonata by Mozart.
His song "We Are the Reason" has been recorded by over 200 other artists and CHRONOLOGY's "Seventy-Times-Seven" peaked at No. 77 in Australia's Top 100 chart. David worked with Canadian Juno Award winner Gino Vannelli for his albums CHRONOLOGY and CANDLE IN THE RAIN.
David and his wife currently live in Franklin, Tennessee.
Living in the Shadows
David Meece Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Copyright 1993 Meece Music (admin by) WORD Music & Ariose Music
Hey little boy are you living in the shadows
Hey little boy are you living in the shadows
Can you feel them clutch
Oh, oh - it′s an icy touch
Oh, oh - and it costs so much
Hey little boy are you driven by the shadows
Hey little boy are you driven by the shadows
Can you feel them press
Oh, oh - in their eagerness
Oh, oh - such a dark caress
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Changing shape but never taking form
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Promised life but never being born
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Covered up but never ever warm
Oh, oh - I've been there before
I′ve been there before
Hey little girl are you cozy in the shadows
Far from the sun is it rosy in the shadows
Can't you hear the kiss
Oh, oh - coming with a kiss
Oh, oh - on those hungry lips
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Hey little girl are you bound to your shadows
Why don't you run, will you drown with your shadows
Can′t you feel their weight
Oh, oh - it′s as light as hate
Oh, oh - and as firm as fate
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Changing shape but never taking form
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Promised life but never being born
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Covered up but never ever warm
Oh, oh - I've been there before
I′ve been there before
"Living in the Shadows" by David Meece is talking about the feeling of living in someone else's shadow or living a life that is not truly one's own. It addresses the issue of feeling trapped or controlled by something unseen, and it is urging the listener, who is referred to as a little boy or girl, to confront the shadows that are holding them back.
The first verse describes the feeling of being restricted by the shadows, which are personified as something that can "clutch" and have "an icy touch." It costs a lot to live in the shadows, and the cost is not necessarily monetary, but rather psychological or emotional. The shadows are controlling the little boy, and he is driven by them, as described in the second verse. The shadows press on him and caress him darkly, and he is living his life in their influence.
The chorus repeats the phrase "living in the shadows" and goes on to list the issues that come with that: "changing shape but never taking form," "promised life but never being born," and "covered up but never ever warm." The singer has been in this situation before, and he is urging the little boy or girl to escape the shadows before it is too late.
Overall, "Living in the Shadows" is a song about breaking free from the negative influences that can surround an individual and making the choice to live one's life on their own terms, rather than living in somebody else's shadow.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey little boy are you living in the shadows
Are you afraid to be in the spotlight?
Can you feel them clutch
Oh, oh - it′s an icy touch
Oh, oh - and it costs so much
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Do you feel like your fears and insecurities are holding you back and it feels like a burden impacting your life in a negative way?
Hey little boy are you driven by the shadows
Are your fears and insecurities driving your actions and decisions?
Can you feel them press
Oh, oh - in their eagerness
Oh, oh - such a dark caress
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Do you feel like your fears and insecurities are pushing you towards a certain direction, but that direction is unhealthy and negative?
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Changing shape but never taking form
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Promised life but never being born
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Covered up but never ever warm
Oh, oh - I've been there before
I′ve been there before
Living in the shadows is being trapped in a cycle of fear and insecurity, where one feels stuck and unable to move forward towards a better life. It's a lonely and cold place that one can get lost in, but it is possible to break free and move on from it.
Hey little girl are you cozy in the shadows
Far from the sun is it rosy in the shadows
Are you comfortable living in the shadows, far away from living a full and happy life under the sun? Do you find a sense of security living in the shadows?
Can't you hear the kiss
Oh, oh - coming with a kiss
Oh, oh - on those hungry lips
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Do you feel the temptation to live a life outside of the shadows, to experience passion and embrace love, but at the same time are you afraid of doing so?
Hey little girl are you bound to your shadows
Why don't you run, will you drown with your shadows
Are you tied to your fears and insecurities, and if so, do you feel like they will eventually consume you?
Can′t you feel their weight
Oh, oh - it′s as light as hate
Oh, oh - and as firm as fate
Oh, oh - living in the shadows
Do you feel like your fears and insecurities weigh heavily on you and will never go away? They may seem suffocating and inescapable, but it is possible to overcome them.
Writer(s): DAVID MEECE (1145), MIKE HUDSON (11007)
Contributed by Emily C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.