Shivaree was a three-person American band formed in 1999 consisting of Ambr… Read Full Bio ↴Shivaree was a three-person American band formed in 1999 consisting of Ambrosia Parsley (vocals), Danny McGough (keyboards), and Duke McVinnie (guitar). They produced four full-length albums (only two of which enjoyed a North American release due to contract disagreements) and have approximately 500,000 combined sales to their name. They credit numerous other musicians in their work and are usually joined by two or three other collaborators when performing live. Their song Goodnight Moon was used in the Quentin Tarantino movie 'Kill Bill Vol. 2.'

Their final album, a collection of covers, was released in 2007, after which they disbanded.

Ash Wednesday
Shivaree Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Goodnight goodnight
Leave all your toys
Candles and cats
A few stupid boys
And a rock for good luck

Two different eyes
Leave your red birds to sing us lullabies

And some books and a baby
A ceiling of gold

The New York yankees
And a bottle of snow

Overall Meaning

The first stanza of Shivaree's song Ash Wednesday paints the picture of the end of the day. It’s time to say goodnight, and the singer tells the listener to leave all their toys behind. The night comes with candles and cats, but also with a few stupid boys around. She advises the listener to keep a rock for good luck. The rock means that even when people have to let go of everything else, they hold on to a promise for a better tomorrow.

In the second stanza, the singer uses the imagery of two different eyes to represent a person with a different perspective. She says to leave behind the red birds to sing them lullabies as they go to bed. The room has some books, a baby to hold, and a ceiling of gold. However, she includes the New York Yankees and a bottle of snow among the things to leave behind. This final line adds a sense of whimsy and unexpectedness to this beautiful ballad about letting go of the things that weigh us down.

Line by Line Meaning

Goodnight goodnight
Sleep, farewell.

Leave all your toys
Forget all your distractions or sources of entertainment.

Candles and cats
Symbolic items of comfort and warmth, and creatures that offer companionship.

A few stupid boys
The memory of foolish and unimportant people.

And a rock for good luck
A superstitious item believed to bring fortune.

Two different eyes
Different perspectives or opposites in oneself or others.

Leave your red birds to sing us lullabies
The sweet and soothing sounds of nature that bring comfort and serenity.

And some books and a baby
Things of value that one cherishes and considers precious.

A ceiling of gold
A metaphor for something that one desires and wishes to attain.

The New York yankees
A reference to a specific sports team or a symbol of ambition and determination.

And a bottle of snow
A literal or symbolic object representing purity and innocence.