The Stars
Nick Shattuck Lyrics


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I've been watching, I've been listening
Oh to the wind and oh to the water
I am covered in this salt & sun
Oh this dying dusk paints the water top
In this moment I'm a speck of dust floating in the light,
holding on to love
In this flash of time I'm a water drop turning in the tide,
crashing on the rocks
I am flying, I am growing wings
Here on the cliffs, Darlin', we can be anything
I am sunlight, I am dirt below
We are energy, we are nothing more
In this moment I'm a speck of dust floating in the light,
holding on to love
In this flash of time I'm a water drop turning in the tide,
crashing on the rocks
We are fire on the hillside
We are wind blow that flame bright




We are water on the coastline
We are stars in the black sky.

Overall Meaning

In Nick Shattuck's song "The Stars", the singer is appreciating and reflecting on the power of nature. The first few lines set the tone for the song, as the singer states that they have been watching and listening to the wind and water. The mentions of salt and sun further emphasize the naturalistic elements of the song. The dying dusk painting the water top carries a sense of transience, and the singer feels like they are a speck of dust floating in the light, holding onto love. This momentary and fleeting feeling is further reinforced as the singer illustrates themselves as a water drop turning in the tide, crashing on the rocks.


As the song progresses, the singer takes on various identities - they are flying and growing wings, and they are both sunlight and the dirt below. The singer then declares that they and their love interest can be anything they want to be, especially atop the cliffs. The singer sees themselves and their love as energy, nothing more. The final lines of the song see the singer and their love interest as fire on the hillside, wind blowing brightly, water on the coastline, and ultimately, as stars in the black sky. This final line symbolizes a sense of otherworldliness and grandiosity, as the stars represent an infinite entity that is beyond humanity's grasping.


Overall, "The Stars" is a poetic and metaphorical song that emphasizes the importance of recognizing the majesty and power of the natural world. The song encourages listeners to relish in the present moment and to embrace the fleeting nature of existence.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been watching, I've been listening
I have been observing and paying attention to my surroundings.


Oh to the wind and oh to the water
I have been paying particular attention to the wind and water.


I am covered in this salt & sun
I am coated with salt and sun from being in the ocean.


Oh this dying dusk paints the water top
The sunset is turning the surface of the water beautiful colors.


In this moment I'm a speck of dust floating in the light, holding on to love
Right now, I feel small and insignificant, but I am embracing a feeling of love.


In this flash of time I'm a water drop turning in the tide, crashing on the rocks
Life moves quickly, and I often feel like I am just a part of a larger process, with little control.


I am flying, I am growing wings
I feel like I am soaring and growing stronger and more capable.


Here on the cliffs, Darlin', we can be anything
In this moment, we have the freedom to choose who we want to be and what we want to do.


I am sunlight, I am dirt below
I am connected to everything around me, from the sun to the dirt.


We are energy, we are nothing more
At our core, we are simply energy, nothing more, nothing less.


We are fire on the hillside
We are passionate and powerful, like flames on a hillside.


We are wind blow that flame bright
Our energy and passion fuels each other, like wind that feeds a fire.


We are water on the coastline
We are fluid and ever-changing, like the water on the coastline.


We are stars in the black sky.
We are beautiful and unique, just like stars in the vast black sky.




Contributed by Anna Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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