Kula Shaker are a britpop/psychedelic rock band that formed in London, Engl… Read Full Bio ↴Kula Shaker are a britpop/psychedelic rock band that formed in London, England in 1995, disbanded in 1999 and then reformed in 2004, widely known for their international top 40 hits "Hey Dude" (in 1996) and "Hush" (in 1997). The band's original line-up was Crispian Mills (vocals, guitar), Alonza Bevan (bass, vocals), Jay Darlington (organ, vocals) and Paul Winterhart (drums), When they reformed in 2004, Darlington was replaced by Harry Broadbent.

Their sound is roughly based on the sounds of 90s Britpop mixed in with 60s psychedelic rock, with heavy influences of Indian pop music as well as classic hard rock throughout. Their first album, 'K' was released in the United Kingdom in 1996, and it became the fastest selling debut album since 'Definitely Maybe' by Oasis. Selling 850,000 copies in the U.K. and a further 250,000 in the U.S., the band achieved success with their singles "Hey Dude" and "Tattva" climbing into the top 40. Their second album released in 1999, 'Peasants, Pigs and Astronauts', however, did not have the success of the first, selling only a fraction of 'K' despite a slightly higher marketing budget. Later that year, Mills announced the band would be breaking up due to unwanted pressure loaded upon them by their label and the urge to move on.

On 11th July 2006, Kula Shaker announced that they would be reforming, and the group set about creating an iTunes-exclusive E.P. They started by touring smaller venues in the U.K. Their third album, 'Strange Folk', was released on 20th August 2007, and their fourth, 'Pilgrim's Progress', was released on 28th June 2010. While touring since then, they have also released a Christmas single. Frontman Crispian Mills is also known for his solo work and his role in the band The Jeevas

Shadowlands
Kula Shaker Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Every story has a beginning
From our birth star to the very end
And the wheel keeps on spinning
The tattered cloth of love you wear

These are the Shadowlands
And nobody understands
How to love you

Every second makes an hour
Wrap them tight and keep them warm
For every seed holds a flower
Waiting for the rain to fall

These are the Shadowlands
And I'm just a shadow man
Trying to love you
Oh let me love you

Can't you see I'm coming one step at a time
Oh I'm reaching out into the light
Let me love you

Every story has a beginning
From our birth star until the very end

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Kula Shaker's song Shadowlands explore the cyclical nature of life and love. The opening lines suggest that every story has a beginning, and that beginning is rooted in the vast expanse of the universe, from our birth star to the end of time. The wheel of life keeps spinning, and we can't escape the fact that everything we know is temporary and fleeting. The image of the tattered cloth of love suggests that our relationships are fragile and easily worn down by the challenges of life.

The chorus is a somber reflection on the difficulties of love. The Shadowlands are a symbolic representation of the trials and tribulations of relationships. Nobody understands how to love you, suggesting that the singer is struggling to understand his partner's needs and emotions. He is just a shadow man, trying to love her as best he can.

In the second verse, the singer encourages the listener to treasure every moment of life, to wrap them tight and keep them warm. The juxtaposition of seeds and rain reminds us that every hardship we encounter can lead to growth and renewal. The emotions of the chorus repeat these themes, as the singer begs his partner to let him love her, to reach out and embrace the light. The song is a meditation on the transience of life and the difficulties of love, while also encouraging listeners to find hope in the beauty of the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

Every story has a beginning
All tales have a starting point

From our birth star to the very end
From the moment we are born, until the end of our time

And the wheel keeps on spinning
Life goes on, and keeps moving forward

The tattered cloth of love you wear
Broken and frayed, your love remains

These are the Shadowlands
We are living in the shadows, amidst darkness and confusion

And nobody understands
No one comprehends the complexity of our experiences

How to love you
How to properly care for and support you

Every second makes an hour
Time seems to slow down, stretching out into long moments

Wrap them tight and keep them warm
Hold onto these moments, cherish them and keep them close

For every seed holds a flower
Potential lies within us all, waiting to bloom into something beautiful

Waiting for the rain to fall
Waiting for time and circumstances to align for our potential to come to fruition