My Shadow
Keb Mo Lyrics


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We used to be close
Always together
We loved the sunshine
We were real good friends
Then came you
A beautiful distraction
And a wonderful relationship
Came to an end
Whatever you did
The damage is done
You did something
That nothing and no one else could do

It used to be me
And my shadow
But now my shadow
Is following you
Following you

It's a mystery
It don't make sense
How can a shadow
Be taken away
But I must admit
If I were my shadow
Nothin' in this world
Could make me stay
Whatever you did
The deed is done
He did something
I didn't have the nerve to do

It used to be me
And my shadow
But now, my shadow
Is following you, running after you

I'm out in the sunshine
Feeling all alone
And I hope my shadow
Will soon come home

Whatever you did
The deed is done
He did something
I didn't have the nerve to do

It used to be me
Me and my shadow
But now, my shadow, oh yeah

It used to be me
And my shadow
But now, my shadow
Is following you, is following you
Yeah yeah following
Oh following you




Oh my my my my my my my
My shadow

Overall Meaning

The song "My Shadow" by Keb Mo explores the complex emotions of someone who has lost a close friend or companion. The lyrics describe a time when the singer used to be close with his shadow, but then someone new came into his life and everything changed. This person was a "beautiful distraction" and they had a wonderful relationship, but eventually, this relationship came to an end. Whatever this person did, it caused irreparable damage to their bond, and now the singer feels like his shadow is following this person instead of him.


The singer reflects on the mystery of how a shadow can be taken away and how he wishes his shadow would come back to him. He also admits that if he were his shadow, nothing in this world could make him stay with this other person. The song suggests that the relationship between the two was so close that the damage inflicted by this person was equivalent to the relationship ending between two companions.


One interpretation of the song is that the singer is actually singing about himself in the third person. He is speaking to himself as if he were his own shadow, and he is reflecting on the fact that he let this relationship come to an end. The line "He did something I didn't have the nerve to do" suggests that he is blaming himself for not being brave enough to stand up for the relationship before it was too late.


Line by Line Meaning

We used to be close
We were once very close


Always together
We used to spend a lot of time together


We loved the sunshine
We enjoyed good times and happy moments together


We were real good friends
We were very good friends


Then came you
Then you came into the picture


A beautiful distraction
You were an attractive and refreshing interruption to our relationship


And a wonderful relationship
And a new, wonderful relationship was formed


Came to an end
The relationship eventually ended


Whatever you did
Regardless of what happened


The damage is done
The harm has been done and cannot be undone


You did something
You did something that caused a change


That nothing and no one else could do
That could not have been done by anything or anyone else


It used to be me
I was once the important one in the relationship


And my shadow
And my loyal companion


But now my shadow
But now my companion


Is following you
Is now following you instead of me


It's a mystery
It's something I cannot understand


It don't make sense
It does not logically add up


How can a shadow
How can my companion


Be taken away
Be transferred to you instead of me


But I must admit
I will confess


If I were my shadow
If I were in my companion's position


Nothin' in this world
There is nothing in the world


Could make me stay
That could make me stay with someone who doesn't want me


He did something
My companion did something that I couldn't


I didn't have the nerve to do
Something that I was too afraid to do


I'm out in the sunshine
I am out there by myself


Feeling all alone
Feeling lonely


And I hope my shadow
And I hope my companion


Will soon come home
Returns to me soon


My shadow
My loyal companion


Is following you, is following you
Is now following you instead of me


Yeah yeah following
Yes, it is following you


Oh following you
It is still following you


Oh my my my my my my my
Used to express confusion and disbelief


My shadow
My companion




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KEVIN R. MOORE, LEON WARE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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