Shadows
Rebecca Mayes Lyrics


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Shadows don't always conceal you
Shadows don't always protect you
They can see you through the dark
They can see right to your enemy heart

What's wrong with this story?
Won't you tell me again, what's her glory?
It's always the same
We buy and we sell
It's always the same
We buy and we sell
It's the same old game
We buy and we sell
Women and war

Handguns won't always protect you
Handguns won't get you very far
There's a whole army of them
And you're one woman fighting in the dark

What's wrong with this story?
Won't you tell me again, what's her glory?

It's always the same
We buy and we sell
It's always the same
We buy and we sell
It's the same old game




We buy and we sell
Women and war

Overall Meaning

In "Shadows," a song by Rebecca Mayes, she discusses the idea that shadows don't always offer protection, and that they can even reveal one's secrets. The lyrics "Shadows don't always conceal you/Shadows don't always protect you/They can see you through the dark/They can see right to your enemy heart" highlight this. Mayes seems to suggest that things are not always what they seem and that relying on something as fleeting as a shadow for protection can be dangerous.


As the song progresses, Mayes turns her focus to larger issues such as gender and war. She asks, "What's wrong with this story?/Won't you tell me again, what's her glory?" She goes on to criticize a society that commodifies and profits off of women and war. Through the repetition of the lines "It's always the same/We buy and we sell/It's the same old game/We buy and we sell/Women and war," Mayes drives home her point that this is a recurring, harmful cycle that society continues to perpetuate.


Overall, "Shadows" is a commentary on the dangers of relying solely on superficial means for protection and the harms of selling and commodifying people and conflicts.


Line by Line Meaning

Shadows don't always conceal you
Shadows can't always hide you from danger.


Shadows don't always protect you
Shadows can't always safeguard you from harm.


They can see you through the dark
The shadows can help you see in the darkness.


They can see right to your enemy heart
In the darkness, you can see into the heart of the enemy.


What's wrong with this story?
What is the problem with this narrative?


Won't you tell me again, what's her glory?
Can you repeat what makes this story great?


It's always the same
Things are predictable in this context.


We buy and we sell
People make transactions.


It's always the same
The situation remains unchanged.


We buy and we sell
People engage in commerce.


It's the same old game
This is an age-old routine.


We buy and we sell
People exchange goods or services for money.


Women and war
Females are involved in conflict.


Handguns won't always protect you
Handguns are not reliable forms of protection.


Handguns won't get you very far
You can't go very far solely relying on a handgun.


There's a whole army of them
There are a significant number of enemies.


And you're one woman fighting in the dark
You're alone, fighting against many enemies in the darkness.




Contributed by Grace T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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