White Light Riot consists of Minneapolis natives, brothers Mike and Mark Sc… Read Full Bio ↴White Light Riot consists of Minneapolis natives, brothers Mike and Mark Schwandt, Joe Christenson and Dan Larsen. These incredibly talented musicians craft catchy songs that appeal to fans of both indie rock and Britpop. Though often compared to The Killers, The Strokes or Franz Ferdinand, White Light Riot blend originality with influences of the past. The foursome have been playing together since 2005 and already have released two Eps, The Dark Is Light Enough, produced by Erik Appelwick (Tapes ‘N Tapes) and Out of Sight, produced/co-engineered by Brent Sigmeth (Grant Hart, They Might Be Giants, Tim O’Reagan, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott). Atomism, their first full-length album, was also produced/co-engineered by Sigmeth, co-engineered by Paul Marino (The New Congress, Desdemona) and mastered by Bob Ludwig. With sophisticated lyrics, perfected melodies and tight, driving rhythms, their music keeps audiences engaged and attracts new fans with every show.

This is definitely a band worth checking out:
Atomism is available on iTunes or buy physical copy through http://www.myspace.com/whitelightriotmusic
http://www.whitelightriot.com
or http://50records.com

In a Shotgun Whirlwind
White Light Riot Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Days roll to strain my hope
And turn all my insight out
While listless nights simply remind
What my time, what my time is about
Here I plant my weary feet
Where crossroads all look the same
To catch a breath of all that's left
Holding on holding on to remain

Holding on holding on to remain

Take what you gotta, we're all going under
In a shotgun whirlwind
Hearts keep breaking, people getting shaken
In a shotgun whirlwind
We can't stop running, horizon's never coming
Near a shotgun whirlwind
Take what you gotta
Our only time is now

If I set my blood afire
Igniting my frozen veins
Could passion break this pensive ache
And then let me forget all my pain
So is it a ghost's or angel's voice
That sounds from a far off place
If memories fade to empty space
How will I ever know you're the same
How will I ever know you're the same

Take what you gotta, we're all going under
In a shotgun whirlwind
Hearts keep breaking, people getting shaken
In a shotgun whirlwind
We can't stop running, horizon's never coming
Near a shotgun whirlwind

Take what you gotta
Our only time is now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to White Light Riot's "In a Shotgun Whirlwind" are filled with despair and introspection. The first stanza describes how the repetitions of the days and nights wear down the singer's hope and insight. They feel stuck at a crossroads, unable to discern the right path to take, and are only left with a sense of holding on, despite the uncertainty of what they hold on to.

The second stanza brings a more urgent, frantic energy into the song. The singer realizes that they are all going under, and they need to take what they can before the inevitable shotgun whirlwind hits. The whirlwind is a metaphor for the chaotic and unpredictable nature of life, and how it can shake people and break their hearts. The third line about the horizon never coming suggests that there is no end to the upheaval and that the only time to act is now.

The final stanza poses some existential questions about the nature of memory and identity. The singer wonders whether they would be able to forget their pain and ignite passion if they set their blood afire. They also question how they would recognize someone they knew if their memories faded to nothingness. These are rhetorical questions that suggest the singer is grappling with feelings of displacement and fragmentation.

Line by Line Meaning

Days roll to strain my hope
The passing of time has been difficult for me and has caused me to lose faith in my future.

And turn all my insight out
My previous wisdom and intuition has been replaced with confusion and uncertainty.

While listless nights simply remind
Sleepless nights serve as a constant reminder of my struggles and emotional pain.

What my time, what my time is about
I am questioning the purpose of my life and the value of the time I have left.

Here I plant my weary feet
I have arrived at a place of exhaustion and am ready to rest.

Where crossroads all look the same
I am faced with numerous paths forward, but they all appear to lead to the same outcome.

To catch a breath of all that's left
I am taking a moment to reflect on what remains and to replenish my energy.

Holding on holding on to remain
Despite the challenges I have faced and continue to face, I am holding on to survive and push through the pain.

Take what you gotta, we're all going under
Life is short and fleeting, so take what you need and make the most of it because eventually we will all fade away.

In a shotgun whirlwind
Life is chaotic, unpredictable, and often violent, much like a whirlwind produced by a shotgun blast.

Hearts keep breaking, people getting shaken
Emotionally and physically, people are being wounded and traumatized by the harshness of life.

We can't stop running, horizon's never coming
We feel like we are constantly running toward a goal that never gets any closer. The finish line is always out of reach.

Near a shotgun whirlwind
We are close to the edge, the threshold of destruction and chaos, similar to the aftermath of a shotgun blast.

Our only time is now
We should live in the present moment because that is where life is happening. The past is gone and the future is unknown.

If I set my blood afire
If I allow my passion and emotions to consume me completely,

Igniting my frozen veins
If I can warm myself up and become alive once again,

Could passion break this pensive ache
Perhaps my intense feelings could soothe my aching soul.

And then let me forget all my pain
If I can feel something powerful enough to distract me from my suffering, I may be able to overcome it.

So is it a ghost's or angel's voice
I hear a voice in the distance, but I am unsure if it is a sign of hope or a warning of impending doom.

That sounds from a far off place
The voice is distant and mysterious, coming from beyond the horizon.

If memories fade to empty space
As time continues to pass, my memories may fade away and become meaningless.

How will I ever know you're the same
As situations change and people evolve, how will I recognize who they have become and if they are still the same person I once knew.

Contributed by Molly P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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