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
Pale Moon
Shannon McNally Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
trapped in some desert town with you
just me and you
my long black hair waving in the drive-in
me waving at you, my lover
from some ancient balcony
first division i see you
and your gone
way out could id run to
come back
come back
come back
but you're
gone california
and it's just my fate
making me blue
why else would i see you
today
but im not in some desert town
and you're not there with me
im underground in NYC
the city of perpetual motion
the city that never sleeps
thats alright, i wasn't tired anyways
i was so close getting clear
thought i had nothing to fear
you'd be on a plane
and you'd be gone
and it would be done
but there are
18 million people in this town
who spend the day
bummin' around
just to bump into you
on third avenue
yeah
and its a
pale moon
burning sun
when will i see my only one
pale moon
burning sun
when will i see my only one
well i think it's unbelievable
i think it's incredible
it's magical
it's tragic
but i know we'll meet again someday
and we'll be very far away
and i'll know you
and you'll know me
and we're gonna both agree
that we belong together
we belong together
we belong together
we belong together
we belong together
we belong together
cause it's a pale moon
burning sun
when will i see my only one
pale moon
burning sun
when will i see my only one
yeah
yeah
oh
oh i'd like to find myself
trapped in some desert town with you
just me and you
just me and you
The song "Pale Moon" by Shannon McNally tells the story of a woman who is pining for a lost love. She imagines herself in a desert town with her lover, with nothing but each other to keep them company. She longs for the simplicity of a life with him, far from the bustle of the city. However, she is now living in New York City, surrounded by the chaos of 18 million people. Despite this, she still longs for her lost love and yearns for the day when they will be reunited.
The lyrics are filled with imagery, which helps to convey the emotions of the singer. The opening lines paint a picture of a deserted town, with nothing but her and her lover. This is contrasted with the hustle and bustle of the city, where she is now living. She describes New York City as the "city of perpetual motion," and "the city that never sleeps." This creates a sense of restlessness and longing within the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
oh i'd like to find myself
I wish to locate myself
trapped in some desert town with you
Stuck in a dry town with you
just me and you
Only us two together
my long black hair waving in the drive-in
My hair flies about as we watch the outdoor movie theater
me waving at you, my lover
I gesture to you, my love
from some ancient balcony
On a weathered balcony
but like a
But suddenly
first division i see you
Like a military troop, I spot you first
and your gone
And you disappear again
way out could id run to
Nowhere is far enough to escape my desire for you
come back
Return to me
come back
Come back once more
come back
I beg of you to return
but you're
But you have
gone california
Left for California
and it's just my fate
It's simply my destiny
making me blue
Causing me to feel sad
why else would i see you
Why else would I envision you
today
At this moment
but im not in some desert town
But I'm not in a dusty town
and you're not there with me
And you're not by my side
im underground in NYC
I'm belowground in New York City
the city of perpetual motion
A city that never stops moving
the city that never sleeps
A city that's always awake
thats alright, i wasn't tired anyways
That's okay, I wasn't sleepy anyway
i was so close getting clear
I was nearly free
thought i had nothing to fear
I thought I had no need to be afraid
you'd be on a plane
You'd leave on a flight
and you'd be gone
And you would disappear
and it would be done
And everything would be over
but there are
However, there are
18 million people in this town
Eighteen million individuals here
who spend the day
Who pass the time
bummin' around
Lazing about
just to bump into you
Just to run into you
on third avenue
On the third avenue
yeah
Yes
and its a
And it's a
pale moon
Muted moonlight
burning sun
Blazing sunlight
when will i see my only one
When will I see my one and only
pale moon
Muted moonlight
burning sun
Blazing sunlight
when will i see my only one
When will I see my one and only
well i think it's unbelievable
Well, I find it hard to believe
i think it's incredible
I think it's astounding
it's magical
It's magical
it's tragic
It's tragic
but i know we'll meet again someday
But I am certain we will reunite one day
and we'll be very far away
And we'll be a long way from here
and i'll know you
And I'll recognize you
and you'll know me
And you'll recognize me
and we're gonna both agree
And we'll concur
that we belong together
That we are meant to be together
we belong together
We should be together
we belong together
We should be together
we belong together
We should be together
we belong together
We should be together
we belong together
We should be together
cause it's a pale moon
Because it's a muted moonlight
burning sun
Blazing sunlight
when will i see my only one
When will I see my one and only
pale moon
Muted moonlight
burning sun
Blazing sunlight
when will i see my only one
When will I see my one and only
yeah
Yes
yeah
Yes
oh
Oh
oh i'd like to find myself
I wish to locate myself
trapped in some desert town with you
Stuck in a dry town with you
just me and you
Only us two together
just me and you
Only us two together
Contributed by Sadie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.