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New Shoes Lyrics
Woke up cold one Tuesday
I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick
I felt like there was something missing in my day to day life
So i quickly opened the wardrobe pulled out some jeans
and a t-shirt that seemed clean
topped it off with a pair of old shoes that were ripped around the seams
and i thought 'these shoes just don't suit me'
Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything's right
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
Woke up late one Thursday, and I'm seeing stars as I'm rubbing my eyes
and i felt like there were two days missing as i focused on the time
and i made my way to the kitchen
but had to stop from the shock of what i found
a room full of my friends all dancing round and round
and i thought 'hello new shoes, bye bye blues'
Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything's right
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
take me wandering through these streets
where bright lights and angels meet
stone to stone they take me on
i'm walkin til the break of dawn
take me wandering through these streets
where bright lights and angels meet
stone to stone, they take me on, i'm walkin til the break of dawn
Hey, I put some new shoes on and suddenly everything's right
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
I'm looking tired and feeling quite sick
I felt like there was something missing in my day to day life
So i quickly opened the wardrobe pulled out some jeans
and a t-shirt that seemed clean
topped it off with a pair of old shoes that were ripped around the seams
and i thought 'these shoes just don't suit me'
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
and i felt like there were two days missing as i focused on the time
and i made my way to the kitchen
but had to stop from the shock of what i found
a room full of my friends all dancing round and round
and i thought 'hello new shoes, bye bye blues'
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
where bright lights and angels meet
stone to stone they take me on
i'm walkin til the break of dawn
take me wandering through these streets
where bright lights and angels meet
stone to stone, they take me on, i'm walkin til the break of dawn
I said hey, I put some new shoes on and everyone's smiling, its so inviting
oh, short on money but long on time
slowly strolling in the sweet sunshine
and I'm running late and I dont need an excuse
coz I'm wearing my brand new shoes
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I agree with the first poster, the meaning of this song is totally obvious.
But if you didn't know, it deals with Paulo's terrifying addiction to heroin.
Lines like 'short on money', 'wandering through these streets', and 'I'm seeing stars' describe his desperation due to the affects of heroin withdrawals. Two days of his life go missing while struggling with his detoxification which causes hallucinations of mysterious dancers in his kitchen.
Then when he finally gets his drug fix, like a new pair of shoes, 'suddenly everything's right'. In an instant he goes from drug sickness to 'sweet sunshine'. The heroin is his 'brand new shoes'.
Sorry to explain something so obvious but I totally agreed with the first poster and wanted to let her know how insightful she was.
These lyrics make me think he's dead:
These lyrics make me think he's dead:
He wakes up cold, doesn't feel himself (he's a ghost); goes through the motion of life, not knowing he's dead, but then there are these new shoes (like dead people often get for their funerals?). So he's beginning to transition. Next thing we know, it's two days later - often the traditional time between death and funeral. The surprise party with all his friends is his post-funeral wake, celebrating his life. Then, of course, that last piece (bridge, whatever), where there are "bright lights" and "angels", is the final transition...
He wakes up cold, doesn't feel himself (he's a ghost); goes through the motion of life, not knowing he's dead, but then there are these new shoes (like dead people often get for their funerals?). So he's beginning to transition. Next thing we know, it's two days later - often the traditional time between death and funeral. The surprise party with all his friends is his post-funeral wake, celebrating his life. Then, of course, that last piece (bridge, whatever), where there are "bright lights" and "angels", is the final transition into death and the afterlife. Seems pretty obvious. The shoes are just the catalyst or perhaps the driving force propelling him into his new state.
@chinaski2323 definitely the true meaning of this song, even if you don't know Paolo's drug induced past like me... it's pretty clear the new shoes are a metaphor for narcotics.
@chinaski2323 definitely the true meaning of this song, even if you don't know Paolo's drug induced past like me... it's pretty clear the new shoes are a metaphor for narcotics.
@chinaski2323 You may be correct, but it is certainly not "obvious" at least not to someone that didn't know about his history with drugs. I've always interpreted it as being about death, and when he is surprised to see all his friends dancing around and around, that is his interpretation of heaven. Even though I struggle with any kind of organized religion myself, it is a comforting thought for me, especially since this was my Mom's favorite song (RIP). I think the beauty of music is it can mean something to each individual listener based on their life experiences. I...
@chinaski2323 You may be correct, but it is certainly not "obvious" at least not to someone that didn't know about his history with drugs. I've always interpreted it as being about death, and when he is surprised to see all his friends dancing around and around, that is his interpretation of heaven. Even though I struggle with any kind of organized religion myself, it is a comforting thought for me, especially since this was my Mom's favorite song (RIP). I think the beauty of music is it can mean something to each individual listener based on their life experiences. I don't have much knowledge of heroin or that lifestyle, so your observations quite literally never occurred to me. But having lost both parents in the last seven years, the concept of loss and life-after-death definitely did.
@chinaski2323 Totally new to this artist, so I had no clue. Who was the first poster you're referencing?
@chinaski2323 Totally new to this artist, so I had no clue. Who was the first poster you're referencing?
No1s commented?? Wats goin on?? Love this song its so catchy.. i think the meanings pretty clear...
Yeah....the meaning is pretty clear....if it really is about new shoes.
I'm not convinced though! I think theres more to it than that.
'take me wandering through these streets where bright lights and angels meet stone to stone they take me on i'm walkin til the break of dawn'
this song really reminds me of beck's "girl"
so obviously it is about something in his life that needed a change he changed it and now everythings great i.e. a woman after a break up gets some new shoes : ) everything is better
There are layers of meaning. The first is literal; he buys new shoes, and good things happen. But I think the messae here is that the shoes only serve as a "placebo" of sorts so he can unlock his full potential.
"Take me walking through these streets Where bright lights and angels meet"
This line really speaks to that, I think. the shoes are metaphorically guiding him, and he can see things that were a;ways there, just were not illuminated. (bright lights meeting angels).
And when he wakes up (on Thursday), he finds that he has invited all of his friends over for a party, but he can't remember. Plus, they're all his existing friends, not new friends.
I think this song is about re-discovering what you already have. In a nutshell, it has the same message as "The Wizard of Oz".
To me the song symbolizes a fresh beginning. Like at the beginning when he says "these shoes just don't suit me" Paolo's having an epiphany.
I think of it like a relationship. Like he finally realized that it wasn't worth it and he just kinda gets out. Then when he says "and i thought 'hello new shoes, bye bye blues'" it is like he found a new girl. or a new way to well be happy.
i really love this song because it is basically how i've been feeling lately. Deciding a guy just isn't really worth it, getting upset about losing him, then thinking "hello new shoes, bye bye blue" and finding a new love (be it a person or thing)
LOVE paolo. absolutely LOVE him
this is a nice pick me up after a long day
i totally agree with you
i totally agree with you
In an interview with Paolo Nutini, he explained it was about how anything can turn your life around, whether it be a pair of new shoes or a new relationship.
New shoes don't usually cause you to lose track of time for two days.
Whatever it's about, it's repetitive and irritating when you've heard it twice.
Oops I accidentally thumbed up before I saw your second sentence - I am a fan of this song! I can see how it may be a bit too pop for some people's liking though. Yes I agree with the point you make about losing track of time, there are several phrases in this song which insinuate drug usage; but I think for the most part that is up to personal interpretation.
Oops I accidentally thumbed up before I saw your second sentence - I am a fan of this song! I can see how it may be a bit too pop for some people's liking though. Yes I agree with the point you make about losing track of time, there are several phrases in this song which insinuate drug usage; but I think for the most part that is up to personal interpretation.