Sheppard's international hit single Geronimo was the Brisbane band's battle-cry, a super-sophisticated stadium pop anthem shot through with all the mixed emotions of being young. With this, the six-piece, formed around siblings George, Amy and Emma Sheppard, launched their debut album Bombs Away.
The Sheppard story starts two and half thousand miles from Brisbane in the tropical Pacific paradise of Papua New Guinea, where the family moved with their lawyer father. Music was in the air from day one: while dad blasted Cat Stevens in the house to get them out of bed in the mornings, mum sent them for lessons in piano and music theory. But their biggest influence was a music teacher at their Port Moresby school, Baruka Tau-Matagu, keyboard player of the legendary Aboriginal group Yothu Yindu and top session man for the likes of Janet Jackson and Madonna. From Tau the Sheppards picked up their love of harmony.
Sheppard came about by accident, back in Australia, in fact, when middle child Amy was studying for a music diploma and felt that one of her songs (working title *Cheese on Toast*) lacked a certain something. Brother George, then a drama student in Sydney, helped out on harmonies, and the pair realised they could write together. They added young composer and producer Jay Bovino, fresh from Sydney band Vienna Circus, and in the space of two months the trio Bovino / Sheppard / Sheppard had written 30 tracks. Brisbane musicians Michael Butler and Dean Gordon joined them on guitar and drums, with younger sister Emma on bass guitar. After trying out various producers, they finally hit upon one - Stuart Stuart of Analogue Heart Records - who let them be themselves. "With Geronimo," says Amy, "we kind of knew it was a hit. We wrote it in about two hours - there were so many hooks, and so many more hooks we could have added and didn’t.”
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2013, Sheppard were nominated for Best Independent Release for "Let Me Down Easy". At the 2014 ceremony, they were nominated for Album of the Year, Best Group, Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release, Song of the Year, Producer of the Year, and Best Video.
On 1 November 2016, "We Belong" was released.
A Grade Playa
Sheppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I feel as though my heart will never stay intact
I was just an apple that you chewed till your through the core
You've got a lot of charm and yeah it sucked me in
You made me feel loved when I was wearing thin
You're the only reason why a rose ever grows a thorn
But now it stays buried with me
'Cause you're a grade playa, a fighter, a hater
And I know better than to waste it all on you
Through your cheating, scheming, I'm still believing
That I'll find a dude who was better than you
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, be gone
If there were a number for the biggest sleaze
There wouldn't be any other nominees
I'm guessin' all your lies were a blessing in disguise for me
'Cause I am a diamond
I'm more than a stone
And you're just a boy on a throne
'Cause you're a grade player, a fighter, a hater
And I know better than to waste it all on you
Through your cheating, scheming I'm still believing
That I'll find a dude who was better than you
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, be gone
Well I will find another one
Your a gram within a tonne
Just a raindrop in the flood
And now your walking into wall
To find the sunlight in the storm
To meet the right me in the swarm
You're just an illusion and I've left the show
I make sure that everyone knows
'Cause you're a grade player, a fighter, a hater
And I know better than to waste all on you
Through your cheating, scheming, I'm still believing
That I'll find a dude who was better than you
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, be gone
The lyrics to Sheppard's song "A Grade Playa" explore the aftermath of a toxic and manipulative relationship. The singer describes their ex-partner as a "grade playa," a term used to describe someone who is shallow and only interested in casual flings. Despite their ex's charm and the temporary comfort they provided, the singer acknowledges that the relationship was ultimately empty and damaging for them. They compare themselves to an apple that their ex chewed up and discarded, leaving them feeling broken and unable to move on.
However, the singer also recognizes their own worth and strength, describing themselves as a diamond and more than just an object to be used by someone else. They are determined to move on and find someone who is better for them, even despite their ex's cheating and lies.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that your gone and never coming back
Since you left and won't return, I feel like my heart will never be whole.
I was just an apple that you chewed till your through the core
You used me up until there was nothing left of me, like an apple that's been chewed to the core.
You've got a lot of charm and yeah it sucked me in
You had a lot of charisma, which drew me in and deceived me.
You made me feel loved when I was wearing thin
When I was feeling low, you made me feel loved, but now I know it was just a ploy to keep me under your spell.
You're the only reason why a rose ever grows a thorn
You're the cause of the pain and hurt that came from our relationship, like a thorn growing on a rose.
'Cause I was a treasure and you had the key
But now it stays buried with me
I was valuable, and you had access to me, but now that we are over, my worth is buried with me and not accessible to you anymore.
'Cause you're a grade playa, a fighter, a hater
And I know better than to waste it all on you
Through your cheating, scheming, I'm still believing
That I'll find a dude who was better than you
You're a low-quality type of person who loves to argue and be mean to others, but I won't waste my love on you. Even though you cheated and schemed, I still believe I'll find someone who's better than you.
If there were a number for the biggest sleaze
There wouldn't be any other nominees
I'm guessing all your lies were a blessing in disguise for me
If there was a ranking of the most untrustworthy people, you'd be at the top with no competition. I suppose your lies and deceit were actually fortunate for me, as they freed me from the spell you had me under.
'Cause I am a diamond
I'm more than a stone
And you're just a boy on a throne
I'm a valuable and precious gem, while you're just a petty and superficial person who thinks too highly of themselves.
Well I will find another one
Your a gram within a tonne
Just a raindrop in the flood
And now you're walking into wall
To find the sunlight in the storm
To meet the right me in the swarm
I am confident that I'll find someone better than you, as you're a tiny unit of measure compared to the vastness of potential partners out there. Meanwhile, you'll struggle to find your way out of your problems, while I'll be shining like the sun in the midst of a storm surrounded by others who truly appreciate me.
You're just an illusion and I've left the show
I make sure that everyone knows
You're nothing but a fantasy, and now that I've left, I intend to let everyone know the truth about you.
'Cause you're a grade player, a fighter, a hater
And I know better than to waste all on you
Through your cheating, scheming, I'm still believing
That I'll find a dude who was better than you
You're someone who plays games, loves to argue and be mean, and I won't waste any more of my time or love on you. Although you cheated and schemed, I'm still hopeful that I'll find a person who's much better suited for me.
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on
Go on, go on, go on, go on, be gone
I don't want you in my life anymore, so go away and don't come back.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JASON BOVINO, AMY LOUISE SHEPPARD, GEORGE JOSEF SHEPPARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elanor Deal
The reason the whole sheppard band isn't in this video is because George said that this song was very personal for amy and they decided to let her have the spotlight. I agree with this descision and most bands don't like other members having the spotlight. Good job Sheppard☺️
Bradley Case
@Ramon Izaiah Yea, I've been using Instaflixxer for since november myself =)
Ramon Izaiah
dont know if anyone gives a damn but if you're stoned like me during the covid times you can watch all the latest movies on InstaFlixxer. Been binge watching with my brother during the lockdown :)
Clee Jr Yosores
Most of them have a reason but couldn't resist amy singing
James Hadfield
Music is where our deepest emotions emerge, it saddens me we share such pain.
mxi_steel
Amy is George's sister make sense
DIY 4 Life
Shepard are so underrated! They have so much potential that the world needs to know about. Way better than the crappy "singers" who can't actually sing.
Pelle
True 👌
inuyasha88
DIY 4 Life
🦂Cheekyoziechick⚔️
Every song they sing is A grade.