ShelleyDevoto was the name of the collaboration between the former Buzzcock… Read Full Bio ↴ShelleyDevoto was the name of the collaboration between the former Buzzcocks musicians Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, twenty-five years since their previous collaboration.

The album Buzzkunst was released in 2001 on Cooking Vinyl, along with one single/video, 'Til The Stars In His Eyes Are Dead. Both vocals and lyrics remain reminiscent of Magazine and Luxuria (both bands Devoto has been in since the Buzzcocks), yet the music itself is experimental electronica, distinctly from the line of work Shelley since had been following.

Can You See Me Shining?
Shelleydevoto Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm pulling a face
the most gorgeous face
I'm in trouble with myself
I'm gonna save my precious skin
I'm gonna save my precious skin
by getting under your skin
can you see me shining?

Can you see me shining?
say you can see me shining
can you see me shining?
say you can see me shining

Is that some kind of trouble across the room?

Think I'm pulling a bird
I've been bothering-up myself
I'm dragging my nerves over your nerves
cos I've got to save my miserable skin
I've got to save my miserable skin
by getting under your skin
can you see me shining?

Shine for me

Can you see me shining?
say you can see me shining
can you see me shining?
say you can see me shining

Some sunny day you'll see me shine

Can you see me shining?
I'm shining out like I'm towering up in the night
shining out brightly from a blackening hole

Can you see me shining?
I'm shining out like I'm some big mutha of a searchlight
reaching right down to the bottom of your soul

We're arriving at the bottom of your soul

My seed eats into me
cos I'm seedy
I am a dish
and it eats into me with relish

can you see me shining?
can you see me shining?

Overall Meaning

The song "Can You See Me Shining?" by Shelleydevoto is a catchy, upbeat tune that appears to be about someone trying to save themselves by getting under someone else's skin. The first verse begins with the singer pulling a face, but not just any face - the most gorgeous face. They are in some kind of trouble with themselves and need to save their precious skin. The solution? Getting under your skin. The chorus repeats the question "Can you see me shining?" and asks for the listener to acknowledge that they can see them shining. The song reminds us that we all want to be seen, to be noticed, to shine in some way.

The second verse continues with the theme of saving oneself by getting under someone else's skin. The singer thinks they are pulling a bird (British slang for impressing someone), but they are really just bothering themselves. They are dragging their nerves over the other person's nerves in an attempt to save their miserable skin. The chorus repeats, asking once again if the listener can see the singer shining. The song ends with the line "My seed eats into me cos I'm seedy, I am a dish and it eats into me with relish." This line is particularly intriguing because it's not entirely clear what it means. Perhaps it's a reference to self-doubt or insecurity eating away at the singer.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm pulling a face
I am making a facial expression

the most gorgeous face
The facial expression is attractive

I'm in trouble with myself
I am experiencing internal conflict

I'm gonna save my precious skin
I will protect myself at all costs

by getting under your skin
By getting you to invest in me emotionally

can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

Can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

say you can see me shining
Please validate that I am special

can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

Can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

say you can see me shining
Please validate that I am special

Is that some kind of trouble across the room?
Is there something troubling you?

Think I'm pulling a bird
I think I am attracting a woman's attention

I've been bothering-up myself
I have been trying my best to appeal to others

I'm dragging my nerves over your nerves
I am trying to connect with you emotionally

cos I've got to save my miserable skin
Because I need to protect myself

I've got to save my miserable skin
Because I need to protect myself

by getting under your skin
By getting you to invest in me emotionally

Shine for me
Make me feel special

Some sunny day you'll see me shine
One day I will stand out and be recognized

I'm shining out like I'm towering up in the night
I am shining out in the darkness like a beacon

shining out brightly from a blackening hole
Shining in a dark and depressing situation

Can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

I'm shining out like I'm some big mutha of a searchlight
I am shining like a powerful searchlight

reaching right down to the bottom of your soul
Making a deep emotional connection with you

We're arriving at the bottom of your soul
We are connecting on a deep and meaningful level

My seed eats into me
My underlying issues are consuming me

cos I'm seedy
Because I am flawed or immoral

I am a dish
I am attractive and desirable

and it eats into me with relish
It is both thrilling and consuming me

can you see me shining?
Am I standing out to you?

Contributed by Thomas R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Comments from YouTube:

@bobbyshaftoe409

5y↑5

Brilliant ! I'm a MASSIVE Magazine/Buzzcocks fan and this is superb (as I expected).

@bobbyshaftoe409

What I didn't realise when I listened to this great song (6/12/2018)….was that Pete had died that day. Sad loss,a great wordsmith/PUNK EXTRA-ORDINAIRE.