During 2005 & early-06, she signed to Chrysalis Publishing, toured the US / Canada, released two albums & appeared, as guest vocalist, on many dance & trip-hop records, internationally. Her singing / writing / programming skills have led to collaborations with DJ Rap, Delerium & John Cale (of The Velvet Underground).
An accomplished singer in the styles of Dido and Kate Bush - it was her own compositions that attracted the attention of international DJ's and artists like "Junkie XL" who featured her on his album "Broadcast From The Computer Hell Cabin", alongside such artists as Robert Smith, Dave Gahan, Gary Numan and Anouk.
After taking over vocal duties for Sarah McLachlan and Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer) for the "Delerium" US / Canadian Tour - Shelley received glowing reviews for her performance.
Harland is currently writing and working with producers in LA, New York, London and Brussels.
Stranger
Shelley Harland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Reminds me of a life many moons ago,
It seems like years of dreaming have slipped away,
The face I knew, is not the face I knew today.
I'm looking at a stranger in the eye,
My tears become rivers,
They washed away the fire.
I walk on the streets where the cracks and creases show,
Running into someone that I used to know,
I trace the lines that take me to these memories,
But something's missing here, they don't lead back to me.
I'm looking at a stranger in the eye,
My tears become rivers,
They washed away the fire.
Feels like my soul got left behind,
But if I listen to my heart,
I know it's just a matter of time
'Til a stranger says goodbye.
I'm looking at a stranger in the eye,
My tears become rivers,
They washed away the fire.
Feels like my soul got left behind,
But if I listen to my heart,
I know it's just a matter of time
'Til a stranger says goodbye.
'Til a stranger says goodbye,
'Til a stranger says goodbye,
'Til a stranger says goodbye (goodbye),
'Til a stranger says goodbye.
In Shelley Harland's song Stranger, she sings about looking at a stranger in the eye and feeling like something is missing, like her soul got left behind. The lyrics suggest that the person she is looking at is someone she used to know in the past, but their face has changed, and the memories she has of them don't belong to her anymore. The song speaks to the sense of loss and disconnection we can feel when we encounter someone from our past who no longer feels like they belong in our lives. It's a powerful moment when we realize that the person we once knew is now a stranger to us, and we must say goodbye.
The lyrics are open-ended enough to allow listeners to relate to them in their own way. The idea of feeling like a stranger to someone you used to know is a common experience, and the way that Harland expresses this feeling in her song is poignant and relatable. The song is backed by a slow, melancholic melody that underscores the introspective nature of the lyrics. Overall, Stranger is a beautiful and emotive song that captures the bittersweet feeling of encountering a stranger from our past.
Line by Line Meaning
Heard another song on the radio,
I heard a song that brought back memories of a past life that seemed so distant.
Reminds me of a life many moons ago,
That song reminded me of a life that was lived long ago, in a time far from the present.
It seems like years of dreaming have slipped away,
I feel like my dreams and aspirations have vanished in the course of time.
The face I knew, is not the face I knew today.
The person I once knew has changed and is no longer the same.
I'm looking at a stranger in the eye,
The person I'm seeing feels unfamiliar and no longer holds any resemblance to the person I once knew.
My tears become rivers,
My sadness knows no bounds and my emotions are overwhelming.
They washed away the fire.
My passion and motivation for life have diminished.
I walk on the streets where the cracks and creases show,
I'm wandering the same streets as before, but now they are worn and aged with visible damage.
Running into someone that I used to know,
I unexpectedly run into someone from my past, someone I haven't seen in a long time.
I trace the lines that take me to these memories,
I follow the path of my memories to try and relive the past.
But something's missing here, they don't lead back to me.
Something is off about these memories, they don't bring me any closer to who I used to be.
Feels like my soul got left behind,
I feel like a part of me is missing or lost.
But if I listen to my heart,
If I pay close attention to my true feelings and emotions,
I know it's just a matter of time
I understand that with patience and perseverance,
'Til a stranger says goodbye.
I will eventually come to terms with the changes of the past and finally say goodbye to the stranger I see before me.
'Til a stranger says goodbye (goodbye),
Until I'm able to accept the present and let go of the past.
'Til a stranger says goodbye.
Until I can finally overcome my struggles and embrace the future.
Writer(s): Shelley Ann Harland Wright, David Anthony Skeet
Contributed by Nolan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.