After several months gigging around their hometown, the band began playing clubs and pubs around Ireland, playing sets mixing original material with rhythm and blues covers. Their set of fast-paced, gritty, garage rock "speed blues", which mixed the powerful approach of Dr. Feelgood with the intense rave-up format of The Yardbirds, quickly became well received by crowds across Ireland and their reputation as a live act grew.
After their North America tour they persued film acting and ultimately on 14 November 2018 the band announced they were splitting up.
Discography:
Snapshot (2013)
Little Victories (2015)
Spitting Image (2017)
What a Shame
The Strypes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They liked the way that he spoke
They flew him out of the sticks
And out him up in the smoke
They gave him chocolate and cheese
They told him he was the next
Young son to some young life
Straight from the crest
His lyrics couldn't be fresher
They said he'd be a superstar
If he could handle the pressure
After they put it to paper
They took him to tea
And told him just a couple changes
That they wanted to see
Oh what a shame
But it's easy, can't you see?
Oh what a shame
That they won't ever let you be
They said his hair would be better
If he colored it black
And that he wouldn't sound as harsh if he could tone it all back
They dressed him up in a craze
To make him look pretty
They said the kids would dig
If he looked like he came from the city
They listened back to his cut
His music was tight
But if he changed a couple lyrics
In the chorus it might
Sound fresher than ever
A radio hit
And all the ladies will sing it
When they get into the pit
Oh what a shame
But it's easy, can't you see?
Oh what a shame
That they won't ever let you be, no!
Oh what a shame
But it's easy, can't you see?
Oh what a shame
That they won't ever let you be
The Strypes's song What a Shame is a commentary on the music industry and its treatment of artists. The song is a story of an artist who is plucked from obscurity and given the chance of a lifetime, but at a cost. The artist's appearance, music, and lyrics are all subject to change at the whims of the industry executives who see him as the next big thing. The lyrics describe how they push the artist to conform to their standards, brushing aside his uniqueness and creativity, all in the name of making a hit song.
The industry executives try to shape the artist by changing his look, sound, and lyrics, all so that he fits into their idea of what is marketable. They bribe him with chocolate and cheese and promise him stardom if he can handle the pressure. When they finally take him to tea, they offer him just a couple of changes to make, but those changes are ultimately soul-crushing as they take away from the artist's own creative expression. In the end, the artist is left feeling trapped, stifled and unable to be true to himself.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, as it repeats the phrase "Oh what a shame, but it's easy, can't you see? That they won't ever let you be." This phrase perfectly sums up the predicament of the artist who is unable to be true to himself in the face of industry pressure.
Line by Line Meaning
They dug the shade of his mop
They admired his curly hair
They liked the way that he spoke
They were impressed with his accent and voice
They flew him out of the sticks
They took him away from his rural hometown
And out him up in the smoke
They put him in a big city
They gave him chocolate and cheese
They provided him with a luxurious lifestyle
They told him he was the next
They said he was the next big thing in music
Young son to some young life
He represented the youth culture
Straight from the crest
Straight from the top
The way he spat at his mic
His unique style of rapping or singing
His lyrics couldn't be fresher
His lyrics were original and new
They said he'd be a superstar
They predicted he would be a huge success
If he could handle the pressure
If he could handle the expectations and demands
After they put it to paper
After they wrote down their ideas
They took him to tea
They took him out for a meeting
And told him just a couple changes
They suggested a few modifications
That they wanted to see
That they wanted him to make
They said his hair would be better
They recommended he dye his hair black
If he colored it black
If he dyed his hair black
And that he wouldn't sound as harsh
And that he would sound less aggressive
If he could tone it all back
If he toned down his singing style
They dressed him up in a craze
They dressed him up in a trendy outfit
To make him look pretty
To make him more attractive to fans
They said the kids would dig
They believed that young people would love it
If he looked like he came from the city
If he looked like a city boy
They listened back to his cut
They reviewed his recording
His music was tight
His music was impressive
But if he changed a couple lyrics
But if he made a few lyric changes
In the chorus it might
It could potentially
Sound fresher than ever
Sound even newer and more interesting
A radio hit
A song that would be played on the radio a lot
And all the ladies will sing it
And it would be popular among women
When they get into the pit
When they dance at concerts
That they won't ever let you be
That they won't let him be himself
But it's easy, can't you see?
But it's easy for them to control him
Oh what a shame
It's a pity
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: EVAN NIALL WALSH, JOSHUA SIMPSON MCCLOREY, PETER JAMES O'HANLON, ROSS AARON FARRELLY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dazthemod69
What a band these were. They deserved to be massive
@penausweet
Oh man, these guys kick ass
@ardenmaysmerckle6144
I was born in the early 60s, grew up with rock music, went to countless concerts, then came new wave in the 80s and grunge in the 90s then teeniebopper crap the industry puts out today. I really had thought music had died until I heard you today for the first time. You are raw, real, gutsy rock rythm and blues. Listening to you reminds me of what it might have been listening to the Beatles to someone in 1961 at the Cavern in Liverpool. You have the talent to go far. Man I wish I could have been where you are at such a young age. I love you guys and your music rocks!
@highlandcoffee1394
listening to this back from 10 years, this band is a good chemicals, they deserve more attention.
@francesosullivan5006
Fake tales of San Francisco riffffttt but theses guys are amazing I love them so much
@ededgerton9416
Most under rated band. Good punchy lines with a quality 50's ish guitar riff. Sweet, keep it up lads
@jimrobb778
Saw them in Nashville last night. I've been going to shows for 30 years and these guys blew them all away. In the early 90's Nirvana changed the musical landscape by melding punk and classic rock. Last night these guys changed the musical landscape by melding traditional rhythm and blues with punk. Un freaking believable. Check the tour schedule if they're within 1,000 miles, GO!
@fergusburke2074
Cavan, Ireland. Well done lads you are doing your county and country proud. Hey !
@pieter-basbeijer5781
Saw them live a few weeks back. Quite good! And the bass player is absolutely mental!
@nialldonnan9834
These guys should be much bigger than what they are!