Helen fell in love with writing music as a child, enthralled by how many worlds were contained in sound, how profoundly it spoke of the feelings there are no words for. What began as a hobby became a necessity, a passion and an alchemic path. Inspired in her teens by the unlikely charms of old-school video game soundtracks, her first musical endeavours on the internet were soundtracks for independent video games and arrangements of existing video game themes, which she unleashed to the online world under her alias 'Destiny'.
In 2005 she won the categories of 'Best Unsigned Artist' and 'Best Song By Unsigned Artist' at Radio Rivendell's Fantasy Awards with her haunting orchestral work The Mermaid, based on Jan Siegel's book Prospero's Children - the song was later released by Waerloga Records on the Radio Rivendell Compilation CD.
Shine
Helen Trevillion Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why do all my dreams feel so
So worthless in these hands?
I only want to shine
Bright enough to be
Be remembered tomorrow
And I feel this
Here in all of this confusion
I wish that I could teach my soul
How to smile
The skies are slow today
Funny how my time slips away
Away and so empty now
It's easier to hide
My scars behind a veil of nothing
Deep inside
And I, oh I
Wonder how I'll ever find a light
To shine in all of this confusion
Oh I wish I knew where I went wrong
And lost my way
I only want to shine
Alive inside myself
More than just a skin
Wanna feel the warmth within
I only want to shine
Brighter than this grey world
More than just a skin
Wanna feel the warmth within
When all my days seem torn
Remind myself that I am in my hands
And only I can fix me now
I only want to shine
Alive inside myself
More than just a skin
Wanna feel the warmth within
I only want to shine
Brighter than this grey world
More than just a skin
Wanna feel the warmth within
I only want to shine
I only want to shine
I only want to shine
The lyrics of "Shine" by Helen Trevillion convey a deep longing for inner light and purpose amidst hard times. The first verse, "Blue shadows on the sun, why do all my dreams feel so worthless in these hands?" juxtaposes two incongruous elements, the color blue (often associated with sadness or emptiness) and the sun (a symbol of brightness and hope), creating a sense of paradox and confusion that echoes throughout the song. The singer's dreams feel meaningless and worthless, hinting at a sense of futility and insignificance that is met with a longing to shine, to be remembered and make a lasting impact. The second verse continues to explore the singer's emotional turmoil, using the metaphor of scars hidden behind a veil of nothing to convey a sense of numbness and detachment from the world. The chorus, "I only want to shine, brighter than this grey world, more than just a skin" presents a clear desire to break free from this emotional void and become something more, to find warmth and light within themselves.
The bridge of the song intensifies this desire for change, with the singer acknowledging their own agency in making things better: "When all my days seem torn, remind myself that I am in my hands and only I can fix me now." This moment brings a sense of empowerment and responsibility, suggesting that while it may be hard to find inner light, it is ultimately up to the individual to make themselves shine. Overall, the lyrics of "Shine" showcase a deep sense of yearning and vulnerability, but also a strength and determination to find hope in dark times.
Line by Line Meaning
Blue shadows on the sun
Even in the brightest moments, there are some dark aspects lurking around
Why do all my dreams feel so
Wondering why my aspirations seem so difficult to reach
So worthless in these hands?
Feeling inadequate to fulfill my own desires
I only want to shine
Yearning to stand out and excel
Bright enough to be
Radiant to the point of being noticed and remembered
Be remembered tomorrow
Wishing to leave a lasting impact on the world
And I feel this
Experiencing a profound emotion
Broken heart cry out again for mercy
Feeling intense heartache and searching for relief
Here in all of this confusion
Amidst all the chaos and uncertainty
I wish that I could teach my soul
Longing to find inner peace and contentment
How to smile
Hoping to find the ability to be happy and optimistic
The skies are slow today
The passage of time seems to be dragging on
Funny how my time slips away
Surprised by how quickly time seems to be passing despite its sluggishness
Away and so empty now
Feeling alone and unfulfilled
It's easier to hide
Finding it simpler to conceal my inner struggles
My scars behind a veil of nothing
Covering up my emotional wounds with a facade of detachment
Deep inside
In my innermost being
And I, oh I
Expressing inner turmoil
Wonder how I'll ever find a light
Questioning if I will ever find a way out of the darkness
To shine in all of this confusion
To be a beacon of hope in the midst of chaos and uncertainty
Oh I wish I knew where I went wrong
Regretting past mistakes and wishing to learn and grow from them
And lost my way
Feeling directionless and unsure of my path forward
Alive inside myself
Feeling vibrant and energized internally
More than just a skin
More than just a physical exterior, but a multi-faceted person
Wanna feel the warmth within
Desiring to feel a sense of comfort and happiness from within
Brighter than this grey world
Aiming to stand out and be a positive force in a world that can seem bleak
When all my days seem torn
During times when everything feels chaotic and unsettled
Remind myself that I am in my hands
This is my life, and it is up to me to take control of it
And only I can fix me now
Recognizing that it is up to me to make positive changes in my own life
I only want to shine
Reinforcing my desire to be exceptional and make a mark in the world
Contributed by Hunter D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.