After extensive touring and a bit of schooling, the band got back together with Chris Zane (Les Savy Fav, The Walkmen, Passion Pit, White Rabbits) to record their first full-length album, TECHNICOLOR HEALTH, which arrives March 24 from Gigantic Music. The members of Harlem Shakes have been obsessed with pop music their whole lives, and they have great faith in its power to make people feel a little better about things, and to say something vital and, inshallah, maybe even enduring.
- Band's Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/harlemshakes)
2009
Sunlight
Harlem Shakes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sold it off online
And now I duck my older brothers
'neath a longleaf pine
Well I did what I thought I was supposed to do
All I sang so close to true
Now they wanna know what really means the most to you
Means the most to you
Sunlight, sunlight baby
We just let go of the night now slowly
We won't dance, we won't sing, we won't talk
We just gonna watch how it bends
I had a coat of many colors
Sold it off in time
Now I'm just a laymen pagan
In a young man's grind
Well I did what I thought I was supposed to do
All I sang so close to true
Now I wanna be the one that means the most to you
Means the most to you
Long live sunday seekers
Slack-jawed by the speakers
Long live pro-am pagans, tonight
Sunlight, sunlight baby
We just let go of the night now slowly
We won't dance, we won't sing, we won't talk
We just gonna watch how it bends
The lyrics to Harlem Shakes's song "Sunlight" capture a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler way of life. The first verse recounts selling off a prized possession, a coat of many colors, likely a metaphor for losing one's innocence or purity. The singer is now hiding from their older brothers, perhaps symbolizing the weight of familial expectations or societal pressures.
The chorus speaks to a desire to let go of the darkness and embrace the light. The use of the word "baby" adds a sense of comfort and protection, as if the sunlight will chase away any worries or fears. The following lines suggest a kind of surrender, with a choice not to dance, sing, or talk, but simply observe how things unfold.
The second verse reflects on coming of age and the realization that the path expected of us is not always aligned with our true desires. The singer identifies as a "laymen pagan," again indicating a sense of rebellion or non-conformity. The repetition of the line "All I sang so close to true" underscores the theme of authenticity and staying true to oneself. The final line "Now I wanna be the one that means the most to you" speaks to a universal desire for connection and recognition.
Overall, the song's lyrics evoke a sense of wistfulness and the tension between fitting in and standing out. The chorus offers a sense of hope that by embracing the light, we can find a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
I had a coat of many colors
I had a colorful and unique possession
Sold it off online
I sold it on the internet
And now I duck my older brothers
I avoid confrontation with my older brothers
'neath a longleaf pine
I stand under a type of tree called a longleaf pine
Well I did what I thought I was supposed to do
I did what I believed was expected of me
All I sang so close to true
All I sang was very honest and authentic
Now they wanna know what really means the most to you
Now they want to know what is most important to you
Means the most to you
Is most important to you
Sunlight, sunlight baby
A joyful exclamation relating to sunlight
We just let go of the night now slowly
We are moving on from nighttime gradually
We won't dance, we won't sing, we won't talk
We will only observe our surroundings
We just gonna watch how it bends
We are going to focus on how things change and move
Now I'm just a laymen pagan
Now I am just an ordinary person leading an unconventional life
In a young man's grind
In the difficult and competitive world of young people
Now I wanna be the one that means the most to you
Now I want to be the person who is most important to you
Long live sunday seekers
May people who search for meaning on Sundays continue to thrive
Slack-jawed by the speakers
A state of feeling awed or overwhelmed by speakers
Long live pro-am pagans, tonight
May amateur pagans who are passionate about what they believe in thrive tonight
Contributed by Anna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Hollowclips
this is a really really good and original band, hope they get more exposure so everyone can see how great they are.... KEEP ROCKIN HARLEM SHAKES!!!!
Jono Marsay
Still listening 🙌 wish it was on spotify
Fish Stew
It is :)
Michael Waddington
This song makes me feel all alone and in the happiest music video of all time. Go at it. wonderful song.
iloveyellowducks
It upsets me that NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THIS SONG. Such a good song.
Jackson Schroeder
except for the homies here
Amanda LeBrun
Having to sort through a million harlem shake amateur videos to get to this band's songs makes me weep for humanity
Antoinette Cota
I can hear this song a million times a day. Makes me so happy haha ^-^
lidstrom82
Right on...that's a sign of a good song; it evokes a wide range of meanings to lots of people.
starfirecold
This was one of the first songs on my playlist when I ran my first half-marathon. The rising sun darting through tall downtown buildings as I ran through a waking city... it just seemed appropriate.