Shane is a dynamic and charismatic artist whose performances are jaw-dropping in their expressive power. His delivery follows that of slam poetry and his performances and personae are at the vanguard of the live poetry circuit in the U.S., Canada & the UK.
His written work has been well received in Canada & the UK. The initial print-run for his book Visiting Hours dwarfed the industry standards for poetry books. Visiting Hours was recommended as a Book of the Year 2005 by the Guardian and the Globe and Mail.
Together with Mighty Mike McGee and C. R. Avery, he is the co-founder of spoken word, "talk rock" trio, Tons of Fun University.
A Letter to Remind Myself Who I Am
Shane Koyczan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is You,
Me,
Get up.
The ground is your reward
It will hold you when you are done.
Cancel all forks you are not done.
Put a silencing finger to the lips of all singing fat ladies.
Reel in all finish lines,
Steal the sound of the metal ringing hanging in the air and put it back in the bell.
One more round we go,
Get up.
There are sunsets that need to be signed off on,
Snowfalls that need your approval,
Starry nights like sad lovers whose beauty has gone unnoticed in the glare of television sets.
They are looking for volunteers to notice them,
Raise your hand, step forward you will not be chastised for staring some beauty wants to be seen.
Get Up.
As if the simple act of standing has brought you closer to the cosmos than you have ever previously been.
As if all the stars you've seen have been busylooking back, taking notices and keeping track of which wishes need granting.
They heard you ask for strength, show them you haven't wasted it.
Get Up.
Despite gravity, with her magnetic arms coaxing your mental dreams away from flight.
Despite everything that will be said to weaken you against the towering odds that stand before you like a mountain kissing vertigo into your grip
and daring to look down
Climb.
Not out of sutbborness.
Not out of a need to demonstrate the depths of will it takes to carry on.
But because you
You owe you one.
You owe you one
For every second you've spent painting skulls and crossbones on white flags
and rescuing yourself from even the option of surrender.
For every instant you rebuilt your heart using smiles salvaged from the grateful faces of those who you reminded how to laugh.
Now laugh.
Because one time, in the middle of sex,
She asked you to pretend that you were a manatee, and you did.
And it was then as it is now okay to laugh
Your lungs will fill.
Like the bank accounts of the corrupt
Your lungs will collapse.
Like backyard tents after ghost stories and strange noises breath.
Dear me,
There will be another breath.
Dear me,
Silence is not a psalm you should know all the words to.
Dear me,
This is you, me, sidestep salamity like a matadore taking on a bullet.
Rise.
As if the sun has taken the day off and hired you as its substitute.
Leaving behind its lesson plan in a world full of students who can see no practical value in what you are teaching
Teach them,
Today's lesson is the same as every day before it.
Because the class has been struggling with this assignment.
Shine.
You must teach this by example.
So hand out sunglasses.
And do not dim yourself for the sake of their comfort.
The world is practiced in demanding that those who can cast light not do it with such radiance.
Show them,
The falling stars dripping onto the horizon like drops of sky brewing new days from the fresh ground of last night
Remember,
Some people require more light than others.
So make extra.
Dear Me,
This. Is You.
Sincerely Yours,
Me.
The lyrics to Shane Koyczan's song A Letter to Remind Myself Who I Am is a call to action for the listener to persevere despite the adversities and obstacles of life. The lyrics encourage the writer, 'Dear Me,' to rise up, cancel all forks, and continue moving forward. The lyrics evoke the imagery of the beauty in the world and the need to appreciate it, even in the face of challenge. The lyrics also touch on the importance of teaching others to shine their light and to not dim themselves for the sake of others' comfort.
The lyrics also emphasize the need for the individual to keep going despite the towering odds that stand before them like a mountain. While these obstacles may challenge one's determination and will to succeed, one owes it to themselves to keep going. The lyrics remind us of moments where we have persevered, like rebuilding our hearts using smiles or laughing during sex. In these moments, we find the strength to keep going.
Overall, the lyrics to A Letter to Remind Myself Who I Am are a powerful reminder to appreciate life and to keep pushing forward, even when it seems impossible.
Line by Line Meaning
Dear Me,
Introducing the message being conveyed
This is You,
Recognizing oneself as the receiver of the message
Me,
Addressing oneself as an individual
Get up.
Encouragement to not give up or stay down
The ground is your reward
Ground is a reliable and constant support system
It will hold you when you are done.
Ground acts as final resting place for the tired and the worn
Cancel all forks you are not done.
Ignore those who try to stop or distract in achieving goals
Put a silencing finger to the lips of all singing fat ladies.
Do not let others be a hindrance or source of discouragement
This is not over.
Not to give up, even when things seem hard
Reel in all finish lines,
To not limit oneself to an endpoint to end progress
Steal the sound of the metal ringing hanging in the air and put it back in the bell.
Take back the call to stop that signals the end of something
One more round we go,
To continue to try, even if it seems impossible
There are sunsets that need to be signed off on,
Enjoy and acknowledge the beauty of life's moments
Snowfalls that need your approval,
Appreciate and acknowledge the uniqueness of life's moments
Starry nights like sad lovers whose beauty has gone unnoticed in the glare of television sets.
The beauty of nature ought to be acknowledged and appreciated
They are looking for volunteers to notice them,
The natural world deserves attention to prevent it from being overlooked
Raise your hand, step forward you will not be chastised for staring some beauty wants to be seen.
Be brave and acknowledge beauty, it's meant to be celebrated
As if the simple act of standing has brought you closer to the cosmos than you have ever previously been.
Standing (trying) implies you're closer to experiencing what life has to offer
As if all the stars you've seen have been busy looking back, taking notices and keeping track of which wishes need granting.
Stars play a role in granting wishes, so be grateful for what you have
They heard you ask for strength, show them you haven't wasted it.
Make the most of gifts bestowed upon you to achieve your dreams
Despite gravity, with her magnetic arms coaxing your mental dreams away from flight.
There will always be forces holding you down, but it is important to persevere in spite of them
Despite everything that will be said to weaken you against the towering odds that stand before you like a mountain kissing vertigo into your grip
and daring to look down
Climb.
Try to overcome challenges and situations that seem too difficult or impossible
Not out of stubbornness.
Overcoming challenges because you truly believe it in your heart
Not out of a need to demonstrate the depths of will it takes to carry on.
Overcoming challenges because it's the path you must take for yourself
But because you
You owe you one.
It's payback time, reward for hard work done or perseverance showcased
For every second you've spent painting skulls and crossbones on white flags
and rescuing yourself from even the option of surrender.
The past has been spent in avoiding problem-solving or responsibility, time to start taking action and overcoming issues
For every instant you rebuilt your heart using smiles salvaged from the grateful faces of those who you reminded how to laugh.
'Pay it forward' mindset, where the good that you spread will come back to you
Now laugh.
Relax, be happy, and appreciate the moment in joy
Because one time, in the middle of sex,
She asked you to pretend that you were a manatee, and you did.
Appreciate humorous moments in life and don't be afraid to embrace your quirks
And it was then as it is now okay to laugh
Your lungs will fill.
Allow yourself to be happy, and your life will be more fulfilling
Like the bank accounts of the corrupt
Your lungs will collapse.
Breath should be taken as a form of replenishment, not abuse
Like backyard tents after ghost stories and strange noises breath.
Take breaths like one was breathing in and out of a calm and peaceful mind
Dear me, There will be another breath.
Strive for longevity, be hopeful for another breath
Dear me, Silence is not a psalm you should know all the words to.
Don't get too comfortable with silence, it can be deafening
Dear me, This is you, me, sidestep salamity like a matadore taking on a bullet.
Be quick on your feet and handle obstacles with grace and elegance
Rise.
Get up and continue the journey of life
As if the sun has taken the day off and hired you as its substitute.
Challenge oneself to be impactful, on par with the bright and life-giving sun
Leaving behind its lesson plan in a world full of students who can see no practical value in what you are teaching
Teach them,
Be persistent in educating others, even when they don't understand the value of what you're offering
Today's lesson is the same as every day before it.
Lessons to be learned from life will be consistently given by one's own experiences
Because the class has been struggling with this assignment.
Life is a journey that requires persistence, hard work, and dedication
Shine.
Don't be afraid to show one's inner light and capabilities
You must teach this by example.
Practice what you preach and lead by example
So hand out sunglasses.
Be unapologetically one's true self
And do not dim yourself for the sake of their comfort.
Don't make others feel comfortable by altering one's own being and brilliance
The world is practiced in demanding that those who can cast light not do it with such radiance.
Normality is celebrated over uniqueness, don't be afraid to break this mold
Show them,
The falling stars dripping onto the horizon like drops of sky brewing new days from the fresh ground of last night
Educate others about the beauty of the universe and nature
Remember,
Some people require more light than others.
Every individual may have their own unique way of perceiving the world, and may require different approaches while handling them
So make extra.
Be prepared for different reactions and handle each scenario with sensitivity and empathy
Dear Me,
This. Is You.
End of the message, with one final reminder of this important fact
Sincerely Yours,
Me.
Closing of the message
Contributed by Cooper W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rosewind1115
Dear Me,
This is You,
Me,
Get up.
The ground is your reward
It will hold you when you are done.
Cancel all forks you are not done.
Put a silencing finger to the lips of all singing fat
ladies.
This is not over.
Reel in all finish lines,
Steal the sound of the metal ringing hanging in the air and
put it back in the bell.
One more round we go,
Get up.
There are sunsets that need to be signed off on,
Snowfalls that need your approval,
Starry nights like sad lovers whose beauty has gone
unnoticed in the glare of television sets.
They are looking for volunteers to notice them,
Raise your hand, step forward you will not be chastised for
staring some beauty wants to be seen.
Get Up.
As if the simple act of standing has brought you closer to
the cosmos than you have ever previously been.
As if all the stars you've seen have been busylooking back,
taking notices and keeping track of which wishes need
granting.
They heard you ask for strength, show them you haven't
wasted it.
Get Up.
Despite gravity, with her magnetic arms coaxing your mental
dreams away from flight.
Despite everything that will be said to weaken you against
the towering odds that stand before you like a mountain
kissing vertigo into your grip
and daring to look down
Climb.
Not out of sutbborness.
Not out of a need to demonstrate the depths of will it takes
to carry on.
But because you
You owe you one.
You owe you one
For every second you've spent painting skulls and crossbones
on white flags
and rescuing yourself from even the option of surrender.
For every instant you rebuilt your heart using smiles
salvaged from the grateful faces of those who you reminded
how to laugh.
Now laugh.
Because one time, in the middle of sex,
She asked you to pretend that you were a manatee, and you
did.
And it was then as it is now okay to laugh
Your lungs will fill.
Like the bank accounts of the corrupt
Your lungs will collapse.
Like backyard tents after ghost stories and strange noises
breath.
Dear me,
There will be another breath.
Dear me,
Silence is not a psalm you should know all the words to.
Dear me,
This is you, me, sidestep salamity like a matadore taking on
a bullet.
Rise.
As if the sun has taken the day off and hired you as its
substitute.
Leaving behind its lesson plan in a world full of students
who can see no practical value in what you are teaching
Teach them,
Today's lesson is the same as every day before it.
Because the class has been struggling with this assignment.
Shine.
You must teach this by example.
So hand out sunglasses.
And do not dim yourself for the sake of their comfort.
The world is practiced in demanding that those who can cast
light not do it with such radiance.
Show them,
The falling stars dripping onto the horizon like drops of
sky brewing new days from the fresh ground of last night
Remember,
Some people require more light than others.
So make extra.
Dear Me,
This. Is You.
Sincerely Yours,
Me.
@nicolem2704
"Remember, some people require more light than others so make extra."
@dip5161
Love that line so much bc it's very true
@rubysapsycho7773
I have listened to this for legitimate years. I found this when I was 12. I turn 19 in a few days. It still inspires me to continue living to this day.
@i-love-comountains3850
Don't ever stop reminding yourself of this. I've been listening to this for years and it's been medicine. Keep on keeping on, friend.🤟
Edited for universality. ✌😁
@diablo.w2268
Honestly same ily add me hun x
@jonathanenciso
Still here?
@rubysapsycho7773
@@jonathanenciso :)
@jonathanenciso
@@rubysapsycho7773 :) sweet similar story to yours. I discovered Shanes poetry while in middle school. Still listen to him almost every week lol
@jessicaanderson4109
My dance teacher choreographed a beautiful dance to this. It came in a point in my life where I lost all hope and wanted to die. This poem and dance gave me hope and strength to keep going and stay strong. Thank you Shane.
@rcinelli7056
I wish i could see that dance .......stay strong .
This is getting me through cancer .