Phair's 1993 debut studio album, Exile in Guyville, was released to acclaim; it has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Phair followed this with her second album, Whip-Smart (1994), which earned her a Grammy Award nomination for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance, and Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998). Ten years after the release of her debut, Phair's fourth album, Liz Phair (2003), released on Capitol Records, moved towards pop rock, earning her a mainstream audience but alienating critics.
After the release of her fifth album, Somebody's Miracle (2005), Phair left Capitol and released her sixth album Funstyle independently in 2010. In 2018, it was announced that Matador Records would be releasing a retrospective set for Phair's debut album Exile in Guyville which includes remastered recordings from her original Girly-Sound demo tapes. Phair released her seventh studio album, Soberish, in 2021.
Shane
Liz Phair Lyrics
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Because you and I were driving around
And you were doing a story
About if people understood what had happened to their world
Tonight in bed sleeping
The world tonight in bed asleep
You said that you were in touch with the draft resistors
You're gonna have to let 'em dick you around
But don't let 'em make you do what you can't live with
Tonight in bed with me sleeping
You looked like you were just a little kid
"Shane," I said, "You've gotta watch your ass."
You gotta have fear in your heart [Repeat: x4]
In "Shane," Liz Phair tells the story of a conversation she had with a friend named Shane on the very night that the war broke out. She remembers driving around with him as he did a news story about people's reactions to the event. Shane told her that, in case he was drafted, he was in touch with the draft resistors. Liz tries to encourage him but also reminds him to stay vigilant and cautious. Throughout the song, Liz reflects on the weight of the situation at hand and on the looming war.
The song has a melancholic tone, capturing the feeling of uncertainty that was pervasive during the time. It seems to be a critique of the way that those in power manipulate and exploit those without it. Liz's warning to Shane to watch his back is an acknowledgment that the world is a dangerous place and that things are about to get much worse. The chorus, "You gotta have fear in your heart," reinforces this idea that fear is a necessary part of navigating a world that has become increasingly chaotic.
Line by Line Meaning
I know that it was the night the war broke out
The singer remembers the exact moment the war broke out, as it was the same night she and Shane were driving around.
Because you and I were driving around
The singer and Shane were spending time together, driving around and talking.
And you were doing a story
Shane was working on a story, likely related to the war.
About if people understood what had happened to their world
Shane's story was exploring whether people truly grasped the gravity of the events shaping their world at the time.
Tonight in bed sleeping
The present moment is contrasted with the night the war broke out - currently, the world sleeps peacefully and is unaware of the events unfolding.
The world tonight in bed asleep
This line is a repetition of the previous line, emphasizing the world's ignorance and lack of awareness of the war.
You said that you were in touch with the draft resistors
Shane claims to be in contact with people who are refusing to be drafted, likely as a form of protest against the war.
In case the big boys called you up
Shane is prepared to be called up for the draft and has a plan in place for how to handle this potential scenario.
You're gonna have to let 'em dick you around
While Shane is ready to be drafted, he understands that he will likely be mistreated by the military and forced to do things he may not agree with.
But don't let 'em make you do what you can't live with
Despite this, Shane is determined to only follow orders that align with his personal values and morals.
Tonight in bed with me sleeping
The singer and Shane are once again in bed, but this time together and presumably safe from the dangers of the war outside.
You looked like you were just a little kid
Despite his bravado and preparation for the draft, Shane still appears young and vulnerable to the artist.
"Shane," I said, "You've gotta watch your ass."
The singer expresses concern for Shane's safety and advises him to be careful.
You gotta have fear in your heart [Repeat: x4]
This repeated line suggests that, despite Shane's readiness to face the draft, he still needs to hold onto some level of fear to properly navigate the dangerous situation he finds himself in.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PHAIR
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