When He Shines
Sheena Easton Lyrics


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This man's a child, this man is old
Sometimes he's mild, sometimes he's bold
This man, I love sometimes in spite
Of wishing he'd stick to his guns or abandon the fight

But when he shines, oh when he shines
Yes, when he shines, he shines so bright
Sometimes a tramp, sometimes a dude
He changes colors just like a chameleon, can't find the mood
He is a song that's not easy to write
He's the moon in the morning and the sun out at night

But when he shines, when he shines
Oh, when he shines, he shines so bright

This man's a gentleman, this man is strong
This temperamental man plays me along

But when he shines, when he shines
Oh, when he shines, he shines so bright

Yes, when he shines, when he shines
Oh, when he shines, he shines so bright





But when he shines, oh, when he shines
Yes, when he shines, he shines so bright

Overall Meaning

The song "When He Shines" by Sheena Easton is a tribute to a complicated and multi-faceted man who is both old and young, gentle and strong, and can be both mild-mannered and bold depending on his mood. The singer of the song is a woman who loves this man, but acknowledges that his unpredictable nature can be frustrating at times. She wishes he would either stick to his convictions or let go of the fight, but ultimately accepts him for who he is.


The lyrics suggest that this man is a bit of a shape-shifter, as he can be both a tramp and a dude, and changes colors like a chameleon. He is likened to a song that is difficult to write, and is described as being both the moon in the morning and the sun out at night. Despite his mercurial nature, the woman is inexorably drawn to him, especially when he shines.


"When He Shines" is more than a simple love song; there is something deeper going on here. The song speaks to the complexity of human relationships, and the fact that we are drawn to people who are imperfect, multi-faceted and ultimately unpredictable. The message seems to be that even though this man can be exasperating, he has a redeeming quality that makes everything worthwhile.


Line by Line Meaning

This man's a child, this man is old
This man is complex; he possesses qualities of both a youthful and older person.


Sometimes he's mild, sometimes he's bold
His personality is multifaceted and can range from being gentle to assertive.


This man, I love sometimes in spite
Despite his flaws, I still love him.


Of wishing he'd stick to his guns or abandon the fight
I wish he would either stand up for himself or give up, rather than wavering.


Sometimes a tramp, sometimes a dude
Like a chameleon, he can change his appearance and behavior drastically.


He changes colors just like a chameleon, can't find the mood
It's difficult to pinpoint how he will act or feel since it fluctuates frequently.


He is a song that's not easy to write
His unpredictable nature makes it challenging to understand or predict his actions.


He's the moon in the morning and the sun out at night
He can embody opposite qualities such as light and dark, or calm and intense, depending on the situation.


This man's a gentleman, this man is strong
He possesses contrasting qualities of being polite and considerate, while also displaying strength and resilience.


This temperamental man plays me along
His fluctuating emotions can leave me feeling unsure or manipulated.


But when he shines, oh when he shines
Despite his complexities, when he is in a positive light, it is truly captivating.


Yes, when he shines, he shines so bright
His positive qualities shine profoundly when he is in a good place emotionally or mentally.


But when he shines, when he shines
When he is at his best, it's an incredibly powerful moment.


Oh, when he shines, he shines so bright
His positive qualities are so brilliant and captivating when he is in a good place.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Sherri Lohse

This one instead of Sheena Easton, when he shines is a Chicago young lady born in South michigan
FLASHDANCE lady lady lady is a lady born in South michigan
Celine Dion is a young lady born in South michigan
Gloria estephan is a young lady born in South michigan
Helen reddy is a young lady born in South michigan looking for a RED head ruby red dress who made a nice YELLOW bus for schools appears to be a LITHOGRAPHER from Hyde park in paella iowa
Charles Bronson niece bad news bears rock in RING appears to be a Hamilton with glass and a beat me up for the glass money old Charles Bronson movie with Chuck Norris and Bruce lei

I will goto war with you JESUS Christ and your entire us military

YOU WILL NOT GET HER BANK OR HER MONEY
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR HOUSE YOU LOSE YOUR CHANCE TO SPY WITH IMMANUEL SCHOOL ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY AND CHRIS KYLE
YOU WILL LOSE YOUR US NAVY SEAL CANDIDATE FOREVER SHERRI
THREE KINGS MOVIE
YOU WILL LOSE OPERATION JERICHO MOVIE

YOU WILL GET YOUR MISTAKE NAVY SEAL MOVIE JR BELIEVE TO BE JOHN KENNEDY AND MONROE SON ASK NOT WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY I LOOK TO YOU BY SELAH

YOU WILL NOT GET YOUR FEW GOOD MEN MOVIE
OR YOUR PELICAN BRIEF MOVIE

BUT MY PAPERS ARE MINE

YOUR FAMILIES ARE GOING HOME SAME US MARIENES ARE IN THE ALLEY

YOUR BEER IS HAMS FOR YOUR EDWARD NOT ACCEPTED CLAUDE SANDY SORRY HE IS NOT A FOUNDER THEY KNOW YOUR SPYING KENNEDY TOOK YOUR CLOCK I THINK KENNEDY WOULD GIVE YOUR CLOCKS BACK

CLOAK AND DAGGER MOVIE BOBBY KENNEDY SHERIFF WORKED A SPERRY UIVAC DESK

SANDY CLUDE BILL RUSS DICK SAW US MARIENES IN WHEEL BARRELS TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE

WONT STOP JUMPED US MILITARY FOR SCHOOL LOANS

GOING AWAY FROM ME FOREVER TO BE WITH CROWN POINT INDIANA KIMMY OLD HOUSE

I SAID NO THEY CANT HAVE SHERRI PUMPKINS APPLES HOUSES HIGHEST PRIZE TO CHICAGO POLICE HER GREAT AUNT IS PORTILLO, SHE IS A GERMAN BEER WORKER

SHE DISCOVERED 26 LETTERS CONFIRMED TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE TRUE IDENTIFIED 1ST ALPHABET IN MANY BOOKS AND ASKED TO BE A CHICAGO POLICE 1901

SHE WAS ASKED TO CHICAGO POLICE SHERRI MADE COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYONS

THIS CONSTANT BAD NEWS BEAR GIRL SOMEONE I CANT TAKE,

I BELIEVE YOUR RELATIVES ARE IJURING MY RIGHTS IN THIS NATIONS AND MANY OTHER NATIONS
I WILL TAKE YOU ON HER SAVIOR

YOUR STRETCHING OF HER LEGS IS NOT GETTING TINA OFF FOR GAY SEX AND YES TO YOUR TOILET AND TOP GUN SEAT YOU LOSE I SAID TRADE CENTER I LET SIMON DIE

YOUR FANTASY OF PLAYING WITH ME IS OVER

COUNTY SHERIFF IS RESTORING EVERYTHING FROM 1969 TO 2021

WHEN YOU SEE ME AND SHERRI FOR A ONE TIME VISIT TO THE IWIRELESS HEY MAN YOUR NOT WITH GOD

EACH AND EVERY GROUP YOUR WIVES AND YOU GET TO LEAVE WITH US MILITARY CLOTHES

SHERRI SAID NO TO LUCIFER ONE GIRL THOUGHT BE WITH THE VAMPIRES AND DRACULA AT THE FRONT DOOR WITH MOVIE FRANTIC MOVIE

THE BLUE PAROT WHERE SHE WORKS THE END OF NUCLEAR WAR HEAD IS THE CAN ON THE TELEPHONE POLE

1741AD, THE END OF THE WORLD NO POWER NO FARM LOAN NO CLOCK CAUSE NO PATENT

ARMAGEDDON LUCIFER GREATEST WAR

BLINK OF AN EYE YOU SEE THE LIGHTITS AMAZING

MOVIE PROPHEY WHO IS WILLIAM HURT GABRIEL 3RD ANGEL EXACT PHONICS PHONOFONES

A A 1 1 4 4 8 8

MITT ROMNEY OR MIHAEL MITT ROMNEY

MICHAEL MOVIE WHEN HE WAS SWIMMING TO ISLAND PUT THEM ON DISPLAY JUST MICHAEL MOVIE

KHAMEL FROM SILENCE OF LAMBS HOW IS NOT ON THE TEN COMMANDMENTS BOX HE IS RIGHTSIDE
GABRIEL LEFT SIDE

KHAMEL IS LUCIFER NOT WILLIAM HURT

CHERUBUM IS ON THE RIGHT SIDE WITH GABRIEL FROM PHROPHECY MOVIE AND FROM THE PELICAN BRIEF MOVIE
THE ONE WITH LUCIFER IS MICHAEL MOVIE
MICHAEL LANDON IS HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN HE MICHAEL SON

LUCIFER ANGEL SODOM IS A TOOTH FAIRY THEN HEIS RIGHT SIDE NOT LEFT

LEFT SIDEIS GABRIEL AGAINST LUCIFER TWO SIDES
CHERBUM IS GABRIEL

THEIR INTERMARRIAGE NOT SO 9 BOYS 30 LADIES HIGH TREON FOR THE ARCH ANGELS I GAVE THEM FROM BOARS HEAD JESUS BOOK, WEDDING CAKE RECEIPE JESUS BOOK DYING FOR IT

I CAN GET IT FORYOU ACOLYTE SMART GIRL

HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY FOR JESUS CAKE JEWIH WHO MADE MARRIAGE

WHAT WOULD DO FOR THE CORRECT RECEIPE I WANT TO PAY KHAMEL SOUNDS LIKE A GIRL

IN PJNK



All comments from YouTube:

Kevin Edmonds

What a beautiful song!!!! Really displays Sheena's vocal talents & abilities. Underrated.

Toyota Kawasaki

Where do you get these ratings from? Please explain.

Teenasboy50

Sheena and Teena Marie were two of my favorite singers from the 80’s!! Great looks and powerful voices!! Bring back the 80’s please!!!!

Jeff Farmer

Her voice back then not only gave me goosebumps it made the hair stand straight up on my neck... NOT EVEN KIDDING, either-!!! 🤔😁😆👍✌

Steve Trask

It's interesting that we don't have female singers today that have this kind of raw, pure vocal talent. 

johnnie west

Steve Trask I was just thinking yesterday these songs are beautiful!!!! Why can’t these young gals do these!!! What a shame!!! I would love young gals to feel what I felt younger!

dreasbn

with audiotune they all sound the same... it's a pity, only a few still have distinctive vocals... and actually the current "pop" music does not need those voices anymore. There are hardly any melodies to humm along left and it's more attitude and image... or maybe I'm just getting old... sometime i think i do indeed sound like my dad in the seventies complaining about Disco and Pop being just rhythm, no melodies and no real vocals... hm....

IBGECKO

P!nk is the only one in the last 20 years that has really blown me away.

KellyAnn Dean

I do!!I'm a professional singer!! I used to sit in my room when u was a little girl and try to sound like sheena,,like linda ronstadt! I never made it big,because it was always the wrong place and wrong time,,i also wasnt going to sell out ! I don't know if Sheena did I'm just saying that the music business is lethal!!! you have to sell your soul to the devil!! its wrong!! I sing now with my husband who plays guitar,,we do our own thing ,,,

MAP1492

@IBGECKOit’s a different genre, but Joss Stone is impressive like Sheena was back then.

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