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.
Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
And I've been a fool and I've been blind (I've been blind)
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
All of his questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back (shake him off)
And given half the chance would I take any of it back? (shake him off)
It's a fine romance, but it's left me so undone (shake him off)
It's always darkest before the dawn (shake him off)
(Oh whoa, oh whoa)
And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me (oh whoa)
Looking for heaven, for the devil in me (oh whoa)
But what the hell, I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh (what the hell)
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh (what the hell)
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play
And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
And I've been a fool and I've been blind (I've been blind)
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around
All of his questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
And it's hard to dance with the devil on your back (shake him off)
And given half the chance would I take any of it back? (shake him off)
It's a fine romance, but it's left me so undone (shake him off)
It's always darkest before the dawn (shake him off)
(Oh whoa, oh whoa)
And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me (oh whoa)
Looking for heaven, for the devil in me (oh whoa)
But what the hell, I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out
Shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh (what the hell)
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh (what the hell)
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh, ooh-ooh
Lyrics submitted by Pencileye, edited by mad about the boy, spiderpig4, Baru, almaasi, mrgonzalez, neubian, chelseajay, cactuar, Peachre, shaycraft2810, SummLifee, arthurmonteiro, 116698, OrionAndTheStars, ghostbat, sswesst22
Shake It Out Lyrics as written by Tom Hull Paul Epworth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It just happened to me several days ago when I almost broke up and heard this song in How I met your mother, perfect song for interpretation of this situation of having difficulty getting rid of memory and past.
"It's always darkest before the dawn"--- it takes lots of internal painful struggle against the beautiful memories and lovely moments that are to be ceased. This indeterminaiton is the darkest and most torturing. The dawn is supposed to be the moment when you make up your mind to get over with it and let it go.
Ironically I decided to let it go and called it to an end, but he proposed that he would like to give it another try and make more effort, which he never did in the past.
This may be a positive ending, but I came to this question: Does it always have to be a goodbye that turns the situation around and make people change?
Nope, it’s not the only option. Sometimes a goodbye really is the final solution…
Sadly for men...it sure seems that way..it takes for them to realize they are about to lose the one they love or to actually lose them and it takes many months or years afterwards for the reality to settle in and them to regret making the decision to let their loved one go. It's truly is a shame that it has to be this way. ...and yes even some women do this too, though I think most women are completely done when they finally let a relationship go.
I dunno if I'm the only one, but i don't hear "Impaired" in this line:
"It's a fine romance but it's left me so impaired, It's always darkest before the dawn"
I hear "It's a fine romance but it's left me so UNDONE, It's always darkest before the dawn".
Anyone else?
Yes, that's what I hear for sure.
yes it is undone not empty or impaired
I agree that "It's a fine romance but it's left me so impaired" should be "It's a fine romance but it's left me so undone"
I also think that in "Cause looking for heaven found a devil in me Looking for heaven found a devil in me"
The second time she says haven instead of heaven. As in a safe haven.
Anyway, this song is amazing. Clearly about your bast failures and bad memories affecting you today. Stop dragging them around and shake them out!
so, besides saying what a stunning song this is, i think this song is more about a change and a celebration of life.
I believe its about her being so overwhelmed and burdened by a relationship she has just decided to "shake it out"; become free and start fresh. She knows that its going to be hard and will hurt her but she realizes that in order for things to get better she has to take a leap of faith.
I belive this song is about moving on from your sorrow or maybe just the past.
Like the sentence says: "It's always darkest before the dawn"
Before the suns comes up and gives your life light it may be or has been the darkest.
This is my favorite Florence quote about this song:
"So this song was kind of like, 'Shake yourself out of it, things will be OK,' " she continued. "[Because] sometimes I have to write songs for myself, reminding me to let it go. But then, the end refrain of 'What the hell' is really important as well, because you'll dance with the devil again at some point, and maybe it will be fun. I've heard he does a really good foxtrot."
I love her :)
yeah you do
look how easy that was for me to say
Umm what?
This song emotionally moves me, and brings me to the brink of tears. It reminds me of my deep personal struggle and how hard it is to move on from the pain of the past, but in the end through all the darkness you find new light. the only lyric I hear differently is instead of ' found a devil in me' I hear ' from the devil in me' like you're looking for Heaven from a state of hell or pain.
This song gives me chills... So amazing <3 And I hear '...a shot in the dark Aimed right at my throat...' Great song
Yep, it's "A shot in the dark aimed right at my throat".
Great song.