Shannon McNally (born Shannon Maureen McNally on 17 March 1973 in Hempstead… Read Full Bio ↴Shannon McNally (born Shannon Maureen McNally on 17 March 1973 in Hempstead, New York) is an American singer-songwriter.

While studying anthropology at Franklin and Marshall College, McNally began singing and playing guitar in clubs. After graduating and honing her skills on the streets of Paris as a busker, she secured a deal with Capitol Records in 1997. McNally was intent on making an acoustic record and entered the studio with studio professionals including Jim Keltner, Benmont Tench, and Greg Leisz. The resulting album Jukebox Sparrows was not released at the time.

In the interim, McNally opened for Stevie Nicks and Ryan Adams, and was part of the 1999 Girl's Room tour with Tara MacLean, Kendall Payne, and Amy Correia. She also modeled for Urban Decay cosmetics. In 2000, McNally issued the holdover EP Bolder Than Paradise. When Capitol finally issued Jukebox Sparrows in January 2002, it did so into a market that had already embraced such roots-flavored material as Ryan Adams and the O Brother, Where Art Thou soundtrack. McNally embarked on a press tour, and spent the summer of that year supporting John Mellencamp. In late 2002, she released the Ran on Pure Lightning EP, a collaboration with songwriter Neal Casal.

In 2005, McNally returned with the country, blues, and soul influences on the album Geronimo. The album's June release was accompanied by a summer's worth of live dates. Early 2006 saw the release of McNally's third album, North American Ghost Music. Tour dates with Son Volt also coincided its release.

McNally took off most of 2008 and 2009 after the birth of her first child. She has resumed performing and recording and toured with Dave Alvin & The Guilty Women. In 2009 she released the album Coldwater with her band Hot Sauce. McNally currently resides near Oxford, Mississippi.

In 2013, McNally released Small Town Talk, a tribute album to the songs of Bobby Charles. In an interview, McNally said that she was a longtime friend of Bobby Charles and Small Town Talk was inspired by Charles' first, self-titled album from 1973

Down And Dirty
Shannon McNally Lyrics

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Come on in through my screen door
Tell me all your cares
I'm here to lend my ears
Where you been lately
Haven't seen much around here, Oh no
Been hiding out in the shade
Your skins all gone to gray
Did you eat today?

When you coming home to stay?

Don't you know I love you
When you're down and dirty
Don't you know I love you
When you're clean
(Repeat)

If you could see what I see
You'd see a boy who can't face things
Silent is all he is
You been looking around without your vision
Hearing things without listening
Suffering but feeling no real kind of pain
You know I'd like to help but
When I let you ride for free
You drag me into the cheap cheap scene
(Cheap cheap scene yeah)

Don't you know I love you
When you're down and dirty
Don't you know I love you
When you're clean
(Repeat)

You got this thing against
Living with the best
But you sure like to visit me don't you
When the streets get too cold
When you're feeling weary and old
When your chances for survival
Looking oh so slim
When all of a sudden you won't live to be eighty
Maybe ninety
Maybe a hundred and ten

Don't you know
Don't you know
Don't you know

Don't you know I love you
When you're down and dirty
Don't you know I love you
When you're clean
(Repeat)

Oh I know everything ain't
Always what it seems be to
Don't you know I love you baby
Any way I find you
Anyway you come
Any way I find you
Anyway you come

Come on
(Repeat until end)

Overall Meaning

The song "Down and Dirty" by Shannon McNally is an emotional plea to a loved one who has been going through a rough patch lately. The song opens with the singer inviting the person to come in through her screen door and tell her all about their troubles. She reassures them that she is there to lend an ear and asks if they have been eating properly. She expresses concern about their recent absence and asks when they will be coming home to stay. The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of unconditional love in good times and in bad, stating that the singer loves the person whether they are "down and dirty" or "clean."

In the second verse, the singer seems to address a specific situation where the person has been avoiding facing their problems and suffering in silence. She encourages them to see things from a different perspective and listen to what others are saying. However, she also admits that it's hard to help the person when they take advantage of her willingness to forgive and forget. The final verse suggests that the person has a self-destructive streak and a resistance to the idea of living a well-adjusted, productive life. The singer expresses her love for the person regardless of their faults and accepts them however they come.

Overall, the message of the song is one of empathy, understanding, and unconditional love. The singer recognizes that life isn't always easy and people go through tough times, but she is there to offer support and love no matter what. The chorus line "Don't you know I love you/When you're down and dirty/Don't you know I love you/When you're clean" is a simple yet powerful message of acceptance that anyone can relate to.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on in through my screen door
Please enter through my door that is simple enough to grant you entry. I would like to hear about all the concerns you have bottled up inside.

Tell me all your cares
Please share all your worries and anxieties with me so that I can assist you in any way possible.

I'm here to lend my ears
I am willing to listen to you whenever you need me to. I am always here to support you.

Where you been lately
I haven't had the chance to see much of you around these parts recently. I hope you have been doing well.

Haven't seen much around here, Oh no
I've noticed that I haven't had the opportunity to witness your presence here lately. I hope everything is all right.

Been hiding out in the shade
You have been concealing yourself away from others in dark and secret places where it's almost impossible to be seen.

Your skins all gone to gray
Your skin has changed color to become dull and lifeless, which suggests that you have not been taking proper care of yourself.

Did you eat today?
I am interested to know whether you have consumed any food today or not.

When you coming home to stay?
I am curious to know when you will finally be returning home and staying for an extended period of time.

Don't you know I love you When you're down and dirty Don't you know I love you When you're clean (Repeat)
Regardless of whether you're feeling down and dirty or clean, I will always love you. You can always count on my love and support.

If you could see what I see
If only you had the opportunity to view the same things I am witnessing, you would understand what I am talking about.

You'd see a boy who can't face things
If you could understand my point of view, you would recognize that there is a young man who is struggling to confront his problems.

Silent is all he is
This young man seems to remain quiet and unforthcoming in all situations.

You been looking around without your vision
You have been scanning your surroundings and noticing many things, but you have not been interpreting them correctly nor optimizing your observations.

Hearing things without listening
You have been perceiving sounds and paying attention to them, but you have not been actively engaging in the process of listening and analyzing them.

Suffering but feeling no real kind of pain
You are receiving a lot of pain, but you do not seem to be experiencing it consciously or feeling the sensation.

You know I'd like to help but When I let you ride for free You drag me into the cheap cheap scene (Cheap cheap scene yeah)
I care about your well-being and would like to assist you, but when I devote my time and resources to you without regard for my own benefit, you only seem to get me involved in unsavory or disreputable circumstances.

You got this thing against Living with the best
You seem to have an aversion to living or associating with people who are successful, wealthy, or influential in some way.

But you sure like to visit me don't you
Despite your disinclination for associating with certain people, you seem to enjoy coming to visit me quite frequently.

When the streets get too cold When you're feeling weary and old When your chances for survival Looking oh so slim When all of a sudden you won't live to be eighty Maybe ninety Maybe a hundred and ten
When you find yourself confronted with the bleak and trying conditions of life, you are quick to seek refuge in my company. Under these circumstances, it becomes all too apparent that life is fleeting and uncertain, and it prompts you to consider how long, or short, your time on this earth may be.

Don't you know I love you When you're down and dirty Don't you know I love you When you're clean (Repeat)
Just to reinforce the notion, no matter what your state of being may be, I will always love you. I always have and always will.

Oh I know everything ain't Always what it seems be to
I understand that appearances can be deceiving, and that things are not always what they appear to be on the surface. There is often more going on beneath the surface, and it is important to delve deeper to uncover the underlying truths.

Don't you know I love you baby Any way I find you Anyway you come Any way I find you Anyway you come
Again, regardless of the circumstances, how you feel at any given point in time or no matter what condition you may be in, I still maintain my deep, consistent love for you.

Come on (Repeat until end)
I urge you to come closer to me, so that we may continue our journey together.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SHANNON MCNALLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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