Shana Morrison's musical style has been called pop with a side of blues and… Read Full Bio ↴Shana Morrison's musical style has been called pop with a side of blues and a side of rock. She has also been known to include other ingredients, like country, R&B, and jazz into the mix. Her material seems to be ever-changing and hard to pin down categorically. What always remains the same is Shana's unique and wide-ranging voice.

Shana Morrison began performing with her group Caledonia in the San Francisco Bay area in 1996. Her debut CD, Caledonia was released on her own label, Belfast Violet Records, in 1998 and picked up by the Monster Music label in 1999. Caledonia received favorable reviews from the Los Angeles Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Francisco Examiner, as well as airplay on KPFA, KPIG, KPIX, KDVS, KHUM, and KFOG. Tours across the country soon followed.

Vanguard Records signed Shana in 2001, and 7 Wishes was released in 2002. This time, she received favorable reviews from newspapers and magazines across the country, as well as airplay on KMTT in Seattle; KINK in Portland, Ore.; KSGR in Austin, Texas; and KBCO in Denver.

Chronologically listed, some highlights of Shana's career follow: Since 1996, Shana has participated in benefit concerts for Oakland's American Legends Foundation. Paying tribute to and playing for artists such as Brownie McGee and Charles Brown, Shana has shared billing with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker, and Dr. John. She has also played for festival audiences on the main stage both at the Guinness Fleadh in New York in 1997, and in San Francisco in 1999. In 2000 Shana performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival, the Ottawa Blues Festival, and the Edmonton Folk Festival. Recently she has had the type of exposure she deserves, opening shows for Lyle Lovett, Joe Cocker, Michael MacDonald, John Hyatt, Keb 'Mo, and Bob Weir.

Shana's international exposure includes a live broadcast for the BBC's Kelly Show and an appearance at the BRIT Awards in 1996, when her father was presented with a lifetime-achievement award. This has been broadcasted on A&E in America several times since. She also participated in a VH-1 Father's Day special and was featured in People in 1997, Rolling Stone in 1999, and in Interview, as well as on the Oxygen channel's Pure Oxygen, and on The Howard Stern Show in 2002.

Since 2002, the band has been busy with tours across the United States, Germany, Italy, Ireland, and the UK, playing radio shows, clubs, theaters, and festivals, most notably playing the Warfield in San Francisco, the Viper Room in Los Angeles, the House of Blues in Cambridge, the Bottom Line in New York, Meinisfree Open Air in Germany, the Arezzo Wave Pop festival in Italy, the Borderline in London, the Cork Jazz Festival, the Galway Arts Festival, and The Late Late Show in Ireland.

2006 through 2008 saw Shana singing beside Van Morrison again during his U.S. and U.K. tour dates. Twelve years have passed since her beginnings singing duets with Mr. Morrison in his infamous Rhythm and Soul Review, which featured artists such as Jimmy Withersoon, Junior Wells, and John Lee Hooker. Since her first foray into recording on the Van Morrison releases A Night in San Francisco (1994) and Days Like This (1995), Shana Morrison has grown as a singer, a songwriter, and an artist. Her self-produced 2007 release, the R&B-flavored CD That's Who I Am, is on Belfast Violet Records.

Sweet Thing
Shana Morrison Lyrics

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And I will stroll the merry way and jump the hedges first
and I will drink the clear clean water for to quench my thirst
And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high
on a blue ocean, against tomorrow's sky
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain
and I will never grow so old again
Oh sweet thing, sweet thing
my, my, my, my, my sweet thing

And I will stroll the merry ways and jump the hedges first
and I will drink the clear clean water for to quench my thirst
And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high
on a blue ocean against tomorrow's sky
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain
and never ever ever ever ever get so old again
Ooh...
sweet thing
My my my...
And I shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry
"Hey, it's me! I'm dynamite and I don't know why"
And you shall take me warm in your arms again
and I will not remember that I ever felt the pain
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain
and never ever ever ever ever get so old again
Ooh
sweet thing
Yeah yeah yeah...
sweet thing
My my my...
And I will raise my hand up into the night time sky
and count the stars there shining in your eyes
Just to dig it all an' not to wonder, that's just fine
and I'll be satisfied not to read in between the lines
And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain
and never ever ever ever ever get so old again
Sugar-baby with your champagne eyes
and your saint-like smile....
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take this broken wing and learn to fly
all your life you were just waiting for this moment to arrive
Blackbird singing in the dead of night

take your sunken eyes, learn to see
All your life you were only waiting for this moment to be free...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Shana Morrison's "Sweet Thing" describe a carefree and adventurous spirit that wants to experience life to the fullest. The singer talks about strolling through the world with joy and curiosity, exploring gardens, watching boats at sea, and drinking clear water. The lyrics suggest that the singer wants to live in the present moment and never grow old or forget the beauty of life. The song's chorus repeats the phrase "sweet thing," emphasizing the singer's desire to experience the sweetness of life to the fullest.

The second verse introduces a sense of danger and excitement, as the singer talks about driving a chariot through the streets and crying out to the world. The lyrics suggest that the singer wants to be noticed and remembered, and wants to be held in someone's arms without feeling pain. The final verse talks about counting stars and not worrying about the future, but instead enjoying the beauty of the moment.

Overall, the lyrics to "Sweet Thing" suggest that the singer wants to live a joyful and adventurous life, experiencing everything the world has to offer without worrying about consequences. The song presents an optimistic and carefree view of life that emphasizes the importance of living in the present and enjoying every moment.

Line by Line Meaning

And I will stroll the merry way and jump the hedges first
I am eager to explore the world, and I won't hesitate to take a leap of faith to do so

and I will drink the clear clean water for to quench my thirst
I want to experience the simple pleasures of life, and I won't take them for granted

And I shall watch the ferry-boats and they'll get high on a blue ocean, against tomorrow's sky
I am excited to see the beauty of the world and to experience the freedom that comes with it

And I will walk and talk in gardens all wet with rain, and I will never grow so old again
I want to live life to the fullest, embracing every moment and never losing the youthful wonder and excitement that comes with it

Oh sweet thing, sweet thing my, my, my, my, my sweet thing
Addressing someone who is special and dear to me

And I shall drive my chariot down your streets and cry, 'Hey, it's me! I'm dynamite and I don't know why'
Expressing my confidence and passion while acknowledging that I don't always understand where it comes from

And you shall take me warm in your arms again, and I will not remember that I ever felt the pain
Finding comfort in the arms of someone I love and forgetting the pains of the past

And I will raise my hand up into the night time sky and count the stars there shining in your eyes
Recognizing the beauty and wonder in the world through the eyes of a loved one

Just to dig it all an' not to wonder, that's just fine, and I'll be satisfied not to read in between the lines
Choosing to appreciate the simple moments in life rather than over-analyzing them

Sugar-baby with your champagne eyes and your saint-like smile
Describing someone as sweet and beautiful, with a smile that lights up the room

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, blackbird singing in the dead of night
Using the image of a bird singing at night to represent the beauty that can be found in unexpected moments

Take this broken wing and learn to fly, all your life you were just waiting for this moment to arrive
Encouraging someone to embrace their past struggles as a source of strength, and to take risks to reach new heights

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take your sunken eyes, learn to see
Encouraging someone to see the beauty in life, even when it seems hidden

All your life you were only waiting for this moment to be free...
Encouraging someone to embrace their freedom and to never stop pursuing their dreams

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: VAN MORRISON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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