Such a Shame
Sunshiners Lyrics


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(by Talk Talk)

Such a shame to believe in escape
'A life on every face'
And that's a change
Till I'm finally left with an eight
Tell me to relax, I just stare
Maybe I don't know if I should change
A feeling that we share
It's a shame

Such a shame
Number me with rage
It's a shame
Such a shame
Number me in haste
Such a shame
This eagerness to change
It's a shame

The dice decide my fate
And that's a shame
In these trembling hands my faith
Tells me to react, 'I don't care'
Maybe it's unkind that I should change
A feeling that we share
It's a shame

Such a shame
Number me with rage
It's a shame
Such a shame
Number me in haste
Such a shame
This eagerness to change
Such a shame

Tell me to relax, I just stare
Maybe I don't know if I should change
A feeling that we share
It's a shame

Such a shame
Number me with rage
It's a shame
Such a shame
Number me in haste
It's a shame
Such a shame
Write it across my name
It's a shame
Such a shame
Number me in haste
Such a shame
This eagerness to change





Such a shame

Overall Meaning

The song "Such a Shame" by Talk Talk is a powerful and emotional portrayal of the struggle to escape from a life that seems to be predetermined. The opening lyrics state "Such a shame to believe in escape," showing the singer's desperation to get away from a life that they are unhappy with. They see "A life on every face" around them, and the desire for change is on their mind until they are "finally left with an eight," reducing their options for a better life. The singer is told to relax, but they cannot and instead stare and contemplate whether or not they should change. This self-reflection comes at a cost, however, as they are left feeling ashamed of their eagerness to change.


The chorus reinforces the shame that the singer is feeling. They are "numbered" with rage and haste, indicating that they are lost in a world where they are just a number. They feel this eagerness to change, but it is met with resistance from within themselves and from the outside world. The dice decide their fate, and they are left with trembling hands, unsure of what to do. They know they should react, but they don't care, showing the singer's defiance in the face of adversity. They feel it might be unkind to change, but they also know that the feeling of wanting to change is shared with others.


Overall, "Such a Shame" is a song about the struggle to escape from a predetermined life and the shame that comes with wanting to change. The singer is lost in a world where they feel like just a number and despite their eagerness to change, they are met with resistance. It's an emotional portrayal of the human condition and a reminder that we all face these struggles at some point in our lives.


Line by Line Meaning

Such a shame to believe in escape
It feels hopeless to think that escaping from our troubles is the only solution.


'A life on every face'
We all carry the weight of our struggles and experiences, and it's visible on our faces.


And that's a change
Despite the overwhelming burden we carry, there's always the possibility of change.


Till I'm finally left with an eight
Despite the hope for change, sometimes all we're left with is the bare minimum, a number eight, and that's disappointing.


Tell me to relax, I just stare
When someone suggests we calm down, we still feel trapped by our problems and unable to relax.


Maybe I don't know if I should change
Despite the need for change, we're uncertain about what steps to take and if they'll be worth it in the end.


A feeling that we share
Many of us feel this way - unsure and trapped by problems that seem too big to handle.


It's a shame
It's unfortunate that so many of us feel this way and don't know how to change.


Number me with rage
I'm so angry and frustrated that it feels like I'm nothing more than a number.


Number me in haste
It feels like I'm not even worth the time it takes to give me a number, no one has the patience for me anymore.


This eagerness to change
Despite the uncertainty, there's a desire for something different and better.


The dice decide my fate
It feels like our lives are determined by random chance, and we have no control over the outcome.


In these trembling hands my faith
Even with shaky hands, we still hold onto our beliefs and hope for something better.


Tells me to react, 'I don't care'
Sometimes we pretend not to care because it seems like the only way we can cope with tough circumstances.


Maybe it's unkind that I should change
When we change, it can feel as if we're betraying our former selves or those who know us best.


Write it across my name
The feeling of shame and unworthiness is so strong that it's written all over us like a signature.




Contributed by Bailey H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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