Shadow Play
Rory Gallagher Lyrics

In the flinty light, it's midnight, and stars collide
The scene is set to a nighttime setting where the stars collide, and the surrounding light is dull.

Shadows run, in full flight, to run, seek and hide
Shadows appear to run away in full flight, trying to hide and seek from the dull surroundings.

I'm still not sure what part I play, in this shadow play, this shadow play
The singer is unsure what his part is in this overall scene which seems to be a giant game of shadows and light.

In the half light, on this mad night, I hear a voice in time
During this restless mad night, the singer is able to hear the echoes of a voice moving through time.

Well, I look back, see a half-smile, then it's gone from sight Won't you tell me how I can find my way?
The singer is briefly interrupted by a half-smile that disappears soon after, making him feel confused about where to go from here in this shadow play.

Sounds come crashing, and I hear laughing All those lights just blaze away I feel a little strange inside A little bit of Jekyll, a little Mr. Hyde
The sounds and laughter of what seems to be the shadows are overwhelming as the bright lights get brighter. The singer feels strange inside, like he has become two people - Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde - due to the overwhelming pressure of the scene.

Thoughts run wild, free as a child, into the night Across the screen a thin beam, of magic light
The singer's thoughts run wild, taking him back to a time where he felt free, like a child. A thin beam of magic light appears across the screen, probably alluding to the fact that the game of shadows takes place on a screen.

Things they just don't look the same In this shadow play, this shadow play
Everything now looks different because the game of shadow play has taken over the scene.

Shadow play, shadow play I can't run away from this shadow play Shadow play, shadow play
The game of shadow play seems to have taken control over the singer, and he feels like he can't run away from it.