DISCOGRAPHY: Shaun Escoffery (Oyster 2002)***, Soulonica (Oyster 2003)***.
(2) Championed by the likes of Elton John, Shaun Escoffery was hailed as one of Britain's brightest talents when he arrived on the R&B scene in 2002. Born in East London, Escoffery grew up in a musical family with his singer mother and DJ father. Aware of the pitfalls of a career in the music industry, his parents encouraged him to follow a more academic profession. But after being asked to provide backing vocals for his aunt, also a singer, Escoffery got hooked on the music bug. While at college he started to write and record tracks, and soon landed a part in the Chaka Khan-fronted musical Mum I Wanna Sing. In 2001, Oyster Music showed interest in his independent release "Space Rider" and promptly signed him, re-releasing the track a year later to widespread interest from the likes of influential DJs Trevor Nelson and the Dreem Team. Featuring collaborations with 4hero, MJ Cole, and Ed Case, his self-titled eclectic debut, which was later re-released as the remix album Soulonica, soon followed, but -- despite huge critical acclaim -- it failed to enter the U.K. charts. However, his talent soon became recognized in the U.S., with a personal invitation from Lennox Lewis to sing the National Anthem at his title bout with Mike Tyson in Memphis and the likes of Erykah Badu and Angie Stone requesting his services. In 2007, Escoffery teamed up with longtime writing partner Geoffrey Williams on Move into Soul, a collection of classic soul covers including "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "A Change Is Gonna Come." In the same year, he tread the boards at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, earning a Laurence Olivier nomination for playing several roles in Parade, and in 2008 he was cast as Mufasa in the West End production of The Lion King. ~ Jon O'Brien
Days Like This
Shaun Escoffery Lyrics
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And though it really isn't like me to complain
I think I'm getting used to it
I feel happy and I also feel bad
I've never been here but somehow, I think I have
But I'm getting used to it
I've never been lost like this
I've never been lost like this
Nobody to tell us what to do, all by ourselves
Don't know how I got here and I don't know why I stay
The poets all around are laughing in their graves
Must be something that I said
This place is not like anything I've seen before
The spirits move around, the houses have no doors
But I'm getting used to it
I've never been lost like this
I've never been lost like this
But I wouldn't be happy anywhere else
Nobody to tell us what to do, all by ourselves
Isn't this a fine hello, I wish I hadn't seen you go
It's always been a bitter pill, the broken mirror's broken still
The letters never made the post, a thousand more I never wrote
And here on dark, unfriendly streets
I find the comfort that I seek
And I'm happy, and I've been happy, and I've been
I've never been lost like this
I've never been lost like this
But I wouldn't be happy anywhere else
Nobody to tell us what to do, all by ourselves
I've never been lost like this
I've never been lost like this
But I wouldn't be happy
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
In "Days Like This," Shaun Escoffery describes a state of mind where he's content yet lost, happy yet confused. Despite standing alone in the rain, he isn't complaining and "getting used to it." He's uncertain how he arrived there, but he's embraced the mystery of the unknown. The poets who have passed on to the afterlife are laughing in their graves, and the houses have no doors. Despite being lost, he feels at home and happy in this unfamiliar place. The broken mirror and unwritten letters that represent his past failures are still present in his memory, but they no longer have any power over him. In this new world, he's found comfort in the darkness and unfriendliness of the streets.
The lyrics of "Days Like This" are open to interpretation, but one possible explanation is that the singer has let go of his past and has found inner peace in the present. He's accepting his losses , but he's not dwelling on them. Instead, he's embracing the unknown, and he's not afraid to make a new start. He's trying to say that sometimes getting lost means finding something new and beautiful.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm standing all alone out in the pouring rain
I am outside by myself in the rain
And though it really isn't like me to complain
I usually do not complain about things
I think I'm getting used to it
I am starting to become familiar with this situation
I feel happy and I also feel bad
I am experiencing both positive and negative emotions
I've never been here but somehow, I think I have
I have never physically been in this location, but it seems familiar to me
But I'm getting used to it
I am becoming more accustomed to the situation
I've never been lost like this
I have never felt this unsure or uncertain before
But I wouldn't be happy anywhere else
Despite feeling lost, I am content with where I am
Nobody to tell us what to do, all by ourselves
There is no one else around to give us direction, we must figure it out for ourselves
Don't know how I got here and I don't know why I stay
I am unsure of how I ended up here and why I am still here
The poets all around are laughing in their graves
There are poets who have passed away, yet mock me from their graves
Must be something that I said
My words or actions have caused the poets to laugh at me
This place is not like anything I've seen before
This location is unlike any place I have ever been to
The spirits move around, the houses have no doors
There are supernatural entities present, and the houses do not have traditional entryways
Isn't this a fine hello, I wish I hadn't seen you go
I am experiencing bitterness and regret over someone leaving
It's always been a bitter pill, the broken mirror's broken still
There has always been a difficult situation to face, and it continues to exist
The letters never made the post, a thousand more I never wrote
I have missed the opportunity to send many letters in my life
And here on dark, unfriendly streets
I am in a location that is uninviting and potentially dangerous
I find the comfort that I seek
Despite the darkness and difficulty, I am able to find solace
And I've been happy, and I've been
At times, I have experienced happiness
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
An expression of affirmation or agreement
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GEOFFREY WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind