Shadows – English Lyrics

• By: Yelawolf, Joshua Hedley

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the power of storytelling in music with Yelawolf's 'Shadows.' This song offers a unique opportunity to learn English through its vivid and narrative-driven lyrics. By exploring the raw and honest portrayal of a troubled past, you can gain insight into colloquial expressions and the art of lyrical storytelling. What makes 'Shadows' special is its seamless blend of hip-hop and country, creating a hauntingly beautiful soundscape that enhances the emotional weight of the lyrics.

[English]

♪ ♪

♪ MEMORIES OF SHADOWS HAUNT ME ♪

♪ FROM THE YEARS WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪

♪ THINGS THAT USED TO TERRIFY ME ♪

♪ ARE THE THINGS THAT I'VE BECOME ♪

♪ THERE'S A DARK MOON IN THE CLOUDS ♪

♪ MISTY FOG IN THE SWAMP ♪

♪ CRICKETS CHIRPIN' OUTSIDE MY WINDOW ♪

♪ THE WATER IT THUMPS - IN THE BATHROOM SINK DOWN THE HALL ♪

♪ THE LIGHTS FLICKER SOMETIMES ♪

♪ THE WIND IS HOWLING THE DOGS ARE GROWLING WAY DEEP IN THE PINES ♪

♪ A PASSIN' CAR ON THE DISTANT ROAD - THE ONLY THING RUNNING ♪

♪ NIGHTMARES IN MY SLEEP - THE SANDMAN IS COMING ♪

♪ I SEE THE GHOST IN THE RED CLOAK - THE SHADOWS ARE TAKING' SHAPE ♪

♪ THE SOUND OF A FAINT VOICE - LOST AND FULL OF HATE ♪

♪ DRY LEAVES CRUMBLE UNDER THE FEET OF THE REAPER ♪

♪ THE LIMBS TAP ON MY WINDOW - LIKE THE NAILS OF A CREATURE ♪

♪ TALES OF GOBLINS AND FAIRIES - A SACRIFICE ON THE PRAIRIE ♪

♪ A MURDERER THAT ESCAPED - I'M DISILLUSIONED AND WEARY ♪

♪ LIGHTNING STRIKES ON THE HILL - ILLUMINATING THE CABIN ♪

♪ THE OLD MAN ON THE PORCH - EVIL AND QUIETLY LAUGHING ♪

♪ SURROUNDED BY DEMONS ♪

♪ I'M AN ANGEL AND THEY ALL WANT ME ♪

♪ AND TO THIS DAY ♪

♪ MEMORIES OF SHADOWS HAUNT ME ♪

♪ FROM THE YEARS WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪

♪ THINGS THAT USED TO TERRIFY ME ♪

♪ ARE THE THINGS THAT I'VE BECOME ♪

♪ CIGARETTE BUTTS AND OIL STAINS ON THE DYING GRASS ♪

♪ THE SMELL OF THE LIQUOR - RISING UP FROM THE BROKEN GLASS♪

♪ THE CROWDS OF BLACK LEATHER - THE HEAT FROM THE ENGINES ♪

♪ MOTORCYCLES AND GOONS - BEARDED MEN AND LOUD WOMEN ♪

♪ THE CRACKLIN' PAINT - THE OLD SHACK WITH THE SWINGIN' LIGHT ♪

♪ THE HEROIN NEEDLES PASSIN' - OPEN IN PLAIN SIGHT ♪

♪ OZZY AND BLACK SABBATH - THE VINYL IS SKIPPIN' ♪

♪ FROM THE FIGHT IN THE KITCHEN ♪

♪ BLOOD SCREAMIN' AND KICKIN' - SMOKE FILLS UP THE SKY ♪

♪ GASOLINE ON THE TRASH HEAP ♪

♪ THE MATTRESS IS BURNIN' - I HEAR IT POPPIN' AND SNAPPING ♪

♪ THE RAIN SOAKED TEDDY BEAR - SO HEAVY I CAN'T LIFT IT ♪

♪ THE FLASK FOR THE MOONSHINE - I WATCH AS THEY ALL SIP IT ♪

♪ THE HALLOWEEN PUMPKIN CANDLE LIT WITH A PENTAGRAM ♪

♪ THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK - WITH A BROKEN MINUTE HAND ♪

♪ SURROUNDED BY THIEVES KILLERS THUGS AND SOME JUNKIES♪

♪ AND TO THIS DAY ♪

♪ MEMORIES OF SHADOWS HAUNT ME ♪

♪ FROM THE YEARS WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪

♪ THINGS THAT USED TO TERRIFY ME ♪

♪ ARE THE THINGS THAT I'VE BECOME ♪

♪ I THROW ON MY LEATHER JACKET - A COLLECTION OF BIKER PATCHES ♪

♪ ONE OF THEM SAYS SAVAGE - THE OTHER ONE BLACK SABBATH ♪

♪ HEAVILY TATTED - BARELY ANY SKIN LEFT ♪

♪ WHISKEY BENT AFTER TWELVE - I'M ALWAYS PLAYING WITH DEATH ♪

♪ BULLET SHELLS IN MY YARD - LOADED GUN ON THE SHELF ♪

♪ RUN THE ROADS LIKE A WOLF - THROUGH THE WHOLE BIBLE BELT ♪

♪ RATTLESNAKE SKIN BOOTS - TOES UP ON THE CHOPPER ♪

♪ FIFTY HARLEYS BEHIND ME - THEY ALL READY TO SLAUGHTER ♪

♪ DRUNK IN FRONT OF MY SONS - DRUNK IN FRONT OF MY DAUGHTER ♪

♪ SPIT CUSS AND I YELL - IT'S LIKE A ONE-SIDED QUARTER ♪

♪ CAUSE I'M ONLY HEADS UP - NO MATTER WHICH WAY YOU FLIP IT ♪

♪ NO BRAKE LIGHTS IN MY LIFE - I'M EITHER RICH OR EVICTED ♪

♪ COMMITTED TO MY CONVICTIONS - COMMITTED CRIMES WITH THE QUITTERS ♪

♪ CONNECTED TO MY RELIGION - THE RELIGION OF SINNERS ♪

♪ SEND A PRAYER TO GOD - EXHALING SMOKE OFF THE METH PIPE

♪ LIKE PUDDLES REFLECTING THE RIPPLES ECHO TO NEXT LIFE ♪

♪ SO HERE I AM STANDING JUST LIKE THE ASHES THAT FELL FROM THE FIRE ♪

♪ A SEED THAT FELL OFF THAT POISONOUS AND FORGOTTEN FLOWER ♪

♪ BECAME MY OWN NIGHTMARE - BUT NOW I THINK IT'S CHARMING ♪

♪ ESPECIALLY WHEN ♪

♪ MEMORIES OF SHADOWS HAUNT ME ♪

♪ FROM THE YEARS WHEN I WAS YOUNG ♪

♪ THINGS THAT USED TO TERRIFY ME ♪

♪ ARE THE THINGS THAT I'VE BECOME ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
haunt /hɔnt/ B1	verb - to repeatedly visit or appear in a place, especially as a ghost
terrify /ˈtɛrɪfaɪ/ B1	verb - to frighten someone very much
flicker /ˈflɪkər/ B1	verb - to burn or shine unsteadily
howling /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/ A2	adjective - making a long, loud, painful cry or sound
chirpin /ˈtʃɜrpɪŋ/ A2	verb - to make a short, high-pitched sound (informal for chirping)
thump /θʌmp/ A2	verb - to strike or beat heavily
growl /ɡraʊl/ A2	verb - to make a low, threatening sound in the throat
illuminate /ɪˈluːmɪneɪt/ B2	verb - to light up or brighten
crumble /ˈkrʌmbl/ B1	verb - to break into small pieces
limb /lɪm/ A2	noun - an arm or leg of a person or animal
disillusioned /ˌdɪsɪˈluʒənd/ C1	adjective - disappointed after discovering that something is not as good as expected
weary /ˈwɪəri/ B1	adjective - feeling very tired, especially after doing something for a long time
moonshine /ˈmuːnʃaɪn/ B2	noun - illegal whiskey made secretly
pentagram /ˈpɛntəɡræm/ C1	noun - a five-pointed star, often associated with magic or the occult
thug /θʌɡ/ B1	noun - a violent person, especially a criminal
tatted /ˈtætɪd/ B2	adjective - covered with tattoos
chopper /ˈtʃɒpər/ B1	noun - a motorcycle
slaughter /ˈslɔːtʃər/ B2	verb - to kill animals or people in a brutal way
evicted /ɪˈvɪktɪd/ B2	adjective - forced to leave a property by a legal process
meth /mɛθ/ B2	noun - methamphetamine, a powerful and addictive drug

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ THE THINGS THAT I'VE BECOME ♪

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase "I've become" uses the present perfect to describe a past action with present relevance, emphasizing the lasting impact of past experiences.

• ♪ THE WATER IT THUMPS - IN THE BATHROOM SINK DOWN THE HALL ♪

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion

  ➔ The phrase "The water it thumps" uses subject-verb inversion for poetic emphasis, placing the pronoun "it" after the subject for rhythmic effect.

• ♪ THE LIGHTS FLICKER SOMETIMES ♪

  ➔ Adverb Placement

  ➔ The adverb "sometimes" is placed at the end of the sentence to modify the verb "flicker," emphasizing the occasional nature of the action.

• ♪ THE SOUND OF A FAINT VOICE - LOST AND FULL OF HATE ♪

  ➔ Appositive Phrase

  ➔ The phrase "lost and full of hate" is an appositive that renames and describes "a faint voice," providing additional detail about its nature.

• ♪ I'M AN ANGEL AND THEY ALL WANT ME ♪

  ➔ Parallel Structure

  ➔ The phrase uses parallel structure with "I'm an angel" and "they all want me," creating balance and emphasis in the sentence.

• ♪ FROM THE FIGHT IN THE KITCHEN ♪

  ➔ Prepositional Phrase

  ➔ The prepositional phrase "from the fight in the kitchen" indicates the source or origin of the action, providing context for the following lyrics.

• ♪ LIKE PUDDLES REFLECTING THE RIPPLES ECHO TO NEXT LIFE ♪

  ➔ Simile

  ➔ The phrase uses a simile with "like puddles reflecting the ripples" to compare the echoes to the reflection of ripples, creating a vivid image.

• ♪ BECAME MY OWN NIGHTMARE - BUT NOW I THINK IT'S CHARMING ♪

  ➔ Contrastive Conjunction

  ➔ The contrastive conjunction "but" is used to show a contrast between becoming a nightmare and finding it charming now, highlighting a change in perspective.