From Wikipedia: Shane .L. Koyczan (b. 22 May 1976) is a poet. He was born … Read Full Bio ↴From Wikipedia: Shane .L. Koyczan (b. 22 May 1976) is a poet. He was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada, and grew up in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada. He is the first international performer to win the Individual Championship title at the National Poetry Slam 2000 in the U.S. state of Rhode Island.

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.

All the Tea
Shane Koyczan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

If you build your China shop around him,
Do not blame the bull if eventually
He tires of standing still

If you build your China shop around him,
Do not blame the bull if eventually
He tires of standing still

Overall Meaning

These lyrics in Shane Koyczan's song All the Tea refer to the pressure and expectations that society puts on individuals to conform to certain norms and expectations. The China shop represents the fragile environment in which individuals are expected to exist without causing any damage or disruption. The bull symbolizes the person who is expected to fit in, behave according to certain standards, and not rock the boat. However, as the lyrics suggest, the bull cannot be blamed if he eventually tires of standing still. This means that it is unfair to expect individuals to suppress their own dreams, desires, and passions to meet the expectations of others.

The metaphor of the bull and the China shop also represents the clash between individualism and conformity. The bull, like many individuals, might feel trapped and confined within the narrow boundaries of society's expectations. However, when he finally decides to break free and pursue his own path, he is blamed for the disruption he causes. The message of the lyrics is that individuals should have the freedom to be themselves, pursue their own passions, and make their own choices without fear of judgment, ridicule, or punishment.

Line by Line Meaning

If you build your China shop around him,
If you mold your surroundings to fit someone's needs completely,

Do not blame the bull if eventually
Do not fault the creature for acting according to its nature

He tires of standing still
It becomes weary of remaining stagnant for too long

Contributed by Alexandra G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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