The Shadows of Knight is an American rock band from the Chicago suburbs, fo… Read Full Bio ↴The Shadows of Knight is an American rock band from the Chicago suburbs, formed in the 1960s, who play a form of British blues mixed with influences from their native city.

As teenagers, the band members, like most rock 'n' roll groups, were intent on becoming pop stars. Instead of creating a brand-new sound or striving for something different, their philosophy was to take popular styles of rock 'n' roll and push them to the edge. It was at that that the band excelled. The passion and soul they pumped into their music on is still in the grooves of each record. And although they set out to be nothing more than a "typical" rock group, they made some of the most atypical records of the 1960s!

Forming in late 1965, the Shadows of Knight were all friends and aquaintances, except for lead singer Jim Sohns, whom they stole from a rival group. The group's early sounds were highly influenced by black music and by white British interpretations of black music. Venturing into hard-edged R&B, the group made two LP' for Dunwich Records within its first year (both records now available again, thanks to Sundazed Records). Those albums are essential listening for anyone who loves the gritty early sounds of groups like the Rolling Stones and the Pretty Things. Of course, it's their version of Them's "Gloria" that shot the Shadows to the top of the American pop charts. Their rise to fame was fast, and the pressures were very hard for the group to handle. By 1967, the group, disillusioned by its mismanagement, began to fall apart. Guitarist Jerry McGeorge went on to form the understated H.P. Lovecraft. Both the bassist Joe Kelly and the drummer Tim Schiffour held out for more straight-ahead blues in the Joe Kelly Blues Band. Jim Sohns held on.

By late 1968, Sohns was the only surviving member, legally securing the Shadows of Knight name for himself. The "group" was then contracted with by bubblegum producers Kasenetz and Katz to record under that name for K&K's Teem Records label. Grabbing at any straw handed to him, Sohns quickly moved to New York, assembled a group of musicians, and went on to record some of the best records of the bubblegum genre.

A master at interpreting popular sounds, Sohns was able to take teen appeal and mix it with his gritty soulful voice for an unbelievable version of "Shake." Jim (under various psuedonyms) is also quite obviously the vocalist on many other soulful bubblegum songs pressed for K&K labels. Firmly grounded in the bubblegum genre and sensing another change in popular music, Jim began to have an interest in harder rock 'n' roll sounds. His last great single is perhaps the most perfect melding of rock and bubblegum sounds: "Run, Run Billy Porter"/ "My Fire Department Needs A Fireman."

Although Sohns kept the Shadows of Knight name alive, he lost his chart-topping drive in 1969 and began to rehash his earlier Chicago career, so his subsequent records are neither timely nor so impassioned.

On July 29th 2022, Jim Sohns passed away from complications due to a stroke. He was 75 years old.

I Am The Hunter
The Shadows of Knight Lyrics

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Hey woman I'm on your trail
I'm gonna get you, baby
without fail

Track you down wherever you are
Love you mama, till the cows come home
Scent is getting stronger, baby, I can't stop
Gotta shoot you while my gun is still hot

Here I come and I gonna get you
On your trail, got you in my sight
You're the fox and I am the hunter
I won't shoot till the time is right

So many tracks along you trail
Made is so easy to stay on your tail

Gonna track your mama wherever you are
Love you mama, till the cows come home
Scent is getting stronger, baby, I can't stop
Gotta shoot you while my gun is still hot

Here I come and I gonna get you
On your trail, got you in my sight
You're the fox and I am the hunter
I won't shoot till the time is right

Oh oh woman

Here I come and I gonna get you
On your trail, got you in my sight
You're the fox and I am the hunter
I won't shoot till the time is right

Here I come to shoot you with my gun

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Shadows of Knight's song "I Am The Hunter" tell the story of a man who is chasing a woman he is obsessed with. The man is driven by an uncontrollable desire for the woman, and will stop at nothing to capture her. He senses her scent getting stronger, which only enhances his desire to catch her. The use of metaphor, comparing the woman to a fox and the man to a hunter, is prevalent throughout the song.

The lyrics aren't meant to be taken literally, but they do shed light on the theme of obsession and possession. The man is willing to go to extreme measures, even murder, to get what he wants. The constant repetition of the phrase "on your trail" emphasizes the idea that he won't stop until he finds her, and the use of the phrase "love you mama" only adds to the unsettling feeling that this man has towards the object of his desire.

Overall, the lyrics to "I Am The Hunter" are disturbing, as they depict a situation where someone's obsession turns dangerous. The use of metaphorical language adds to the song's depth, making it an interesting, albeit unsettling, listen.

Line by Line Meaning

Hey woman I'm on your trail
I am pursuing you, woman.

I'm gonna get you, baby
I will catch you, baby.

without fail
I will not fail to capture you.

Track you down wherever you are
I will find and follow you no matter where you are.

Love you mama, till the cows come home
I have strong feelings for you, mama.

Scent is getting stronger, baby, I can't stop
Your scent is leading me closer to you and I cannot stop.

Gotta shoot you while my gun is still hot
I must shoot you while my gun is ready.

Here I come and I gonna get you
I am approaching and I will catch you.

On your trail, got you in my sight
I am following you and I have you in my view.

You're the fox and I am the hunter
You are my prey and I am hunting you.

I won't shoot till the time is right
I will not shoot until the perfect moment presents itself.