In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Send away for a priceless gift
One not subtle, one not on the list
Send away for a perfect world
One not simply, so absurd
In these times of doing what you're told
Keep these feelings, no one knows
What ever happened to the young man's heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
Send a message to the unborn child
Keep your eyes open for a while
In a box high up on the shelf
Left for you, no one else
There's a piece of a puzzle known as life
Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight
What ever happened to the young man's heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
Everyone's pointing their fingers
Always condemning me
And nobody knows what I believe
I believe
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45
And I'm swimming through the ashes of another life
There is no real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45 (45), 45
Staring down the barrel of a 45
One not subtle, one not on the list
Send away for a perfect world
One not simply, so absurd
In these times of doing what you're told
Keep these feelings, no one knows
What ever happened to the young man's heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
Send a message to the unborn child
Keep your eyes open for a while
In a box high up on the shelf
Left for you, no one else
There's a piece of a puzzle known as life
Wrapped in guilt, sealed up tight
What ever happened to the young man's heart?
Swallowed by pain, as he slowly fell apart
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
Everyone's pointing their fingers
Always condemning me
And nobody knows what I believe
I believe
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45 (45)
Swimming through the ashes of another life (another life)
No real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45
And I'm staring down the barrel of a 45
And I'm swimming through the ashes of another life
There is no real reason to accept the way things have changed
Staring down the barrel of a 45 (45), 45
Staring down the barrel of a 45
Lyrics submitted by forbiddenbeat, edited by autmn10485, NUGdunkster
45 Lyrics as written by Brent Smith Anthony C. Battaglia
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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When i saw Shinedown in concert, he said at the beginning of the song "no matter what anyone tells you, this song is about hope". and halfway into the song during a guitar solo he said "in a time in your life when everything was wrong and nothing seemed to get worse, i can tell you now that your life is worth more."
so i think the song is about how he was depressed and had a gun in his hand ready to shoot himself but he decided not to kill himself.
I believe this guy has always lived the way someone else has told him to live. The priceless gift, living the life he is afraid to live. The 45 he is staring down is not literally, he means breaking free from the mistakes and facing the consequences of his actions. The message to the unborn child is not to jump into things you can't get out of, because someday the things you really want in life will come to you, but if you are tied up in a life you have to get out of, you will have to battle "guilt" and hurt people you love to get to it, "sealed up tight". Not about suicide and abortion or being new dad.
First of all, i think that people need to stop taking lyrics so damned literally. Just because the song says something about an unborn child ,it doesn't mean he knocked up a chick. I do however believe this song is about someone contemplating suicide. The "unborn child" is a reference to anyone born to this world, telling them basically "be innocent for as long as you can" obviously the protagonist of this narrative song is facing problems dealing with a major change from that of his childhood to adulthood. He is still "swimming in the ashes" of his childhood perhaps regretting his ill-willed decisions that robbed him from his childhood early. This is just my personal interpretation of the song. Songs like this can be written to relate to anyone's situation and that's why i love them so much.
@fantasyfind17 I agree with you on that, but don't be so damn mean about it. He's going through some shit already. No need to pour salt on open wounds.
Im not so sure what this song is about but it has a certain meaning to me. My gf left me a couple weeks ago and a few weeks prior to that, we found out she was pregnant. She says she doesn't feel the park anymore and she does not love me like she did at first. I am doing better but I was thinking of ways of offing myself cuz the pain was unbearable and the heartache is. Thus the lyrics "no real reason to accept the way things that change". She is now behaving like she hates me and I don't know why. "Send a message to the unborn child" Idk but maybe me doing myself in would defintately send some sort of message. Not a good one Im sure either. I can relate to the song so much cuz of all the crap and betrayal I am dealing with. She is even with another guy already and she is pregnant with my child. Breaks my heart and I can completely understand the singer if its about not wanting to deal with an unplanned pregnancy. Crazy shit is we planned it.... It just did not go as planned unfortunately. :-(
I was reading your post here and just want to say please don't think that way.... Relationships are difficult and I can't imagine what you're going through with your gf carrying your child and not wanting to have you in her life. You have to think about that child and what you can give him or her by living! My parents divorced when I was 11, my dad wasn't really there as he had a new life with his mistress turned wife. My mom was un-diagonosed bi-polar until I was 14. She was my rock even though I didn't realize at the time she wasn't "always there". Anyways, she died when I was 15 due to juvenile diabetes complications. My dad abandoned my completely until i was 25. What I know is that whether you and your gf are together or not, your child needs you. So many things I went through as an observer as my friends had their parent or parents there. Good luck.
I think that this song is talking a lot about Vietnam and Michael Jackson have died. It may also be referring to Gran Torino starring that old guy from $100 baby.
Its not about that at all. First of all, this song was made a couple of years ago before MJ died. On Wikianswers, someone said that they went to Shinedown's concert and that it was about Brent Smith's grandma dying. So i'm going with that. Because Ive seen the music video, i read about shinedown all the time, and i know that its about that or something like that. its NOT about suicide, or MJ or Vietnam. If you wanna hear about the Iraq war, though, listen to Devour by Shinedown. Its about the Iraq war.
I completely agree. Not on the fact that he was about to kill himself, but on the fact that everyone goes through extreme depression. I do feel that the song is about hope and that not anything is worth taking your life over. I've had the pleasure of seeing shinedown twice in concert, and dispite the boose, it was two concerts that I will never forget. What attracts me to Shinedown is their lyrics and interpretation. That you can kind of take what they say for what YOU want. Because they do it this way, I personally feel that it impacts a much wider audience, and hits right home to a lot of people. Keep in mind that this was just one of their songs, but if you are an avid fan like I am, you will learn to love this band more and more as they keep puttin out kick ass song after kick ass song. Rock on SHINEDOWN and keep 'em coming!!!
-Ron
This song could very well be about suicide, but perhaps it could be looked at another way. Maybe this gun pointed at his head is life itself causing problems, threatening him to his face. It could be a metaphor for the problems in life.
I like your comment very insightful
I don't think it's about abortion, per se, but I think it's about a guy who is depressed over fathering a child. He doesn't want to be a dead-beat, but he doesn't want to throw his life away on the kid, either. So he's contemplating shooting himself in the head. The "message to the unborn child" I guess are his departing words of wisdom to the kid, for when he's old enough to understand them.
I agree with fire016.
"And I'm starring down the barrel of a 45. Swimming through the ashes of another life No real reason to except the way things have changed Starring down the barrel of a 45."
It's metaphorical. "Starring down the barrel of a 45." could mean looking ahead and seeing possible obstacles in life, or the things life throws at you. Good song.
I dont think that this song is about suicide or fathering a child, In my opinion its about being alone in the world and trying to find yourself and being comfortable. The .45 hes talking about is the WORLD! Staring at it waiting for it to go off. "Everyone is pointing and condemning me" could be a point of breaking and wanting everything to stop. He is trying to be confortable with himself and until that happens he wont be happy sort of idea. Hope to shed some light on a really amazing song. Dont know if it is accurate but thats the message that i come across :D <(^^<) (>^^)> This song deserves a Kirby Dance for its epicness :D