Lynne's first recording for Epic was a duet with George Jones, "If I Could Bottle This Up", which became a top-50 hit in 1988. In 2000 she won a Grammy award for "Best New Artist", despite the fact that she had been recording and releasing records for more than ten years
With Tears, Lies, and Alibis the follow-up to 2008's Just A Little Lovin' and the first release on her own label, Everso Records, Shelby Lynne affirms her position as a visionary, iconoclastic artist who deftly weaves country, soul, rock, blues, pop and folk influences to forge her own unique style. Like Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005), this sparse, unguarded collection was produced by Lynne, who evokes a live-in-the-studio vibe from a stellar group of musicians. Born in Quantico, VA, she grew up in Jackson, AL and headed to Nashville at an early age. At 18, Lynne s demos landed her an appearance on TNN s Nashville Now series, which led to a Top 50 duet ( "If I Could Bottle This Up" ) with George Jones and a record deal. Following the release of the critically acclaimed I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist. She made her acting debut in 2005, playing Johnny Cash's mother in the Fox Searchlight motion picture Walk the Line.
Sold The Devil
Shelby Lynne Lyrics
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Seas are in control
Gravity plays a part
I know it all by heart
Oh we sold the devil a dash of sunshine
We sold the devil a dash of sunshine
Arm and arm as we touch
Sister, brother
And our earth Mother
Oh we sold the devil a dash of sunshine (yeah we did)
We sold the devil a dash of sunshine
Oh it's too soon to know who or when
The story begins the story ends
No strangers and no fear
'Cause we sold the devil a dash of sunshine
Yeah we did
Oh we sold the devil a dash of sunshine
We sold the devil a dash of sunshine
The lyrics of Shelby Lynne's song "Sold the Devil" speaks of the unpredictable nature of life and the power that nature holds over humanity. The opening lines of the song - "Changes I can't predict, seas are in control, gravity plays a part" - suggest the idea that there are things in life that are beyond human control, and that we are at the mercy of the forces of nature. The lines "I know it all by heart" suggest that the singer has come to accept and understand this truth, and has learned to live with it.
The song then goes on to speak of the interconnectedness of all living things, with the lines "Oh we all on this planet, arm and arm as we touch, sister, brother, and our earth mother." This highlights the idea that humanity is part of a larger ecosystem, and that our actions have an impact on the world around us. The lines "We sold the devil a dash of sunshine" is an interesting metaphor, as it suggests that humanity has made a deal with the devil by taking from nature and not giving back, but has also added something positive in the form of a "dash of sunshine."
The song's refrain, which repeats the lines "Oh we sold the devil a dash of sunshine, we sold the devil a dash of sunshine" serves as a reminder of the precarious balance between humanity and the natural world, and the need to acknowledge the power of nature and work with it rather than against it.
Line by Line Meaning
Changes I can't predict
I am uncertain of what the future holds and how circumstances might change.
Seas are in control
The vastness of the ocean exerts its influence over the world.
Gravity plays a part
The natural force that pulls everything towards the center of the earth is at work everywhere.
I know it all by heart
I am completely familiar with these facts and feel them deeply.
Oh we sold the devil a dash of sunshine
Human beings have made a Faustian bargain by embracing technological progress at the expense of environmental damage.
We sold the devil a dash of sunshine
This refrain represents the central irony of the song- that we have given up so much for so little.
Oh we all on this planet
All people are equal inhabitants of the earth and share a responsibility to protect it.
Arm and arm as we touch
We are all connected to one another as human beings and should work together to create a better world.
Sister, brother
This phrase reinforces the idea that we are all family members and should treat each other as such.
And our earth Mother
The earth is personified as a nurturing mother figure who provides for us and needs to be respected and cared for in turn.
Oh it's too soon to know who or when
The repercussions of our actions may not be immediately apparent, and we do not know who will ultimately pay the price for our environmental destruction.
The story begins the story ends
This line suggests that everything has a beginning and an end, and that we should be mindful of how our actions fit into larger, ongoing narratives.
No strangers and no fear
We should not be afraid to work together to create change and should embrace the idea that we are all in this together.
'Cause we sold the devil a dash of sunshine
This line serves as a reminder that our environmental destruction is a Faustian pact that we have made willingly.
Yeah we did
This final line of the song is a defiant statement of responsibility. We made this choice, and now we must take ownership of the consequences.
We sold the devil a dash of sunshine
The repetition of the refrain highlights the central irony of the song- that we have given up so much for so little.
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