Brand New Shoes
She & Him Lyrics

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I had some brand new shoes
They were all red but they gave me the blues
And they're runnin' away, they left me a letter
It's just like you told me it'd be
It's nothin' nothin' nothin'
Nothin' at all

We are all made of air

There's stars in my eyes and there's sun in my hair
And I'm runnin' away, it makes me feel better
It's just like you told me it'd be
It's nothin' nothin' nothin'
Nothin' at all

When it comes down to this
I'm neither sorry nor cross nor unfit
And I'm runnin' away, there's smoke on my sweater
It's just like you told me it'd be
It's nothin' nothin' nothin'
Nothin' at all

I had some brand new shoes
They were all red but they gave me the blues
And they're running away, they left me a letter
It's just like you told me it'd be
It's nothin' nothin' nothin'
Nothin' at all

At all
At all

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Brand New Shoes" by She & Him are simple yet layered with meaning. The song appears to be about a person who purchased brand new red shoes, but the shoes ended up giving them the blues. The shoes then run away with a letter, just like someone had foretold. The individual continues to run away with stars in their eyes, sun in their hair, and smoke on their sweater. They insist they are neither sorry nor unfit, but they continue to run away, perhaps searching for something better.

One interpretation of the lyrics could be talking about seeking something new and exciting but then realizing that those things can also bring sadness and disappointment. The line "they were all red but they gave me the blues" suggests that the shoes represent a new experience or relationship that turned out to be a letdown. The fact that the shoes run away with a letter suggests that this experience was not unique to the individual, but something others had warned them about.

The line "we are all made of air" could additionally suggest that despite the ups and downs of life, we are all the same and can learn to push past difficulties. The song's overall message appears to be one of resilience and a refusal to let disappointment keep us down. It's almost as if the singer is saying that it's no big deal in the grand scheme of things, and they'll keep running onwards.

Line by Line Meaning

I had some brand new shoes
I obtained new things to improve my life

They were all red but they gave me the blues
Despite the shiny and positive appearance, these new things caused distress and sadness

And they're runnin' away, they left me a letter
These things are leaving and there is a message being conveyed

It's just like you told me it'd be
This outcome was predicted by someone else

It's nothin' nothin' nothin', Nothin' at all
The situation is empty and meaningless

We are all made of air
We are all similar and fleeting

There's stars in my eyes and there's sun in my hair
I am filled with wonder and joy

And I'm runnin' away, it makes me feel better
Escaping reality provides temporary relief

When it comes down to this
When everything is considered

I'm neither sorry nor cross nor unfit
I have no negative feelings or actions towards anyone

And I'm runnin' away, there's smoke on my sweater
Despite the attempt to escape, trouble still follows