The duo fittingly took the band name in order to maintain an English identity and take a small part of England back to America. "Shire" is the original term for what is usually now known as a county in the United Kingdom.
After playing hardly half a dozen shows together The Shires caught the attention of Decca Records who signed them in the UK and they secured a contract with American based record label Universal Music Group Nashville thus becoming the first ever UK country act to be signed to a major Nashville label.
Jekyll and Hyde
The Shires Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You make me wanna give in to my dark side
You make me an animal
You're tearing up your jungle
Or burning up the seas
Could make me wanna unleash the beast
I can't fight
When I'm with you
I'm just howling at the moon
There's a monster baby
You're gonna see it tonight
Jekyll and hyde
Jekyll and hyde
You make me wanna forget that I play by the rules
Down throw my halo and give it to you
You make me ignite
And I try but I can't fight it
I'm burning up a fever
You make me wanna unleash the beast
Jekyll and hyde
I can't fight
When I'm with you
I'm just howling at the moon
There's a monster baby
You're gonna see it tonight
Jekyll and hyde
Jekyll and hyde
I wanna give you, all my lovin' lovin'
I wanna make you want for nothin' nothin'
I wanna cross that line
I wanna make you mine
Cause there's something dark and dangerous
Exciting, excite me
Jekyll and hyde
I can't fight
When I'm with you
I'm just howling at the moon
There's a monster baby
You're gonna see it tonight
Jekyll and hyde
Jekyll and hyde
Jekyll and hyde
Jekyll and hyde
The Shires's song Jekyll and Hyde is about the duality of a person's nature and how being with someone special can bring out another side of themselves that they never knew they had. The lyrics suggest that when the singer is with their love interest, they feel like they are torn between two sides of their personality, just like the famous character of Jekyll and Hyde. The first verse suggests that being with this person makes them want to give in to their primal instincts and forget about being a "good guy" who plays by the rules. The imagery used in the lyrics paints a picture of the destructive force that their love creates. They describe it as if their love is a wild jungle or an unstoppable fire that would make anyone want to "unleash the beast."
The pre-chorus further emphasizes the internal struggle within the singer. They feel like they are trying to hold back their emotions and fight against their impulses, but they are struggling to keep a rein on their darker nature. The chorus brings the Jekyll and Hyde metaphor to the forefront, comparing the singer's inner conflict to the famous book by Robert Louis Stevenson. They can't seem to control themselves when they are with this person, and they feel like they are turning into a monster. But at the same time, they feel that they can't help but be in their presence, howling at the moon and longing to unleash the beast within.
Overall, the song Jekyll and Hyde showcases The Shires's powerful lyricism and ability to tackle complex themes in their music. It explores the nature of love and how it can bring out different sides of a person's personality, even those they never knew they had.
Line by Line Meaning
You make me wanna forget that I'm a good guy
Your presence makes me want to abandon my usual moral compass and behave in a way that is not considered 'good'
You make me wanna give in to my dark side
Your influence pushes me to indulge in my negative emotions and impulses
You make me an animal
Your effect on me is so great that I lose control over my actions and become savage like an animal
You're tearing up your jungle
Your own behavior is destructive and chaotic, like a wild animal causing damage to its own environment
Or burning up the seas
Your actions are so fiery and intense that they could even cause destruction on a large scale
Could make me wanna unleash the beast
Your influence might lead me to unleash the negative, untamed aspect of myself that I usually keep under control
Jekyll and hyde
The duality of my nature is reminiscent of the two sides of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, who were two different personas in a single body
I can't fight
I am unable to resist your influence and my own inner nature
When I'm with you
Your presence has a strong effect on me that alters my behavior
I'm just howling at the moon
Metaphorically, I'm behaving like a wild animal, making sounds like howling at the moon
There's a monster baby
There is an untamed, negative aspect of my personality that I'm struggling to control and that you might witness
You're gonna see it tonight
You're about to witness the manifestation of my untamed side
I wanna give you, all my lovin' lovin'
I want to express my affection for you to the fullest extent
I wanna make you want for nothin' nothin'
I want to be the one to provide everything you desire or need
I wanna cross that line
I want to push past the boundaries of what's considered acceptable behavior
I wanna make you mine
I want to establish a possessive, intimate relationship with you
Cause there's something dark and dangerous
My desire for you is fueled by an attraction to your own potentially harmful or reckless nature
Exciting, excite me
Your thrilling qualities inspire excitement and interest in me
Contributed by Jordyn B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.