Lilly Wood & The Prick are Nili Hadida (lead vocals, piano, glockenspiel) a… Read Full Bio ↴Lilly Wood & The Prick are Nili Hadida (lead vocals, piano, glockenspiel) and Benjamin Cotto (guitar and backing vocals). Formed in 2006 in Paris, their first self-titled EP is composed of 6 tracks among which there is a folk version of hit L.E.S. Artistes by Santigold. The song Water ran is featured on the compilation Folk and Proud.
The first album Invincible Friends came out on May 31, 2010. A year later, they won the People's Choice Award at "Les Victoires de la Musique".

The song "Prayer in C" from their 2010 album was remixed by German DJ Robin Schulz in 2014, and gained worldwide popularity.

Shadows
Lilly Wood & The Prick Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Be strong
Look ahead
Step out of yourself
Be wise
And smart
Play them hard
Play them hard

You're right
It is true
That I am seeing shadows

This rawness
It catches me at flight
It says be tough
Don't let anyone in
This madness
It knows me all too well
It says play them bad
Play them bad

You're right

It is true
That I am seeing shadows

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Shadows" by Lilly Wood & The Prick appear to be a message of encouragement and self-reflection. The singer implores the listener to be strong, look ahead, step outside their comfort zone, and approach life with wisdom and intelligence. This is all in the context of "playing" something or someone hard, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for taking on challenges or difficult situations with resolve and confidence.

But the chorus reveals a more vulnerable side to the lyrics. The singer acknowledges that they are "seeing shadows," which suggests they are struggling with something or perhaps haunted by past experiences. The second verse delves deeper into this idea, describing a sense of inner turmoil that can lead to self-isolation and even reckless behavior. The repetition of "play them bad" further underscores the idea that the singer is grappling with some sort of inner darkness.

Line by Line Meaning

Be strong
Show inner strength and resilience

Look ahead
Set goals for the future

Step out of yourself
Get out of your comfort zone and try new things

Be wise
Make informed decisions

And smart
Use your intelligence and knowledge to your advantage

Play them hard
Be competitive and give it your all

You're right
Acknowledgment of truth

It is true
Confirming the reality of a situation

That I am seeing shadows
Feeling haunted or burdened by something in the past

This rawness
An exposed vulnerability or emotional state

It catches me at flight
Overcoming a sudden state of vulnerability while in motion