Shake It Out
Florence %2B the Machine Lyrics

Regrets collect like old friends
Memories of past mistakes and failures can haunt you and seem to constantly resurface.

Here to relive your darkest moments
These experiences can also bring back feelings of pain and sadness.

I can see no way, I can see no way
It can be hard to see a way out of this cycle of negativity.

And all of the ghouls come out to play
Negative thoughts and emotions seem to grow and take over, like monsters lurking in the dark.

And every demon wants his pound of flesh
These negative forces seem to demand attention and extract a toll on a person's well-being.

But I like to keep some things to myself
Despite these struggles, the persona guards some aspects of their inner self and emotions.

I like to keep my issues drawn
The persona is not immediately open to revealing their problems and secrets to others.

It's always darkest before the dawn
The persona is holding onto hope that things will improve, and that better times lie ahead.

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
The persona acknowledges having made mistakes in the past, and not always seeing things clearly.

I can never leave the past behind
These past experiences continue to impact the persona's present and future.

I'm always dragging that horse around
The feeling of carrying a heavy burden or responsibility from past events is a constant presence.

All of his questions, such a mournful sound
The weight of the past can cause the persona to question themselves and their choices, leading to sadness and regret.

Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
The persona intends to finally let go of the past, and put it to rest once and for all.

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh woaaah!
The persona is calling for a release and a fresh start, symbolized by shaking off the negative feelings and energy.

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
Negative feelings can be tough to shake, like a demon or heavy burden weighing a person down.

So shake him off, ooh woah!
The persona urges themselves (and the listener) to let go of these feelings and move forward with positivity.

And given half the chance would I take any of it back
Despite the desire to move on, the persona still can't help but wonder if they would have taken any different actions in the past.

It's a fine romance but its left me so undone
Past relationships (romantic or otherwise) have caused emotional damage and left the persona feeling incomplete or unresolved.

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
When dealing with difficult and complex issues, there often seem to be no easy answers or solutions.

So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope
The persona is turning to coping mechanisms (drinking) to try and deal with or escape from their problems.

And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
Despite the pain and difficulty, the persona is still willing to endure and hold onto hope for a brighter future.

It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
Moving forward may feel risky or uncertain, like taking a shot in the dark with potentially dangerous consequences.

Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Despite initially seeking positivity and happiness, the persona finds their negative feelings and memories still lurking inside.

Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me, ohh
The persona is determined to face these feelings head-on and not let them control or define them any longer.