His father, a guitarist and producer of the Reggae band “The Foreigners Crew”, made sure he was immersed into music as a child. So he played keys and ended up singing a few songs for the band.
After studying Music Production and Theory, Classical Piano, Percussion and Vocals at CYM (Centre for Young Musicians), working closely with fellow rapper Incisive, he released his first EP entitled Foolishness Vol.1, and The Shakka Crown Affair, his widely received Concept Mixtape taking influence from The Thomas Crown Affair, where he experiments with Hip-Hop, Jazz, Indie Rock, and Electronic music.
Alongside his latest Shakkapella video-series, where he covers popular songs recreating the music in a beat-box fashion, he is promoting his Mixtape and other songs at shows across the UK (Loughborough, Lincoln, and Brighton to name a few).
Read My Mind
Shakka Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just tryin' to keep it in line
You say you wanna move on and
You say I'm falling behind
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
Breakin' out of this two-star town
I got the green light
I got a little fight
I'm gonna turn this thing around
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The good old days
The honest man
The restless heart
A promised land
A subtle kiss
That no one sees
A broken wrist
The big trapeize
Oh well I don't mind
If you don't mind
'Cause I don't shine
If you don't shine
Before you go
Can you read my mind?
It's funny how you just break down
Waitin' on some sign
I pull up to the front of your driveway
The magic soakin' my spine
Can you read my mind?
Can you read my mind?
The teenage queen
The loaded gun
The drop dead dream
The chosen one
A southern drawl (?)
A world unseen
A city wall
And a trampoline
Well I don't mind
If you don't mind
Coz I don't shine
If you don't shine
Before you jump
Tell me what you find
When you read my mind
Slippin in my faith
Until I fall
You never returned that call
Woman, open the door
Don't let it stay
I wanna breathe that fire again
She said
I don't mind
If you don't mind
Coz I don't shine
If you don't shine
Put your back on me
Put your back on me
Put your back on me
(Oo)
The stars are blazing
Like rebel diamonds
Cut out of the sun
Can you read my mind?
The first verse of Shakka's song "Read My Mind" describes the feeling of being stuck in a small town and the struggle to break free from it. The singer is on the corner of Main Street, trying to keep their life in check, while their partner expresses their desire to move on to bigger and better things. The repeated refrain, "Can you read my mind?", begs the question of whether the partner understands the singer's internal struggle and hopes.
The second verse reflects on the singer's past determination to escape the "two-star town." They've received the green light to move forward and are ready to fight to change their circumstances. The lyrics "The good old days, the honest man, the restless heart, a promised land" evoke a sense of nostalgia and optimism about the future. The phrase "turn this thing around" highlights the struggle of creating positive change in one's life.
The chorus repeats the question, "Can you read my mind?" as if to emphasize the importance of understanding and empathy in a relationship. The song's bridge adds urgency to the singer's situation. The imagery of the "teenage queen, loaded gun, drop dead dream, the chosen one" continues the theme of a life being lived within a small town, with hopes and aspirations that are often unfulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
On the corner of main street
The singer finds themselves on a busy street.
Just tryin' to keep it in line
They are making an effort to stay in control.
You say you wanna move on and
The singer's partner wants to move on from their current situation.
You say I'm falling behind
The partner feels like the artist is holding them back.
Can you read my mind?
The artist is asking if their partner understands what they are thinking.
I never really gave up on
Despite the obstacles, the singer has not given up on their dreams.
Breakin' out of this two-star town
They are looking to escape the mundane life they're living.
I got the green light
The artist feels like they have permission to pursue their goals.
I got a little fight
They have the strength to face any challenges that come their way.
I'm gonna turn this thing around
The artist has a plan to improve their situation.
The good old days
The singer longs for the past.
The honest man
They value honesty and integrity.
The restless heart
The singer cannot stay still for too long.
A promised land
They are hopeful for a bright future.
A subtle kiss
The singer is thinking of a small, intimate moment between them and a loved one.
That no one sees
It is a private moment.
A broken wrist
The artist has been injured.
The big trapeze
This line may represent a thrilling experience, or it could mean they have taken a big risk.
Oh well I don't mind
The singer is willing to overlook their partner's doubts and concerns.
If you don't mind
They are okay with their partner's opinion as long as they don't interfere with their plans.
'Cause I don't shine
The artist feels like their true potential is not being realized.
Before you go
Before their partner leaves or moves on.
It's funny how you just break down
The singer is puzzled about why their partner is acting this way.
Waitin' on some sign
Their partner is waiting for a signal or a message.
I pull up to the front of your driveway
The singer has gone to their partner's house.
The magic soakin' my spine
The singer feels exhilarated being near their partner.
The teenage queen
A young woman who is attractive, charismatic, and confident.
The loaded gun
Someone or something with potentially catastrophic consequences.
The drop dead dream
The artist's ultimate goal.
The chosen one
Someone who has been singled out for a special task or honor.
A southern drawl (?)
The singer may be thinking of their partner's accent.
A world unseen
There is a hidden, mysterious world out there.
A city wall
The artist is thinking of the barriers between them and their partner.
And a trampoline
This could represent a lighthearted, fun experience.
Well I don't mind
The singer is still okay with their partner leaving or moving on.
Coz I don't shine
The artist feels like something is holding them back.
Before you jump
Before their partner moves on, jumps into a new situation, or takes a risk.
Tell me what you find
The singer is curious about what their partner will discover or experience.
When you read my mind
They are still waiting for their partner to understand them.
Slippin in my faith
The artist is struggling with their beliefs.
Until I fall
They are at risk of losing faith completely.
You never returned that call
Their partner did not respond to their attempt to contact them.
Woman, open the door
The singer is asking their partner to listen to them.
Don't let it stay
The artist wants to resolve their issues.
I wanna breathe that fire again
The artist wants to recapture their passion.
She said
Their partner finally replies.
Put your back on me
The singer is asking their partner to trust them.
The stars are blazing
The night sky is beautiful and full of energy.
Like rebel diamonds
The singer sees the stars as if they are rebellious and beautiful.
Cut out of the sun
The stars look like they have been carved out of the sun.
Can you read my mind?
The singer is once again asking if their partner can understand their thoughts.
Writer(s): Anton Flanders, Shakka Philip
Contributed by Eva E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.