Uriah Heep were part of the early 1970s rock scene, and have been referred to as pioneers of the hard rock, heavy metal and progressive rock genres. The band has sold over 40 million albums worldwide with over four million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include "Gypsy", "Easy Livin'", "The Wizard", "Sweet Lorraine", and "Stealin'". They also maintain a significant following and perform at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland and Scandinavia.
Uriah Heep have released twenty-four studio albums of original material, twenty live albums and forty-one compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Twelve of the band's studio albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart (Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975), while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums, Demons and Wizards was the most successful (No. 23, 1972). In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the "Lady in Black" single was a big hit.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uriah_Heep_(band)
Studio albums
...Very 'eavy ...Very 'umble (1970)
Salisbury (1971)
Look at Yourself (1971)
Demons and Wizards (1972)
The Magician's Birthday (1972)
Sweet Freedom (1973)
Wonderworld (1974)
Return to Fantasy (1975)
High and Mighty (1976)
Firefly (1977)
Innocent Victim (1977)
Fallen Angel (1978)
Conquest (1980)
Abominog (1982)
Head First (1983)
Equator (1985)
Raging Silence (1989)
Different World (1991)
Sea of Light (1995)
Sonic Origami (1998)
Wake the Sleeper (2008)
Into the Wild (2011)
Outsider (2014)
Living the Dream (2018)
Chaos & Colour (2023)
Shadow
Uriah Heep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I have to show concern
'cause what is left is right
Don't know which way to turn
And there is someone who is like me
But all they want to do is stare
And he would like to find the key
But I'm not there
Shadow, nothing but a shadow
Sunlight, never see the sunlight
Power, I got a special power
Shadow, nothing but a shadow
And now I'm moving
Down the sidewalk
Just staring at the ground
And if I don't look up the scene
Will change around
And we are residents of nowhere
What do we really say
Like a marionette just
Acting out a play
I thought I saw a face that I knew
While running through the crowd
Then she turned to look at me
I didn't really feel a thing
Just floating through the air
A trick of light for all to see
The lyrics of "Shadow" by Uriah Heep tell a story about a person who is lost, confused, and unsure of what direction to take in life. The singer has illusions in their mirror and can't discern what is left and right, and feels like they are living in shadows. The metaphor for their life is one of a marionette, just acting out a play, and they are residents of nowhere.
The singer sees someone who is like them, but all they do is stare, looking for a way out, but the singer is not sure that there is one. They have a special power, but it seems to be nothing but a shadow. As they walk down the sidewalk, they stare at the ground, afraid to look up in fear that the scene will change around them. They feel like they are floating and everything around them is just a trick of light for all to see.
Overall, the song is about the search for identity and meaning, the feeling of being lost, and the fear of never finding one's place in life. The metaphor of the shadow represents the singer's lost identity and their passing existence.
Line by Line Meaning
There is illusion in my mirror
The reflection in my mirror is deceiving me
I have to show concern
I need to be careful and cautious
'Cause what is left is right
My perception of left and right is messed up
Don't know which way to turn
I'm unsure of where to go or what to do next
And there is someone who is like me
I've found someone with whom I can relate
But all they want to do is stare
The person I found just wants to observe me
And he would like to find the key
The person I found wants to figure out what's going on with me
But I'm not there
I'm not in the right mindset to help
Shadow, nothing but a shadow
I feel like a shadow of my former self
Sunlight, never see the sunlight
I'm unable to experience true happiness or joy
Power, I got a special power
I feel like I possess a unique ability or trait
Shadow, nothing but a shadow
Again, I feel like I'm just a shadow of who I once was
And now I'm moving
I'm trying to go somewhere, to progress in some way
Down the sidewalk
I'm walking down the street
Just staring at the ground
I'm lost in thought, not paying attention to my surroundings
And if I don't look up the scene
If I keep my focus down, I won't notice anything new
Will change around
Things will shift and evolve without my knowledge
And we are residents of nowhere
We feel like we don't belong anywhere
What do we really say
We struggle to express ourselves and convey our inner thoughts
Like a marionette just
We feel like we're being controlled or manipulated by external forces
Acting out a play
We feel like we're just going through the motions and not really living
I thought I saw a face that I knew
I was almost certain that I recognized someone in the crowd
While running through the crowd
I was moving quickly through a group of people
Then she turned to look at me
The person I thought I saw turned to face me
I didn't really feel a thing
My emotions are blunted, I'm unable to feel much of anything
Just floating through the air
I feel disconnected from the world around me
A trick of light for all to see
My mind is playing tricks on me, distorting my perceptions
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TONY JAMES, MICK JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vera Lucia Pinto Rios
Excelente ❤
Eddie Ingalls
Some of the songs on this album (including this) are as pure, raw heavy rock as has ever been done. Byron's voice was made for such songs.
Kazimierz
Brilliant, unique music by others. For me, Uriah Heep is a classic and a rock pantheon.
Dash Riprok
Their best record. Yes their best record.
Sasha Neemoht
"Why don't we modulate immediately before the guitar solo?" Genius!
yopagedotcom
Does modulate mean change key? Yep, they raised a half step. Really cool sounding.
米田さとし
Psychedelic early Heep. Cool!
This drumming reminds me of Ginger Baker a little.
RAPT3Rx300
This really sounds like Benefit-era Jethro Tull at times.
robert black
God. This album is like eating mushrooms.
It's just perfect.
Agustin Marquez
Disco de CULTO, VIVA UH