Middleton began in the 1990s playing both bass and guitar, and sometimes singing, in several bands including Purple Bass Plectrum, Rabid Lettuce, Pigtube and The Laughing Stock. In 1995, Middleton and Aidan Moffat, after sharing their love of musical artists such as Smog and Will Oldham, began making music under the name "Arab Strap". The band released six studio albums.
In 2002, while in between Arab Strap albums, both he and bandmate Moffat pursued different solo projects, Moffat's being the ambient Lucky Pierre; Middleton, writing lyrics and singing for the first time, recorded the cathartic 5:14 Fluoxytine Seagull Alcohol John Nicotine for Chemikal Underground.
Middleton released the slightly more optimistic album Into The Woods in the summer of 2005, again between Arab Strap records.
In late 2006, Arab Strap split after ten years together, leading Malcolm to focus on his solo work full-time. He swiftly signed to Full Time Hobby and the appropriately-titled third album, A Brighter Beat, was released in February 2007.
December 2007 witnessed an unlikely turn in Middleton's career as he put himself forward as a contender for Christmas no 1 alongside Sean The Sheep, Mariah Carey and the Xfactor. Needless to say, the coveted top spot went to fellow Scot Leon Jackon of Xfactor but Middleton made a sizeable dent in the festive 40, being the only independent entry at no 31 with We're All Going To Die.
Performing under the pseudonym, Human Don't Be Angry, Middleton released a self-titled album (Human Don't Be Angry) in 2012, despite previous claims that he would retire his solo work, Middleton has resumed performing under his own name, alongside his work as Human Don't Be Angry. His most recent album under his own name is, Waxing Gibbous, released on 8 June 2009
www.malcolmmiddleton.co.uk
www.myspace.com/malcolmmiddleton
www.facebook.com/pages/Malcolm-Middleton/6765144471
Shadows
Malcolm Middleton Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Coz you can't see whats coming
Keep your feet moving and your face to the wind
Be a battleship be a destroyer
But be a diplomat and sometimes let them win
Bright lights big city
You're all alone and there's no fun
You don't want and now the sun's going down
The morning shadow
Afternoon shadow
The evening shadow
Night time shadow
You're a shadow
I'm a shadow now
We live in the dark, don't like the light
Will we choose tonight to change our lives
Can't get any lower than we're now
We can drag ourselves out of the shadows
Walk to the park instead of Haddows
We're beautiful
But we're covered in the
Morning shadow
Afternoon shadow
Evening shadow
Night time shadow
The song "Shadows" by Malcolm Middleton carries a message of optimism amidst darkness. It starts by urging the listener not to be afraid despite the uncertainty of the future. The lyrics suggest that the best way to move forward in life is to keep moving forward, even if you cannot see what is coming. The song encourages the listener to be both strong and tactful, implying that the path to success involves being assertive but also willing to compromise.
The second verse paints a picture of a lonely person in a big city, abandoned by their partner and consumed by the darkness around them. The repetition of the word ‘shadow’ represents the feeling of being trapped in a state of darkness and self-doubt, which is something that many people can relate to. The chorus asserts that despite our deepest fears, we all have the ability to rise above our shadows and live a much more fulfilling life. The lyrics suggest that getting out of the shadows includes taking small steps and finding joy in everyday things.
Overall, "Shadows" can be interpreted as a song of hope for those who feel lost or stuck in their current situation. Malcolm Middleton urges the listener to be strong, resilient, and to never give up. Shadows symbolize the fears and doubts that we all have, but with perseverance and optimism, we can conquer them and lead a more fulfilled life.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't be scared
Don't worry or be afraid
Coz you can't see whats coming
Because you can't predict what's ahead
Keep your feet moving and your face to the wind
Stay strong and keep moving forward
Be a battleship be a destroyer
Be strong and powerful
But be a diplomat and sometimes let them win
Be diplomatic and know when to compromise
Bright lights big city
The city lights are bright and overwhelming
You're all alone and there's no fun
Feeling isolated and depressed
Your man has left you, he's gone travelling
A significant person in your life has left without notice
You don't want and now the sun's going down
Feeling unwanted and lost
The morning shadow
Feeling lost and uncertain in the morning
Afternoon shadow
Feeling low and unenergetic in the afternoon
The evening shadow
Feeling gloomy and unhappy in the evening
Night time shadow
Feeling lonely and depressed at night
You're a shadow
Feeling invisible and unimportant
I'm a shadow now
Feeling helpless and insignificant
We live in the dark, don't like the light
Preferring to stay hidden and avoid attention
Will we choose tonight to change our lives
Deciding to take action and make a change
Can't get any lower than we're now
Feeling like rock bottom has been reached
We can drag ourselves out of the shadows
Taking control and improving our situation
Walk to the park instead of Haddows
Making small changes to improve our daily routine
We're beautiful
Acknowledging our worth and potential
But we're covered in the
Despite our beauty, we're weighed down by
Morning shadow
Feeling lost and uncertain in the morning
Afternoon shadow
Feeling low and unenergetic in the afternoon
Evening shadow
Feeling gloomy and unhappy in the evening
Night time shadow
Feeling lonely and depressed at night
Contributed by Jasmine K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
northcountrybhoy
walk to the park instead of haddows. Love it! Long live King Malcolm Come to New Zealand again soon
LSUDDA 10
all his lyrics are on his website