Shannon began her own recording career in 1989, working with producer John Dunford and musicians such as Adam Clayton, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham. The work with Scott and Wickham led to Shannon's joining their band, The Waterboys. Shannon was with the band for eighteen months, and contributed both accordion and fiddle to their Room to Roam album. Like Wickham, she left the group when Scott and group member Anthony Thistlethwaite wanted to move the band back to a more rock and roll sound. With Disirt Tola, Shannon toured the United States at age fourteen, whereas her first world tour was with The Waterboys.
Shannon's solo work has achieved remarkable airplay and commercial success, especially in Ireland. After her inclusion on A Woman's Heart, a compilation album and a tribute to her work on The Late Late Show, Shannon's music received a great deal of exposure, contributing to the record-breaking sales of her debut album
Her 2000 album, The Diamond Mountain Sessions, which included vocals from a wide variety of artists, was also a commercial success, being certified triple platinum.
Shannon recorded with Steve Earle on the song "The Galway Girl", which was released on both Earle's album Transcendental Blues, and Shannon & Friends' The Diamond Mountain Sessions. Both albums were released in 2000.
Another collaboration with Earle was the instrumental "Dominic Street", released on Earle's 2002 album Sidetracks. Shannon has also worked with Jackson Browne, the band Coolfin, Dónal Lunny, Moya Brennan, Kirsty MacColl, Christy Moore, Sinéad O'Connor, Liam O'Maonlai, and John Prine, amongst others.
Her more recent albums include:
Renegade (2007)
Saints & Scoundrels (2009)
Upside down (2009)
Flying Circus (2012)
Go Tell The Devil
Sharon Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But a lily-white beginner is one thing I ain′t
I'm living a lot, yeah I'm doing ... oh well
Go tell the Devil I don′t wanna go to Hell!
Yeah, I′m from simple pleasures, and a solid start
Singing hymnal treasures, with a full, full heart
So I'm hoping for forgiveness, when my death toll knells
Gonna crank this thing right up to eleven
Yeah, blame my life on a lucky seven
Gonna hope to God that I still get to Heaven
Yeah, go tell the Devil I don't wanna go to Hell, no!
Don′t wanna go!
Well, the party's still going, and the moon got tired
And the drink is still flowing, and the band is wired
And remember what happened for my soul I didn′t sell
Go tell the Devil I don't wanna go to Hell!
Gonna crank this thing right up to eleven
Yeah, blame my life on a lucky seven
Hope to God that I still get to Heaven
Yeah, go tell the Devil I don't wanna go to Hell, no, no!
Don′t wanna go!
No no, don′t wanna go, no!
Oh!
In Sharon Shannon's song "Go Tell The Devil", she addresses the conflicting opinions people may have about her, some calling her a sinner while some calling her a saint. However, she asserts herself as neither a lily-white beginner nor a sinner, but rather someone who enjoys living life in the moment. Despite this, she still hopes for forgiveness when her time comes and doesn't want to go to Hell. The song also talks about enjoying simple pleasures like singing hymns with a full heart, and how she doesn't want to sell her soul for anything despite the partying and drinking around her.
The lyrics of this song can be interpreted in different ways. It could be taken as a warning against excess and debauchery, or it could be seen as a celebration of living life to the fullest without compromising one's values. The lines "blame my life on a lucky seven" and "gonna hope to God that I still get to Heaven" show a belief in luck and a possible afterlife, while the repeated assertion of not wanting to go to Hell shows a fear of the unknown and the consequences of one's actions.
Line by Line Meaning
Some say I′m a sinner, some say I'm a saint
People have different opinions about me, some see me as a bad person, while others consider me as a good one
But a lily-white beginner is one thing I ain′t
I'm not an innocent, inexperienced person who has never done anything wrong
I'm living a lot, yeah I'm doing ... oh well
I'm enjoying life and doing what I want to do
Go tell the Devil I don′t wanna go to Hell!
Let the Devil know that I'm not willing to go to Hell and face punishment for my actions
Yeah, I′m from simple pleasures, and a solid start
I come from an uncomplicated upbringing, with a firm foundation
Singing hymnal treasures, with a full, full heart
I sing religious songs with a lot of passion and sincerity
So I'm hoping for forgiveness, when my death toll knells
I'm praying that I will be forgiven for my sins when I die and face judgment
Yeah, go tell the Devil I don′t wanna go to Hell!
Let the Devil know that I'm determined to avoid Hell and its torments
Gonna crank this thing right up to eleven
I'm going to live life to the fullest, without holding back
Yeah, blame my life on a lucky seven
I see my life as a result of good fortune or luck
Gonna hope to God that I still get to Heaven
I'm praying that I'll be allowed into Heaven despite my flaws and transgressions
Yeah, go tell the Devil I don't wanna go to Hell, no!
The Devil should be aware that I am not going to Hell, no matter what
Well, the party's still going, and the moon got tired
The celebration I'm part of is still happening, even though it's late at night
And the drink is still flowing, and the band is wired
People are still drinking and having fun, while the band plays music with high energy
And remember what happened for my soul I didn′t sell
Although I'm enjoying myself, I have not sacrificed my morals or values to do so
Go tell the Devil I don't wanna go to Hell!
The Devil must know that I'm not willing to suffer in Hell
No no, don′t wanna go, no!
I absolutely don't want to go to Hell
Oh!
An exclamation of emphasis or excitement
Writer(s): Higham Imelda Mary
Contributed by Levi R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.