The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Two packs of cigarettes a day
The strongest whiskey Kentucky can make
That's a recipe
To put a vagabond on his hands and knees
I watched it all up close
I knew him more than most
I saw a side of him, he never showed
Full of sympathy
For a world that wouldn't let him be
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
What a shame
There's a hard life for every silver spoon
There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue
That's the way that I see life
If there was nothing wrong
Then there'd be nothing right
And for this working man, they said, could barely stand
There's gotta be a better place to land
Some kind of remedy
For a world that wouldn't let him be
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
What a shame
God forgive the hands that laid you down
They never knew how
Much your broken heart can break the sound
And change the season
Now the leaves are falling faster
Happily ever after
You gave me hope through your endeavors
And now you will live forever
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
(What a shame, what a shame)
'Cause we're not all the same
(What a shame, what a shame)
'Cause we're not all the same
The strongest whiskey Kentucky can make
That's a recipe
To put a vagabond on his hands and knees
I watched it all up close
I knew him more than most
I saw a side of him, he never showed
Full of sympathy
For a world that wouldn't let him be
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
What a shame
There's a hard life for every silver spoon
There's a touch of grey for every shade of blue
That's the way that I see life
If there was nothing wrong
Then there'd be nothing right
And for this working man, they said, could barely stand
There's gotta be a better place to land
Some kind of remedy
For a world that wouldn't let him be
That's the man he was
Have you heard enough?
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
What a shame
God forgive the hands that laid you down
They never knew how
Much your broken heart can break the sound
And change the season
Now the leaves are falling faster
Happily ever after
You gave me hope through your endeavors
And now you will live forever
What a shame, what a shame
To judge a life that you can't change
The choir sings, the church bells ring
So, won't you give this man his wings?
What a shame, to have to beg you to see
We're not all the same
(What a shame, what a shame)
'Cause we're not all the same
(What a shame, what a shame)
'Cause we're not all the same
Lyrics submitted by animated lies
What A Shame Lyrics as written by Dave Bassett Brent Smith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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^ Interesting.
That makes sense. He was close to him but he must have been looked down upon by others because he wasn't the same as them. That's true in many situations. People don't always see the same good side of a person that you do and it can be heartbreaking. Some are so quick to judge that they never care to truly know how another person REALLY is.
agreed
Beautiful song. I agree though so many people are judged from everyone around them and it causes so much wrong in the world. If everyone had a chance, drug addicts never sat at home saying one day I'll get addicted to heroin, people need help, they dont need to be critized by everyone around them. This song is deep.
This is a song about someone who wanted to be the best person he could be, but couldn't quite get there because everything he did or said was analyzed and judged by people who really did not understand the true person that he was. And everything he tried to do to make them see him differently only seemed to make it worse for him. That's what I think anyway.
The whole cd has lots of meaning to it, definitely worth buying. This is one of my favorite songs because it can relate to so many different people. Too many people want society to associate with their beliefs and interests. However there are so many different type of people in our world, unfortunately so many people discriminate against different people: hence "judge a life that you can't change". Many people discriminate and believe stereotypes to feel better about themselves but no one is perfect. My two favorite lines in this song define that: "There's a touch of gray for every shade of blue" & "If there was nothing wrong then there'd be nothing right". I agree that shinedown wrote this song for a certain person but applies to all of us. The least we can do is give everyone a chance without defining them by their background, family life, associations, race, etc. to make our world stronger.
What a shame To judge a life that you can't change
Good lyrics. Wow.
This whole album rocks.
Great great great song, so is the album by the way. This is probably my favorite song on the album, even my father, who harsley judges modern rock liked it, what a surprise! But this song truly brings out the best qualities in Brent Smith's singing abilities, and the lyrics are also very touching. Only a few songs in history have ever made me teary eyed, and right now the only ones I can think of are "Rapture" by Hurt, and this one. Oh, and what's that thing about bonus tracks?? I want bonus tracks!
The thing with this song is, regardless that Brent may have said it's about an unvle of his, that you can take many meanings to it.
To me it doesnt sound like he's talking about one person in particular. The first verse he's talking about an outcast...someone who may have battles with addiction, etc. and he saying that beneath the surface, theres a good person, but due to society, he cant be himself.
In the second verse he's talking about a working class kind of guy who, even though worlds apart from the person in the first verse, still has the same problems. So basically, I feel he's saying that no matter what walk of life you come from, there are still problems regardless....I think this line sums it up....
Theres a hard life for every silver spoon Theres a touch of gray for every shade of blue Thats the way that I see life If there was nothing Then there'd be nothing right
First off, just pointing out that there is a mistake in the lyrics
"If there was nothing Then there'd be nothing right"
should be "If there was nothing wrong..."
Secondly, what an amazing song, it's got kinda that southern rock/ballad vibe like in Lynyrd Skynyrd's curtis lowe
And i also agree that this is about someone close to him that he knew differently from anybody else.
again, amazing song
Amazing song...
To me it sounds like someone important in his life died. And the beginning sounds if he smoked and drank himself to death. Hence the reason he maybe saying "what a shame". Almost as if the man lead a good life but that was his only curse.
What a shame What a shame To judge a life that you can't change The choir sings Church bells ring So won't you give this man his wings
That part sounds as if he's saying he couldn't do anything to help him. and asking god to forgive the man for his sins and allow him to enter into heaven.
Great band and this has to be my favorite song by them. I believe its about a man that wasn't accepted by society because he was different. It also sounds like even religious people where he may have lived didn't accept him either because he was likely considered an "undesirable."
Not to mention, maybe people only saw his outward appearance and didn't even attempt to get to know him. The man passed on and is remembered only by the few who did care for him. That may or may not be the correct interpretation, but that's the best I can think of.