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
Now That I Know
Shannon McNally Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
Midweek morning time I wake up next to you
With your head on my pillow and your arms around me,
Oh baby it's so warm
Still I lay here thinking about the way I thought it would be
But all my planning aside
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
And I'll be your ground if you'll be my muse I can tie on to
You follow me and I'll follow you
Yes I'll follow you
Still I lay here thinking 'bout the way I used to be
And man baby with you I've come a long way
Now that I know what I know, I know I'll always love you
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
And it's all a trick till you figure it out
I couldn't hear myself thinking till I started to shout
Now that I know what I know, I know I'll always love you
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
Now that I know what I know, I know I'll always love you
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
The song "Now That I Know" by Shannon McNally is a reflection on the realization of one's true feelings towards someone. Through the lyrics, the singer expresses that she now knows that she will always love the person she is with, and that she has finally come to see the reality of the relationship. The lyric, "now that I got what I got, I know I had it all along" implies that the singer had been taking the relationship for granted and had not fully appreciated it before.
The singer wakes up in the morning next to her lover and feels a sense of warmth from their embrace. However, she is still thinking about her initial expectations for the relationship and how they differ from reality. Despite this, the singer has realized that she loves her partner and wants to be their ground while they are her muse. The singer acknowledges the growth she has experienced as a person through the relationship, and she is grateful for what she has now come to understand.
Overall, "Now That I Know" is a reflective and introspective song that explores the complexities of relationships and self-discovery. The lyrics capture the realization of true love and the evolution of a person's perspective through their experiences with another person.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that I know what I know, I know I'll always love you
After discovering something about you, I realized that I will always love you
Now that I see what I see I see it will always be
I have a new perspective on our relationship and I know it will last forever
Now that I got what I got I know I had it all along
I have something that I didn't realize was always there and now I understand its value
Midweek morning time I wake up next to you
I wake up next to you on a normal weekday morning
With your head on my pillow and your arms around me,
You are holding me closely with your head resting on my pillow
Oh baby it's so warm
I feel safe and comfortable with you
Still I lay here thinking about the way I thought it would be
I think about my expectations and how they differ from reality
But all my planning aside
Regardless of what I had planned, this is how things turned out
And I'll be your ground if you'll be my muse I can tie on to
I will be your support if you can inspire me creatively
You follow me and I'll follow you
Let's support and encourage each other
Still I lay here thinking 'bout the way I used to be
I reflect on who I was before I met you
And man baby with you I've come a long way
You have helped me grow and change in significant ways
And it's all a trick till you figure it out
Life can seem complicated until you understand it
I couldn't hear myself thinking till I started to shout
I had to make noise in order to hear my own thoughts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERIC M BAZILIAN, SHANNON MAUREEN MCNALLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@arthurshepherd8757
For Goddess King of Orion Angel/Candlekin My Everything Shawna Lee Colvin
For Ultra Beautiful Ultra Badass Goddess of Texas Grit Mystic Vision Courage under fire Love Sacred and Good
Shannon McNally
For 'The Divine 'One' of Texas He of Mystic Vision Courage under fire Wisdom Love Sacred and Good
Willie Nelson and Family
A Tale of Celtic Soul Romance - Inspired by Ultra Great Ultra Badass Warrior Archangel of Karma/Justice/Peace
Beautiful Graceful Genius Lover of Womankind with Mystic Vision Courage under fire sacred wise David Crosby
For Ultra Great Ultra Beautiful Ultra Badass Warrior Archangels of God the Father
'The Beatles'
For Ultra Great Ultra Badass Warrior Archangel for Erin Ireland the World with Mystic Vision Love Brian Wilson
For Ultra Great Ultra Badass Warrior Archangels for Erin Ireland and the World with Mystic Vision Courage Love Wisdom
Steve Earle and Del Mccoury and Ray Wylie Hubbard Justin Moses, Jason Carter, Goddess Sierra Hull, Rob McCoury, Ronnie McCoury, Del McCoury, Cody Kilby, Ethan Jodziewicz, Alan Bartram, Goddess Leigh Gibson, Dre Anders, Eric Gibson
For Beautiful Graceful Sacred Wise Integral Quantum Thinker Soulful Singer Brother of Christ God of Earth Bob Dylan And His Goddess Saint Singers
For Twin Soul Now One Of Bob Dylan Beautiful Wise Good Sacred Graceful Inspirational Goddess Suze Rotolo
I found my soul
she resides blissfully
in a Celtic Goddess
of love wisdom and grace
with Erin's face
I'm in danger
because I'm a sinner
and she may feel a stranger
in her sacred domain
I pray to all the Saints and Angels
she may remove the stain
so I pray today and every day
to forever here with her remain
to assure me that I'm clean and good
that I may serve her faithfully forever
as she implied I could
that we could win this war together
you'd be a beacon for my soul
didn't you say you would
She's a hard sell
she 'knows' the business of the heart
my worthiness she can tell
she can pull my mind apart
like no other
she 'knows' my soul intimately
every sin every mistake
she may be my mother
will you make love
do we have this love to make
she 'knows' how easily
I break and how I cry for her
where will I go
what shall I do without her
serve the poor
I 'hear' someone say
is it her
is that Her command
uphold the weak she adds
for the higher good make a stand
I 'hear' someone whispering
is it You my soul my love
or am I an imposter
Leonard said: "I didn't come here
to fool you"
just love and light to foster
You said dreams can lie
but my darling this pig can fly
like a cardinal eagle or dove
inspired by your love
I dream of you in the sky
with diamonds
mined from the deepest deep
I dream of you all day
and all night in my sleep
I wander the roads
and get lost
as I add up the cost
of being unworthy or wrong
I've sought you
sung many a song
my whole old long life
you promised a whole new me
am I your wife
you said you were a man
and a King
you said I could be a woman
didn't you
did you accept my ring
or am I wrong again
how can I 'know'
anything without you
is this dream true
you live on a dream you said
well then it came from you
didn't it
so tell me is it true
will you leave me here now
on this plank
over the abyss
ridiculed
without a Valentine
I'll never do that to you
I'll weather the storms of time
for you my eternal love
my Goddess King of Orion
who descended from above
my everything
are you the Walrus or glass onion
I could be anything
but only You can know better
at the very least please sing
may I serve as your Irish Setter
or your Scottish Terrier
I don't eat much
and I'll come when you call
I love you that's all
I'll yield to your will I'll heel
upon command
upon command I'll sit
for your love
I'll make a stand
as a woman
or a man
end
For Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Family with love. Michelle
For Joni Mitchell with love. Michelle Colvin
For David Crosby with love. Michelle
For Neil Young Graham Nash Stephen Stills with love. Michelle
For Sarah Maclachlan with love. Michelle
For Laura Marling with love. Michelle
For Brandi Carlile and Catherine Carlile with love. Michelle
For Taylor Swift with love. Michelle
For Paul McCartney and 'The Beatles' with love. Michelle
For 'The Chieftains' with love. Michelle
For Van Morrison with love. Michelle
For Stevie Tyler and 'Aerosmith' with love. Michelle
For Robert Plant Jimmy Page and 'Led Zepplin with love. Michelle
For 'The Rolling Stones' with love. Michelle
For Peter Wolf with love. Michelle
For Patty Larkin with love. Michelle
For Simon and Garfunkel with love. Michelle
For Stevie Winwood with love. Michelle
For Judy Collins with love. Michelle
For Stuart Smith with love. Michelle
For Richard Thompson with love. Michelle
For Sandy Denny with love. Michelle
For Greg Brown and Family with love. Michelle
For Geoff Bartley with love. Michelle
For Chris Smither with love Michelle
For Jenelle Rebecca Wohltmann with love. Michelle
For 'Celtic Woman' with love. Michelle
For Bonnie Raitt with love Michelle
For Sheryl Crow with love Michelle
For Tom Rush with love Michelle
For Woody Guthrie and family with love. Michelle
For Levon Helm and 'The Band' with love. Michelle
For Pete Seeger with love. Michelle
For Bruce Springsteen with love. Michelle
For John Mellencamp with love. Michelle
For Jackson Browne with love. Michelle
For David Lindley with love. Michelle
For Geoff Bartley with love. Michelle
For Robert Earl Keen with love. Michelle
For Chapin and James Taylor with love. Michelle
For Carole King with love. Michelle
For Steve Earle and Ray Wylie Hubbard with love. Michelle
For Lyle Lovett with love. Michelle
For John Gorka with love. Michelle
For Lucy Kaplansky with love. Michelle
For Bob Dylan with love. Michelle
For Joan Baez with love. Michelle
For Tom Petty with love. Michelle
For Stevie Nicks with love. Michelle
For Sting with love. Michelle
For Leland Sklar with love. Michelle
For Roseanne Cash and John Levanthal with love. Michelle
For 'Celtic Worship' and Steph Macleod with love. Michelle
For my Blessed Beautiful and Perfect Lord Savior Brother Friend and Great Redeemer Jesus Christ Almighty
This is my prayer: To be united in the flesh and to give Shawn grandchildren for You to Bless. And may we together
serve you forever. With love devotion and deep gratitude The Colvin Family. In Your Holy Name we pray. Love.
Clan Colvin Shawn Michelle Callie
@ShannonMcNallyOfficial
I hope everyone loves this video as much as I do. Thanks to Stacie Huckeba for the beautiful camera work and putting me at ease so we could catch this solitary tune. And as ever to my long time pal and collaborator Charlie Sexton for all of his magic. He adds so much elegance, simplicity and earth to everything he touches, an utter song, sound and tone master.
@JoanieBC
I love this version! It's beautiful.
I first saw you perform this on Late World with Zach. I was in the audience when you were the musical guest. My friend and I went out & both bought copies of the CD after.
Almost 20yrs later & this is a song I will never forget.
@hardlyworkin3603
Excellent. One of her best songs. I have every CD of Shannon's. Incredibly talented. Shannon and Shelby ( Lynne). Two of the very best.
@ShannonMcNallyOfficial
Shelby is fantastic. Thanks for the compliment. So nice to hear. Shannon
@visiondiva9visiondiva982
whoa YES 2 extraordinaries
@tomstorms2428
hey Shannon! Nice track, love the video. Your artistry has grown so much over the years. Good on you! I remember the Jukebox Sparrows days and first hearing you on WFUV. Met you and your Dad at Mercury Lounge just after your release of Geronimo. Keep doin' it girl, you're just keep getting better!
@cargil48
Very good recording sound! Bright and crisp, as your voice deserves...
@ThePennyish
So great, Shannon. I like everything about it, video,your words, your voice with all its sincerity!
@lisamchugh9303
One of my favorites ever since I first heard you perform in LA in the late 90’s. Such a great version here!
@seansweeney9864
A nice arrangement and just a good all around song!