SHANGHAI
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Lyrics
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Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, bye bye my life
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Born again overnight
Okay, let me my trace my steps
Pour a drink, let's recap the sequence
One minute, you're swigging on a green tea
Next minute, floating on a pillow in a den
From there it gets a little hazy
Like a camera out of focus, shaking
Slow motion in the club free-falling
Through my seat, hit the floor transforming
Undergoing complete metamorphous
From a moth caterpillar to a chrysalis
Spinning in a silken house like a spider spins a web
I'm a well known insect
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, bye bye my life
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Flying through the Yu garden to the People's Square
That's where you find your happiness
With a little too much Szechuan in the pot
Sending sensational content
Neck stuck from looking up
At the high rise buildings trying to caress
Enlightenment through an out of body experience
You're thriving in this environment
Come find me on almost every continent
Cold-blooded but I can't stand the Antarctic
Guess I've been born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
The lyrics of "Shanghai" by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Deaton Chris Anthony are a reflection of the transformation that the singer has undergone. He says goodbye to Shanghai, the place where he metamorphosed into a butterfly overnight. He emphasizes how the bright lights up high and dark thoughts in his mind had made him undergo a complete metamorphosis. He portrays this transformation as hazy, slow-motion, and transformative. He emphasizes how the city's grey smog and high-rise buildings had a significant impact on his life, and how, with a little too much Szechuan in the pot, he found his happiness.
The singer also reflects on his experience of flying through the Yu garden to the People's Square, where he found his enlightenment. He is thriving in that environment and can be found on almost every continent. He claims to be cold-blooded but cannot stand the Antarctic. These lyrics are a metaphorical representation of the love-hate relationship that he has with the world, and how he has learned to adapt to his surroundings and make the best of his experiences.
Overall, "Shanghai" is a song that highlights the change and transformation that happens to people when they are exposed to new experiences and environments. It emphasizes the impact of cities on the lives of people and how these cities become a part of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Bye bye Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Leaving behind the stress and struggles of Shanghai, embodying a new identity as a free, transformed being
Born again overnight
Transformation happening instantaneously and drastically
Bye bye Shanghai, bye bye my life
Saying goodbye to a past life that was consumed by the chaos of the city
Bright lights up high, dark thoughts in my mind
The glamour of the city conceals the inner turmoil of the mind
Bright lights up high, grey smog all the time
The beauty of the city only masks the pollution and gloom in the air
Flying through the Yu garden to the People's Square
Enjoying the sights of Shanghai that bring joy and enlightenment
That's where you find your happiness
True happiness can be found in the simple pleasures of life
With a little too much Szechuan in the pot
Excess can lead to a state of euphoria
Sending sensational content
Amazed and captivated by the sensory overload that the city provides
Neck stuck from looking up
The skyscrapers and lights leave a lasting impression
At the high rise buildings trying to caress
The desire to touch and feel the beauty of the city
Enlightenment through an out of body experience
Finding a deeper sense of awareness through transcending the physical body
You're thriving in this environment
Feeling alive and invigorated in the fast-paced city
Come find me on almost every continent
Having a newfound freedom and willingness to explore the world
Cold-blooded but I can't stand the Antarctic
Having adapted to a new life and not being able to return to the old
Guess I've been born again overnight
The complete transformation and rejuvenation of self
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Stuart Douglas Mackenzie, Ambrose Kenny-Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
L. Emenopee
SHANGHAI LYRICS, courtesy of GENIUS
[Chorus: Stu Mackenzie]
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, bye-bye, my life
Born again overnight
Bright light's up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright light's up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
[Verse 1: Ambrose Kenny-Smith]
Okay, let me trace my steps
Pour a drink, let's recap the sequence
One minute, you're swigging on a green tea
Next minute, floating on a pillow in a den
From there, it gets a little hazy
Like a camera out of focus shaking
Slow motion in the club free-falling
Through my seat, hit the floor transforming
Undergoing complete metamorphous
From a moth caterpillar to chrysalis
Spinning in a silken house, like a spider spins a web
I'm a well-known insect
[Chorus: Stu Mackenzie]
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, bye-bye, my life
Born again overnight
Bright light's up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright light's up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
[Verse 2: Ambrose Kenny-Smith]
Flying through the Yu Garden to the People's Square
That's where you find your happiness
With a little too much Szechuan in the pot
Sending sensational content
Neck stuck from looking up
At the high-rise buildings trying to caress
Enlightenment through an out-of-body experience
You're thriving in this environment
Come find me on almost every continent
Cold-blooded, but I can't stand the Antarctic
Guess I've been born again overnight
(Born again overnight)
[Outro: Stu Mackenzie]
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
“SHANGHAI” TRACK INFO
Produced ByStu Mackenzie
Written ByAmbrose Kenny-Smith & Stu Mackenzie
Release DateJune 11, 2021
Vocals By Ambrose Kenny-Smith & Stu Mackenzie
Mixed ByStu Mackenzie
Mastered byJoe Carra
Album -
Butterfly 3000 (2021)KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD
1. Yours
☆ 2. Shanghai
3. Dreams
4. Blue Morpho
5. Interior People
6. Catching Smoke
7. 2.02 Killer Year
8. Black Hot Soup
9. Ya Love
10. Butterfly
Next, courtesy of Last.fm
Biography
Years Active
2010 – present (11 years)
Founded In
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Members
Ambrose Kenny-Smith (2012 – present)
Cook Craig (2010 – present)
Eric Moore (2010 – 2020)
Joey Walker (2010 – present)
Lucas Harwood (2010 – present)
Michael Cavanagh (2010 – present)
Stu Mackenzie (2010 – present)
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard are an Australian psychedelic rock band that formed in 2010 in Melbourne, Victoria. The band consists of Stu Mackenzie (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, flute), Ambrose Kenny-Smith (vocals, harmonica, keyboards), Cook Craig (guitar, bass, vocals), Joey Walker (guitar, bass, keyboards, vocals), Lucas Skinner (bass, keyboards), and Michael Cavanagh (drums, percussion). They are known for their energetic live shows and prolific recording output, having released two EPs, two live albums and 15 studio albums since their formation.
Their EP and first two albums, Willoughby's Beach (2011), 12 Bar Bruise (2012) and Eyes Like the Sky (2013), primarily blended surf music and garage rock, and were released on the band's independent record label, Flightless, founded by Moore in 2012. Their third to eighth albums—Float Along – Fill Your Lungs (2013), Oddments, I'm in Your Mind Fuzz (2014), Quarters!, Paper Mâché Dream Balloon (2015) and Nonagon Infinity (2016)—expanded their sound, including elements of film music, psychedelic rock, progressive rock, folk, jazz, soul and heavy metal.
In 2017, the band fulfilled a promise to release five studio albums within the year: Flying Microtonal Banana in February; Murder of the Universe in June; Sketches of Brunswick East, a collaboration with Mild High Club, in August; Polygondwanaland, which was released into the public domain, in November; and Gumboot Soup in December. The band released its fourteenth album, Fishing for Fishies, on 26 April 2019, followed by a fifteenth album, Infest the Rats' Nest, released on 16 August that year.
On the 19th of April they released their first feature-length film, concert movie "Chunky Shrapnel". Named after a lyric from the band’s 2017 song Murder Of The Universe, The film combines concert footage from the band’s 2019 European tour with documentary style-filmmaking of King Gizzard behind the scenes. While Chunky Shrapnel does also document the band offstage, the film’s director, Josh Angus Stewart, said that it prioritizes music over personalities.
Chunky Shrapnel was originally set to premiere at Melbourne’s Astor Theatre, before the Australian government closed cinemas nationwide to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The film was eventually released and finally available for 24 hours only on vimeo.
The band members all grew up and went to school in the Deniliquin, Melbourne and Geelong areas. The band started off as a group of friends jamming together, before a mutual friend asked them to play at a show. The band's name was created "last minute". Mackenzie wanted to name the band "Gizzard Gizzard" while another band member wanted Jim Morrison's nickname "Lizard King". They eventually compromised with King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. The artist Jason Galea has created all of the band's album art, and a majority of their music videos.
On the 25th of August 2020 it was announced that Eric will no longer be an active member or manager of the band, while promising to keep working with them to put out records in the future.
Szczur
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, bye-bye, my life
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Ok, let me my trace my steps
Pour a drink, let's recap the sequence
One minute, you're swigging on a green tea
Next minute, floating on a pillow in a den
From there it gets a little hazy
Like a camera out of focus, shaking
Slow motion in the club free-falling through my seat
Hit the floor transforming
Undergoing complete metamorphous
From a moth caterpillar to a chrysalis
Spinning in a silken house like a spider spins a web
I'm a well known insect
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, bye-bye, my life
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, dark thoughts in my mind
Born again overnight
Bright lights up high, grey smog all the time
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Flying through the Yu Garden to the People's Square
That's where you find your happiness
With a little too much Szechuan in the pot
Sending sensational content
Neck stuck from looking up
At the high-rise buildings trying to caress
Enlightenment through an out of body experience
You're thriving in this environment
Come find me on almost every continent
Cold-blooded but I can't stand the Antarctic
Guess I've been born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Bye-bye, Shanghai, I've become a butterfly
Born again overnight
Porter Morgan
Best song on the album. BTW, the chords underneath repeat every 8 beats, but the melody/lyrics above it repeat every 9.5 beats. Super interesting rhythm, it essentially allows you to hear each part of the melody over both chords throughout the whole sequence. I tried playing the melody on a looper and playing chords on top while singing the lyrics along to the melody. It's challenging but super fun I recommend it.
Edit: Javier is right it's 9.5 beats not 10.5
Edward Cranium
I've tried to mix a few songs from murder of the universe with Nas, it's a challenge.
Pedro Pooter
@Mike Resus he be rite do
Edwin Andrade
@Yama Kasi im with you
Dringled
@Yama Kasi When the verse starts, start counting out the beats in your head. Note that the measure ends and repeats after 8 beats. Now try and count the singing on its own, you'll notice it takes longer to finish a measure. The more you count along to songs with weird timing the easier it gets.
borglr
My cousin Vincent's death was announced August 13th. This is one of the songs he would frequently listen to. I don't expect anyone to see this. But this song means more than any song ever has. I miss you, Vinny. <3
Jura Jura
Rip Vincent. Hope you're okay borgus :)
floop bar
much love to Vincent hope he became a butterfly
Jen Joo
I am so deeply sorry for your loss.
UrsaMajorPrime
Not sure why the algorithm brought this to me...I see you...what an interesting person your cousin Vinny must have been.