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.
In The Morning
Shannon Wright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Used to sing
And now what once was yours
Is out of reach
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
If only you'd let the day unfold
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
In the morning light
Cold, tender light
In the morning light
Cold, tender light
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
In the morning light
Cold, tender light
In the morning light
Cold, tender light
The lyrics to Shannon Wright’s “In The Morning” are poetic and introspective, reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and the sacrifices we make to achieve our desires. The metaphor of the “dead sparrow” is used to represent a loss of purpose and identity, as the bird’s once beautiful song is silenced now that it is no longer alive. The singer of the song is lamenting the fact that they too have lost something valuable, their dreams or aspirations, which are now out of reach.
The chorus repeats the phrase “everything you wanted gave way”, conveying an overwhelming sense of disappointment and resignation. The singer is acknowledging that their desires were not fulfilled, despite their best efforts. The verses describe the singer as “timid” and “shy away”, which suggests that they were hesitant to pursue their dreams, and perhaps missed opportunities to reach them. However, the line “if only you’d let the day unfold” suggests that the singer still believes there is potential for change and growth, if only they can seize the moment.
The final lines of the song describe the “cold, tender light” of the morning, which could be interpreted as a symbol of hope or renewal. Despite the loss and failure that the singer has experienced, there is still beauty and possibility in the world, waiting to be discovered.
Line by Line Meaning
You, dead sparrow
Addressing someone who has lost their spark, their vitality
Used to sing
Reference to when the person was lively and thriving, now they are not
And now what once was yours
Their former energy and enthusiasm
Is out of reach
Now unattainable
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
All their desires crumbled or failed
You were timid, shy away
Perhaps they were reserved or hesitant to pursue their goals
If only you'd let the day unfold
Regret over not taking more chances or seizing opportunities
In the morning light
New day ahead, symbolizing hope or renewal
Cold, tender light
Light representing the beauty and fragility of life, but also its harshness
Oh, everything you wanted gave way
Reiteration of the loss and disappointment experienced
In the morning light
Repeated emphasis on starting anew and finding new possibilities
Cold, tender light
Same as before
Contributed by Kaylee E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.