Me and My Shadow
Dukes of Dixieland Lyrics
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Standing on the corner feeling blue
Sweethearts out for fun
Pass me one by one
Guess I'll wind up like I always do
With only
Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it's twelve o'clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
For nobody's there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue
When the sun sets on the far horizon
And the parlor lamps begin to glow
Jim and Jack and John
Put their slippers on
They're all set but we'restill on the go
So lonely
Me and my shadow
Strolling down the avenue
Me and my shadow
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
And when it's twelve o'clock
We climb the stair
We never knock
For nobody's there
Just me and my shadow
All alone and feeling blue.
The Dukes of Dixieland's song "Me and My Shadow" is a classic piece that consists of a sad and lonely character who longs for companionship. As the shades of night start to fall, the singer finds himself in the streets feeling lonesome. Even as sweethearts pass by him to have some fun, he remains utterly isolated, and as the night progresses, it becomes more depressing. The lyrics "Guess I'll wind up like I always do/With only me and my shadow strolling down the avenue" underline the main theme of the song: the loneliness that the character is experiencing.
As the night goes deeper, he finds solace in his shadow, his only constant companion. The phrase "Not a soul to tell our troubles to" highlights the idea that he has no one else but his shadow to confide in. This line is significant as it emphasizes that he keeps his feelings to himself and that no one else may understand him, or perhaps he has given up confiding in others.
The song ends with the lines, "Just me and my shadow all alone and feeling blue," which show that despite a long night spent walking with his shadow, he remains blue - still lonely and isolated, with no one to share his troubles with. In this song, the Dukes of Dixieland artistically highlight the heartrending experience of loneliness and the negative impact it can have on an individual.
Line by Line Meaning
Shades of night are falling and I'm lonely
As night falls, I am overcome with a sense of isolation and sadness.
Standing on the corner feeling blue
I am standing here, feeling down and despondent.
Sweethearts out for fun
Couples are out enjoying themselves.
Pass me one by one
They pass by me, one at a time.
Guess I'll wind up like I always do
I am resigned to ending up alone, just like I always have.
With only Me and my shadow
I am left with only my own company.
Strolling down the avenue
Walking along the street aimlessly.
Not a soul to tell our troubles to
There is no one to confide in about our problems.
And when it's twelve o'clock
At midnight.
We climb the stair
We go up the stairs to bed.
We never knock
We don't bother to knock on the door, because there is nobody there to answer it.
For nobody's there
No one is present.
Just me and my shadow
Only my reflection accompanies me.
All alone and feeling blue
I am completely alone, and filled with sadness.
When the sun sets on the far horizon
As the sun disappears on the horizon in the distance.
And the parlor lamps begin to glow
The lamps in the living room start to illuminate.
Jim and Jack and John
The names of some other people.
Put their slippers on
They change into more comfortable footwear.
They're all set but we're still on the go
They are ready to settle down, while we continue to wander aimlessly.
So lonely
I feel incredibly isolated and alone.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Al Jolson, Billy Rose, Dave Dreyer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind