The Southland is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, USA. The band wa… Read Full Bio ↴The Southland is a rock band from Los Angeles, California, USA. The band was formed by Jed Whedon and Nicholas Gusikoff. They soon came to the attention of manager Joe Ruffalo, who had previously worked with artists such as Prince, Earth, Wind & Fire, Little Feat, and Ray Parker Jr. The Southland was signed to Ruffalo’s label Ruffworld Records and soon expanded their lineup by adding Danny Chaimson on keyboards and vocals, Ethan Phillips on bass guitar, and Andy Crosby on drums.

The Southland's debut album, Influence of Geography, was released in June 2005. They tour regularly, and have supported artists such as Toots & The Maytals, O.A.R., Gavin DeGraw, Tristan Prettyman, Jem, Virginia Coalition, Steel Pulse, and As Fast As. The song Shadow from the album Influence of Geography appeared on NBC-TV's Scrubs in late February 2006.

Jed Whedon has had a number of other musical projects, including co-writing Dr. Horrible - a musical that he also orchestrated, Jed Whedon and the Willing, and most recently This Girl.

Shining Sun
The Southland Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Does everybody see this?
We got another hopeless soul
You caught your woman cheating
Kicked the whore out the door

Puking in the backseat
Swallowing the pain
Cough a lung up in the morning

Flush your money down the drain

But the sun is always shining
So how can you complain
Hate to see you grieving so I'm leaving
I'll be seeing you again

They are the homeless stinking
Just about everywhere you go
And all the addicts weeping
"I cant afford my crystal meth"

Ethnic kid shot dead by a cop by mistake
Or my cousin in pomona who's totally insane
Gonna end up as a donor a cadaver on a plate
But thhe sun is always shining
So how can you complain

Hate to see you grieving so I'm leaving
I'll be seeing you again

Overall Meaning

The Southland's song "Shining Sun" is a commentary on the struggles of life and how people cope with them. The opening lines set the tone of the song with the singer addressing the listener, asking them if they can see the despair around them. The song goes on to describe the pain and suffering that people endure, including cheating spouses, drug addiction, and even death. Despite all of this, the chorus reminds us that the sun is always shining and we shouldn't complain.

One interesting aspect of "Shining Sun" is the way the song shifts between different perspectives. At times, the singer seems to be observing the world around them, while at other times they seem to be speaking from their own experiences. This creates a sense of empathy and understanding that makes the song very powerful.

Another interesting aspect of the song is the use of vivid imagery and poetic language. Lines like "puking in the backseat" and "flush your money down the drain" create a visceral sense of the pain and desperation that people feel. The use of metaphors and similes, such as comparing a person to a "cadaver on a plate," adds depth and complexity to the lyrics.

Line by Line Meaning

Does everybody see this?
Are you all witnessing this situation?

We got another hopeless soul
There is yet another person in despair

You caught your woman cheating
You discovered your partner was unfaithful

Kicked the whore out the door
You got rid of your cheating partner

Puking in the backseat
Vomiting in the back of a car

Swallowing the pain
Enduring emotional suffering

Cough a lung up in the morning
Experiencing respiratory problems in the morning

Flush your money down the drain
Wasting money

But the sun is always shining
Despite everything, the sun still shines

So how can you complain
Why would you be unhappy?

Hate to see you grieving so I'm leaving
I don't want to witness your misery, so I'm going away