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.
Skin
Shane Koyczan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And yours has been yelling
Telling the story of yes and no, stop and go slow like a snail that knows the next rainfall is at least a week away
I listened to your skin say "right there"
As if there was where goosbumps become speedbumps
My fingers become treetrunks slowly growing into forests
My skin becomes kindling as we begin smoke signaling lips to move in
Your mouth was a bargain bin and I was looking for a deal
I could listen to your skin talk for the better part of weeks alone as it will speak to me of you turning knowledge into residues
Values determined by how much pressure I apply when I place my hands where you want me to
Vocal Acompanyment
You are the smiles I have sought with such relentlessness as if the dismisall of the aspects of my life and focus on now and how it is you came to be an answer to the question I asked myself the time I was alone
Ive grown from the head.down
Refusing to plant my feet to the ground because only statues were made to stand still
And i will walk to you so long as I hear your skin say you've got my back like vertebrae
And that this constant back ache stems from the fact that you've cracked these bones back into position.
So I may stand for more than "beauty is on the inside" or "you can make it if you try"
I am not a god damn symbol
I just like you
I put my pants on one leg at a time
The only difference is when my pants are on... I am awesome
But you want my pants off and well thats fucking awesome
So you can save Roman hemmesy for someone other than me cause I wil be sober for this
You can dismiss ice cubes, candle wax, handcuffs, and all that other stuff because I refuse to believe that my touch is not enough to turn you on because I will touch you like going is the new drug and both of us are gone
I want your body to be something I did wrong
I want you to hold on to the gifts of me
Vocal Accompanyment
This is just to say. I'd imagine you saran wrapped in black latex, where seeping out the edges is something tight and red
And i'll close my eyes to dream of you, your back arched of the impossible angle of a bow pulled tight encouraging your shoulder blades to drip the blood of stock piled broken hearts
But I hope the sound of you not shielding your eyes from my blinding humility will one day top the charts
Its the most beautiful thing I've ever heard and you're the Charlie Chaplin of your beautiful cause you make me say it all without saying a word and look what occured to me
I could sit around all day, wearing nothing but your kiss
You make mirrors want to grind themselves back down to sand because they can't do your reflection justice
And this just in
Im done with those who in life would've made me fight an army of imperfections a butallion of flaws.
Tonight. We're gonna keep this city up when they hear our bodies slap together like a bloss
Vocal Accompanyment
In the lyrics of Skin by Shane Koyczan, the songwriter talks about the relationship between two individuals and their connection through touch. The song speaks of how a person’s skin tells how to touch it if one listens. The writer goes on to describe their experience with their partner's skin, which tells the story of "yes" and "no" and how slow they should go. They compare it to a snail that knows when the next rainfall is at least a week away. The writer's partner tells them where to touch them, and their skin becomes kindling while they smoke signal their lips to move in. The partner's mouth is a bargain bin, and they look for a deal. The song portrays the writer's desire for their partner and their intimacy.
The writer goes on to talk about their love for their partner and how they made them realize that they were searching for their smile relentlessly. The writer believes that they grew from the top down and refused to plant their feet on the ground because only statues were meant to stand still. They say they would walk to their partner as long as they heard their skin say that they had their back like vertebrae. The writer wants their partner to hold on to the gifts they give them.
Line by Line Meaning
Skin... tells you how to touch it if you listen
Your skin communicates how you want to be touched if someone pays attention.
And yours has been yelling
Your skin has been clear and obvious about how you want to be touched.
Telling the story of yes and no, stop and go slow like a snail that knows the next rainfall is at least a week away
Your skin indicates when you want to proceed and when you want someone to slow down, like a snail aware of a long dry spell.
I listened to your skin say "right there"
I paid attention to where your skin indicated it wanted to be touched.
As if there was where goosbumps become speedbumps
The spot where your skin wanted to be touched was so sensitive that it caused goosebumps to slow me down.
My fingers become treetrunks slowly growing into forests
My fingers felt large and powerful like tree trunks that were slowly growing into a larger forest.
My skin becomes kindling as we begin smoke signaling lips to move in
The heat and excitement of the moment caused my skin to feel like kindling as we moved in to kiss.
Your mouth was a bargain bin and I was looking for a deal
Your mouth offered a great deal of pleasure and I was eager to indulge.
It was practically boxing day when I heard your skin say "your clothes. Are 100 percent off" and "your concerns were out of stock"
Your skin was so eager and ready for physical intimacy that it was as if there was a sale going on.
I could listen to your skin talk for the better part of weeks alone as it will speak to me of you turning knowledge into residues
I can learn so much about you and your desires just by listening to your skin.
Values determined by how much pressure I apply when I place my hands where you want me to
Your response to pressure on specific areas of your body tells me what you want and how much you want it.
You are the smiles I have sought with such relentlessness as if the dismissal of the aspects of my life and focus on now and how it is you came to be an answer to the question I asked myself the time I was alone
You bring me happiness that I was searching for diligently and allow me to focus on the present moment rather than dwelling on past worries and insecurities.
Ive grown from the head.down
I have evolved as a person, starting from my head and working my way to be a better version of myself.
Refusing to plant my feet to the ground because only statues were made to stand still
I refuse to be complacent and stagnant, preferring to always strive for improvement.
And i will walk to you so long as I hear your skin say you've got my back like vertebrae
I will always be there for you and support you as long as I sense that you have my back as well.
And that this constant back ache stems from the fact that you've cracked these bones back into position.
My stress and tension has been relieved by your support and care.
So I may stand for more than "beauty is on the inside" or "you can make it if you try"
With your support, I can achieve and be more than what stereotypical phrases suggest.
I am not a god damn symbol
I am not merely an object, but a complex and multifaceted individual.
I just like you
I simply enjoy being with you.
I put my pants on one leg at a time
I am a regular person who does normal things in life.
The only difference is when my pants are on... I am awesome
I am confident and feel great in my own skin.
But you want my pants off and well thats fucking awesome
I am excited by your desire for me and eager to be intimate with you.
So you can save Roman hemmesy for someone other than me cause I wil be sober for this
I don't need elaborate props or substances to be aroused and enjoy our time together.
You can dismiss ice cubes, candle wax, handcuffs, and all that other stuff because I refuse to believe that my touch is not enough to turn you on because I will touch you like going is the new drug and both of us are gone
I am confident that my touch alone is enough to bring you pleasure and I will focus on that rather than relying on outside objects or tools.
I want your body to be something I did wrong
I want to explore your body and experiment with different ways to please you, without any shame or regret.
I want you to hold on to the gifts of me
I want you to cherish and remember the experiences and joy we share together.
This is just to say. I'd imagine you saran wrapped in black latex, where seeping out the edges is something tight and red
I am imagining you in a sexually suggestive scenario, where black latex enhances and highlights your body in a seductive way.
And i'll close my eyes to dream of you, your back arched of the impossible angle of a bow pulled tight encouraging your shoulder blades to drip the blood of stock piled broken hearts
I am envisioning a passionate and intense moment with you, where your body is arched in pleasure and your beauty is overwhelming and intoxicating.
But I hope the sound of you not shielding your eyes from my blinding humility will one day top the charts
I hope that someday our emotional and physical connection will be celebrated and recognized as something truly special.
Its the most beautiful thing I've ever heard and you're the Charlie Chaplin of your beautiful cause you make me say it all without saying a word and look what occurred to me
The connection we have is powerful and overwhelming, and your presence and beauty leaves me speechless in the most wonderful way.
I could sit around all day, wearing nothing but your kiss
I am so enamored with your affection and passion that I would happily spend all day enjoying it.
You make mirrors want to grind themselves back down to sand because they can't do your reflection justice
Your beauty and allure are so intense that mirrors fail to properly capture or depict it.
And this just in. I'm done with those who in life would've made me fight an army of imperfections a battalion of flaws.
I am no longer interested in relationships or interactions that are filled with criticism, negativity, or endless flaws and insecurities.
Tonight. We're gonna keep this city up when they hear our bodies slap together like a blossom
Tonight, we are going to be passionate and intimate in a way that reverberates throughout the city and leaves an unforgettable impact.
Contributed by Zoe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shane Koyczan
I find it interesting that a piece I wrote to talk about a silenced culture has a comment section populated by those wanting to further silence those voices. The words were included in the video so that you could read along. Tanya's throat singing is meant to carry the emotion of the piece. Pain, frustration, fear, anger, and every other complex feeling that stems from the devastating trials endured by the First Nations. Tanya and Kym's voices carry more emotional weight than my words do. I'm glad this conversation is happening. Thanks to everyone who is sharing the poem. Listening isn't always meant to be an easy or relaxing practice... it should also challenge us.
Connissia
That was exactly what I thought when I watched this. This video as a whole with the spoken words, the chants and the pictures combined is ART. I LOVED the chanting it adds a layer of tension to your poetry. I empathize with the chanters emotions as I listen to their story. I encourage people to listen to it again with an open mind. It's fabulous!
noom
Shane Koyczan that people don't like the background noises going on is not so much about wanting to silence voices, but more about taste. I really think the poem is good, I'm from the Netherlands but the background stuff is just unpleasant for ME. No offense to anyone but it's my taste and it can be beautiful in others eyes
muderbuder
Shane Koyczan I understand about this but you should do more poems again they have inspired me to start writing I and another friend have actually gotten decent at writing songs and poems about different things and we hope we can change as many people's lives for the better as possible ......and I'd even like your honest opinion of some of our poems and songs we have written so far and see what you think no crap of saying we're good if were not just honesty
I Like Waffles
Shane Koyczan I loved it, any new work that we can look forward to?😀
ThePrince 115
Shane Koyczan i fucking love you man you habe saved my life
Trinity Frank
to the people who think the singing is too loud and distracts from the message: the music is the message of the poem. their screams and cries and voices are so loud because they have been silenced and suppressed for so long. They tell the story Shane is trying to tell. It's not comfortable to listen to because it's not a comfortable thing to discuss. It's not pretty, it's raw and real.
Callie Bennett
Hi there. I completely admire and applaud the music and background noise as a method to add to the meaning/message of this amazing poem. However, I would not think it unreasonable to release a version without the background noise(?). I cannot speak on folks without conditions such as I, but with some differences/“difficulties” in hearing (at least being able to hear the spoken words, or at least even especially when reading the written words to match the spoken words is distracted by the musical sounds because of (personally) an attention-deficit disorder; it makes it hard to understand anything being said or written without putting the video on mute and pausing for section to read). I realize this may seem ridiculous, but as a huge fan for Shane, I’d hope there could be some accommodation be made for people who may feel the same struggle. Perhaps, it may only be me; and I do realize you’re comment is 4 years old — however, I had figured that my comment would have greater attention if I tacked it on to comment very high up. No malice or animus meant to you at all. Just suggesting another form of video producing the same poem without the sounds so we can actually hear it (without such stop & pause). Marvelous life to you!
Trinity Frank
@Callie Bennett as a fellow auditory-processing difficulties person, I completely see where you're coming from. I could understand not wanting it to be as loud in the background, but I personally think its presence in the background adds to its meaning :)
Joanna Chapman-Smith
Important for many of you to know, I think: the "background sounds" in this video are made by an Inuit throat-singing artist named Tanya Tagaq. This artist is an Indigenous woman and the sounds she makes are a virtuosic musical form she has evolved from her cultural roots. If you have never heard Inuit throat singing before, your ears may need some exposure and time to adjust and learn how to appreciate the nuances of her music. I encourage everyone to do some research and listening beyond this piece to familiarize yourself with the art form and culture represented here, instead of judging them with ears that have not been raised to appreciate it. Personally, I hear her work here as telling a part of the story that Shayne's words do not. Like any good work of art, the whole becomes greater than the sum of its parts. ❤️