The Parachute Band boys spend most of their year living out of suitcases; b… Read Full Bio ↴The Parachute Band boys spend most of their year living out of suitcases; bringing their unique brand of worship to the world. Musically, their sound is fresh and experimental – pulsing drums, angular guitars and expansive production with flourishes of electronic undertones – but spiritually they are voices to those around them, passionate advocates of boundless and unhindered worship.

Frontman Omega Levine and Drummer/Producer Sam de Jong formed New Zealand’s Parachute Band in 2007, picking up from where the original Parachute Band (1996-2006) had left off. Already, the band has toured relentlessly throughout America, Africa, Asia, the UK and Europe.

Now in their fifth year as a unit, the band stands on a strong line-up of four albums: ROADMAPS & REVELATIONS, TECHNICOLOR, LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE and their latest, MATINS:VESPERS.

Their first self-produced effort, LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE was recognised by the New Zealand music industry in 2011, garnering a New Zealand Music Award for Best Gospel/Christian Album.

From their inception, Parachute Band’s intent has been to take New Zealand’s leading worship songs and introduce them to the world. And these songs have travelled – Grammy Award-winning worship outfit Casting Crowns recorded a version of the band’s song ‘Mercy’ on their album UNTIL THE WORLD HEARS. The band has also found camaraderie with former Delirious? Frontman Martin Smith, who contributed guest vocals on LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE track ‘It’s You’.

Smith has continued to work with the Parachute boys, recruiting them as his band for a string of dates in 2010 and 2011.

The band’s strength is in their ability to avoid the musical stereotype of their genre. They’re constantly seeking experimentation; delivering solid worship themes within songs that channel the indie fervour of Arcade Fire and the instrumental invention of Sigur Ros and Bon Iver. This kind of crossover chemistry saw the band take out the People’s Choice Award at the mainstream 2008 NZ Music Awards.

shout
Parachute Band Lyrics

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She has no problem with secrets
She knows how to keep them
She never felt the need to let them show
And I've had no trouble with speaking
Or trusting my instincts
That maybe this is one that I should know
But as I'm waiting there
The devil on my shoulder stares

Laughing that the one thing I can't get
Is what I need

She, She is the words that I can't find
How can the only thing that's killing me make me feel so alive
And I couldn't speak
I couldn't breathe to save my life
All of my chances swim like sinking ships
This time it's it
I'll drown or make her mine

My vocal chords have been fighting
My mouth likes to spite me
It never says the words that come to mind
I brought a stick to a gun fight
And I'm stuck with my tongue tied
I run but I can't hide what's always there is

She, She is the words that I can't find
How can the only thing that's killing me make me feel so alive
And I couldn't speak
I couldn't breathe to save my life
All of my chances swim like sinking ships
This time it's it
I'll drown or make her mine

I can see these things I'd do
But never seem to follow through
She, She is the words that I can't find
How can the only thing that's killing me make me feel so alive

She, She is the words that I can't find
How can the only thing that's killing me make me feel so alive
And I couldn't speak
I couldn't breathe to save my life
All of my chances swim like sinking ships
This time it's it
I'll drown or make her mine

I couldn't speak
I couldn't breathe to save my life
All of my chances swim like sinking ships

This time it's it
I'll drown or make her mine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Parachute Band's song "Shout" appear to be about a person who is struggling to express their feelings to someone they care about deeply. The first verse speaks of the struggle between secrets and speaking, indicating a feeling of being stuck between hiding one's feelings and wanting to let them show. The chorus repeats the refrain that "She is the words that I can't find," indicating a strong emotional connection to this person that the singer is struggling to express. The second verse speaks of the physical struggle to speak, with "My vocal chords have been fighting" and "I'm stuck with my tongue tied." The bridges repeat the same refrain again and again, indicating the intensity of the singer's emotions and the struggle to find the right words.

Overall, it appears that "Shout" is a love song about the difficulties and anxieties of expressing oneself to someone they care about deeply. The repetition of the refrain "She, She is the words that I can't find," indicates the intensity of the singer's emotions, and the struggle to express those emotions feels like it's causing them to drown - an extended metaphor expressed in both verses about sinking ships. Ultimately, the singer seems resolved to put everything on the line and make this person theirs, even if they drown in the process.

Line by Line Meaning

She has no problem with secrets
The person being described is capable of keeping secrets without feeling the need to share them.

She knows how to keep them
This person is skilled in the art of secrecy and knows how to maintain confidentiality.

She never felt the need to let them show
This person doesn't feel compelled to reveal their secrets or let them come to the surface.

And I've had no trouble with speaking
The artist is confident in their ability to communicate verbally.

Or trusting my instincts
The artist is confident in their ability to trust their intuition.

That maybe this is one that I should know
The singer believes that it's important to know the secret in question.

But as I'm waiting there
The singer is currently in a state of anticipation or waiting for something to happen.

The devil on my shoulder stares
The artist is grappling with negative thoughts or feelings, represented metaphorically by a devil on their shoulder.

Laughing that the one thing I can't get
Negative thoughts or emotions are mocking the artist, highlighting their inability to obtain the secret they desire.

Is what I need
Despite the artist's desire for the secret, they recognize that it may not be what they truly need or want.

She, She is the words that I can't find
The woman who holds the secret is the missing piece of the singer's desire or goal.

How can the only thing that's killing me make me feel so alive
Despite the artist's desire for the secret being a source of pain, seeking it out also brings them a sense of excitement or vitality.

I couldn't speak
The singer is struggling to find the words to express themselves.

I couldn't breathe to save my life
The singer feels suffocated or restricted by their inability to communicate effectively.

All of my chances swim like sinking ships
The singer has missed multiple opportunities to obtain the secret and feels like they are slipping away like sinking ships in the water.

This time it's it
The artist recognizes that this is their final opportunity to obtain the secret they desire.

I'll drown or make her mine
The artist is willing to take risks to obtain the secret, even if it means risking their own emotional well-being or drowning metaphorically. They also express a desire to pursue the woman holding the secret more actively.

My vocal chords have been fighting
The singer is experiencing tension or conflict in their ability to speak effectively.

My mouth likes to spite me
The singer's speech may be sabotaged by their own negative thoughts or emotions.

It never says the words that come to mind
The artist feels like they can't communicate their true thoughts or feelings due to internal barriers.

I brought a stick to a gun fight
The artist acknowledges that they are ill-prepared for the task at hand or outmatched in some way.

And I'm stuck with my tongue tied
The artist is struggling to find the words to express themselves, possibly due to fear or anxiety.

I run but I can't hide what's always there is
The singer recognizes that they can't truly escape their desire for the secret, which is always present in their mind.

I can see these things I'd do
The artist has a clear idea of what they want or need to do to obtain the secret.

But never seem to follow through
Despite having a plan in mind, the singer struggles to execute it and follow through on their goals.

Contributed by Scarlett N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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