In 2006, Arthur's song "In the Sun" was covered by Michael Stipe (of R.E.M.) and Coldplay singer Chris Martin. Released for a Hurricane Katrina Relief program, the EP includes six versions of the cover, one of which has Arthur himself singing with Stipe.
Arthur established his own record label, Lonely Astronaut Records, in 2006, and released two studio albums, Let's Just Be (2007) and Temporary People (2008) with backing band The Lonely Astronauts. Arthur subsequently returned to performing and recording as a solo artist, releasing The Graduation Ceremony in 2011 and the double album, Redemption City in 2012.
Arthur is also an acclaimed painter and designer. His artwork has graced the sleeves of his entire discography; the sleeve design for his 1999 album entitled Vacancy was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.
Shadows of Lies
Joseph Arthur Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wishing I could join you on the other side
When you shake, I wonder what are you dreaming
In the dead of night, there's no place I can hide
With wide-open eyes in the dark
Shadows of lies on my heart
My memories play movies in my mind
As sorrow sings for my child in Ohio
The nighttime brings every demon it can find
With wide-open eyes in the dark
Shadows of lies on my heart
And when you're dreaming
I'm running through your veins
And when I am dreaming
You're running through my veins
Lying next to you at night when you're sleeping
Wishing I could join you on the other side
When you shake, I wonder what are you dreaming
In the dead of night, there's no place I can hide
With wide-open eyes in the dark
Shadows of lies on my heart
On my heart
On my heart
On my heart
The song “Shadows of Lies” by Joseph Arthur is a hauntingly beautiful, introspective piece that explores the inner turmoil that the singer is experiencing while lying next to their significant other at night. The singer wishes they could join the other person on the other side, perhaps indicating a desire for escape from the emotional turmoil they are experiencing in their mind. The singer contemplates what the other person is dreaming about while they shake in their sleep. The nighttime brings every demon that it can find, highlighting the darkness that is lurking within the singer's mind. The moon, like a bleeding wound, pierces through the window and seems to reflect the emotional wounds that the singer may be feeling.
The repetition of the line 'with wide-open eyes in the dark' creates a sense of restlessness and anxiety. The shadows of lies that are on the singer's heart highlight the internal conflict that the singer is going through. It could indicate that the singer is struggling with internal dishonesty, or perhaps they feel that they have been lied to or betrayed. However, the use of a shadow could indicate that the lies are not necessarily real, but rather, perceived by the singer.
The line “and when you're dreaming, I'm running through your veins, and when I am dreaming, you're running through my veins” could indicate a deep connection between the singer and the person they are lying next to. The connection could be so intense that they are essentially becoming a part of each other.
Line by Line Meaning
Lying next to you at night when you're sleeping
While laying beside you, my thoughts are consumed with longing to join you on the other side
Wishing I could join you on the other side
I yearn to leave this world and its troubles to be with you
When you shake, I wonder what are you dreaming
When your body convulses during sleep, I'm haunted by thoughts of what you might be experiencing
In the dead of night, there's no place I can hide
During the quietest moments, my anxieties and fears have nowhere to go
With wide-open eyes in the dark
Even with alert vision, the obscurity of the night brings forth illusions
Shadows of lies on my heart
My subconscious has a struggle distinguishing truth from untruth and the falsehoods continue to affect me
The moon, it bleeds through winter's window freezing
The moonlight shines through my cold window, evoking sadness and nostalgia
My memories play movies in my mind
The recollections of past experiences replay in my mental cinema
As sorrow sings for my child in Ohio
My melancholy is intensified with thoughts of my dear offspring who are far away
The nighttime brings every demon it can find
The darkness exalts my fears and troubling thoughts beyond my control
And when you're dreaming
When you're in slumber, distant from the physical world
I'm running through your veins
As I'm occupying your thoughts, you are consuming me internally
And when I am dreaming
As I experience my dreams, delving into my own world
You're running through my veins
Your existence and influence pervades every iota of my being
On my heart
This emotional hardship clings to me closely, with an iron grip
On my heart
The sorrow and pain I experience is not only temporary but an integral part of who I am
On my heart
This burden I carry is closely associated with the core of my existence
Contributed by Sarah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.