Taylor has toured Europe with the supergroup D.U.P. with fellow band members Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Candy Dulfer (Prince), Mudbone Cooper (Parliment-Funkadelic) and Jimmy Cliff. If you can imagine the love child of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Dusty Springfield then you are beginning to get a feel for Taylor's mixture of fiery guitar playing, sultry vocals and 100% pure soul. But unlike many other young phenoms, she has quickly developed a resumé to back up the hype. Born and raised amidst the coal mines of Britain's Black Country, she picked up a guitar and got turned on to the blues as a very young teenager.
Dave Stewart first discovered Joanne when he saw her play at the tender age of 16. He describes his reaction as follows. 'I have played with all sorts of blues musicians all over the world, such as R.L. Burnside and Jesse-Mae Hemphill. I heard something I thought I would never hear, a British white girl playing blues guitar so deep and passionately it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end! Not only was I in total shock but it took me a good few minutes to ask her how long she had been playing like that. "A few years," she replied. "How old are you now?" "Sixteen." I woke up a few seconds later on the floor.'
Taylor has toured the U.K. with her own band since she was 14, headlining top clubs such as Ronnie Scott's and the Marquee; she has also performed at several of the top European festivals, playing alongside many of her heroes like B.B. King. It is a safe bet that Taylor is the only teenage girl invited to sit in on one of Bill Wymans recording sessions.
Her own writing has led her to something beyond the blues, a soulful mix of roots and pop influences sung in a haunting smoky voice. Taylor has written with Bruce McCabe (Jonny Lang) and grammy winning songwriter/producer Kevin Bowe (Jonny Lang, Etta James, Paul Westerberg).
Shiver & Sigh
Joanne Shaw Taylor Lyrics
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Every time you pass me by
You′re the chill running down my spine
But I don't wanna know what I′m missing
I'm aching deep
You got me shaking like a leaf on a tree
You got me right where I said I'd never be
And it′s all I can do to keep my distance
You′re the one I can't deny
Yeah, the sun keeps shining on the outside
But it′s raining in my mind
I'm too far gone to cry
So I just shut my eyes
Shiver & sigh
Now I see
There′s a difference in between
What I want and what I need
But I don't care, I can't stop myself from falling
You′re the one I can′t hide from on the inside
You're the one I can′t deny
Yeah, the sun keeps shining on the outside
But it's raining in my mind
I′m too far gone to cry
So I just shut my eyes
Shiver & sigh
Every time I walk away
You drag me back into the flame
You're the one I can′t hide from on the inside
You're the one I can't deny
Yeah, the sun keeps shining on the outside
But it′s raining in my mind
You′re the one I can't hide from on the inside
I′m too far gone to cry
So I just shut my eyes
Shiver & sigh
Shiver & sigh
In "Shiver & Sigh," Joanne Shaw Taylor sings about the power that someone holds over her. Every time this person passes her by, she shivers and sighs, feeling a chill run down her spine. Despite this, she doesn't want to know what she's missing because she's already too deep in her feelings. She's aching and shaking, far beyond the point of crying. She tries to keep her distance but finds herself unable to escape the person's hold on her.
The chorus repeats the idea that this person is the one Joanne can't hide from on the inside, and while the sun shines on the outside, it rains in her mind. She sees a difference between what she wants and what she needs, but it doesn't matter because she can't stop herself from falling for this person. Every time she tries to walk away, she gets dragged back into the flame, unable to resist the pull. The song ends with the refrain of "Shiver & Sigh," encapsulating the emotional rollercoaster Joanne experiences when it comes to this person.
Line by Line Meaning
I shiver & sigh
I feel a combination of anxiety and delight when I see you
Every time you pass me by
Whenever you walk near me
You′re the chill running down my spine
You give me a shiver of excitement
But I don't wanna know what I′m missing
I am aware that indulging in you will not be good for me
I'm aching deep
I am feeling a deep longing for you
You got me shaking like a leaf on a tree
You make me feel incredibly nervous and vulnerable
You got me right where I said I'd never be
You have me in a position that I promised myself I would never be in
And it′s all I can do to keep my distance
Despite my inner conflict, I am trying my best to keep my distance from you
You′re the one I can't hide from on the inside
Even when I try to ignore or suppress my feelings, I am still affected by you
You′re the one I can't deny
I am unable to deny the attraction I feel towards you
Yeah, the sun keeps shining on the outside
Despite my internal struggle, everything else in my life seems normal
But it′s raining in my mind
My thoughts and emotions about you are conflicted and tumultuous
I'm too far gone to cry
I am too far gone down this path to turn back or escape my feelings
So I just shut my eyes
I am trying to avoid confronting my feelings by closing myself off
Now I see
I have come to a realization
There′s a difference in between
There is a distinction between
What I want and what I need
What I desire and what I require
But I don't care, I can't stop myself from falling
Despite knowing the difference, I am unable to stop myself from continuing to fall for you
Every time I walk away
Whenever I try to distance myself
You drag me back into the flame
You pull me back into your allure and passion
Writer(s): Kevin Bowe, Joanne Shaw Taylor
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.