Shannon Wright is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist based in Atla… Read Full Bio ↴Shannon Wright is a singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.

She fronted the rock trio Crowsdell in the 90's, recording two albums, Dreamette and In the curve of an arm. Both featuring her intense writing, playing and singing.

Her first solo album, Flightsafety (1999) featured a gentle acoustic sound. Her next release, Maps of Tacit (2000) brought a more vocally aggressive approach. This was further developed on her next two albums, Dyed in the Wool (2001) and Over the Sun (2004), which were both recorded with Steve Albini.

After a collaboration with French musician Yann Tiersen (Yann Tiersen & Shannon Wright, 2004), the works that followed moved in a gentler direction, mixing warm folk and rock songs with moodier pieces. These albums included Let in the Light (2007), Honeybee Girls (2009), and Secret Blood (2010).

Her next album, In Film Sound (2013), incorporated more raw and harsh indie rock elements reminiscent of earlier works. Later, on Division (2017), she experimented with a fragile keyboard-based sound incorporating sampling and electronic beats. Her most recent release, Providence (2019), also has a haunting sound mainly based on piano.

She's a frequent road warrior, playing shows everywhere from South Dakota to Brazil. Her live shows are emotionally charged, unbridled pieces of rock and roll, featuring Shannon's trademark vocal howl and multi-instrumental palette. Shannon was handpicked by Sleater-Kinney and Nick Cave to open some of their US tour dates.

Everybody's Got Their own Part To Play
Shannon Wright Lyrics

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You ought to know by now
Nobody's coming to make a sound
You take the fork to your mouth
Have no shame
Try to contain

What's it like
What's it like

When everybody says you ain't trying

What's it like
What's it like
When everybody says you ain't even trying

Oh, the faithful heart
Is when we start
With these trying things

Should have known better
To ask for something
You wouldn't give
You take the words from your mouth
And nobody knows what the truth is

So what's the point
What's the point
When everybody else ain't even trying
What's the point, what's the point
When everybody else ain't even trying

Oh, the faithful heart
Is when we start
With these trying things

Oh, everybody's got their own part in their own play
And I wish I could pour some salt on this tepid rain

But oh, the faithful heart

Is when we start
With these trying things

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in Shannon Wright's song, "Everybody's Got Their own Part To Play" are a reflection on the struggle to find purpose and meaning in life, while also battling against the opinions and criticisms of others. The opening lines, "You ought to know by now nobody's coming to make a sound" imply that one should not wait for others to make a change or impact in their life, but rather take the initiative to do something themselves. The verses that follow talk about the challenges and internal conflicts one may face when pursuing their dreams.

The chorus repeats the phrase "What's it like when everybody says you ain't even trying?" which speaks to the pressure and judgment that can come from not only society, but from our own minds. Wright's lyrics highlight the feeling of being misunderstood or unfairly judged, but also suggest that we should not let the opinions of others dictate our own self-worth. The song's title encapsulates the idea that everyone has a role to play in their own life and purpose to fulfill, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem to others.

Overall, "Everybody's Got Their own Part To Play" is a poignant reminder to stay true to oneself and not give up on personal goals and aspirations, despite the challenges and criticism that may arise.

Line by Line Meaning

You ought to know by now Nobody's coming to make a sound You take the fork to your mouth Have no shame Try to contain
You should be aware that no one is going to help you out. You have to do things on your own. You need to take care of yourself and not feel any guilt about it. You should stay composed throughout your struggles.

What's it like What's it like When everybody says you ain't trying
How does it feel when everyone criticizes you for not putting in enough effort?

What's it like What's it like When everybody says you ain't even trying
What's it like when people claim that you're not even attempting to make an effort?

Oh, the faithful heart Is when we start With these trying things
A devoted heart is what helps us get through difficult times and situations.

Should have known better To ask for something You wouldn't give You take the words from your mouth And nobody knows what the truth is
It was a mistake to request something from someone who was unable or unwilling to provide it. You didn't speak the truth, so now everyone's confused.

So what's the point What's the point When everybody else ain't even trying What's the point, what's the point When everybody else ain't even trying
What's the purpose of putting in effort when no one else seems to be doing the same?

Oh, everybody's got their own part in their own play And I wish I could pour some salt on this tepid rain
Everyone has their own role in life, and I wish I could do something meaningful to help the situation.

But oh, the faithful heart Is when we start With these trying things
Despite the difficulties, a faithful and persistent heart is what gets us through tough times.

Contributed by Annabelle S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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