Shine On

There is always one song in every album that causes you to fall in love with the artist, and causes you to listen to the rest of the album for another hint of the same magic. For me, this is that song. It reminds me of the love of my life and the reason I still miss him today as much as I did the first day without him.

One of my favorites from Blunt's new album "All The Lost Souls".

For me, this song is about the end of a relationship - breaking up and moving on. It's the "last dance" and "last goodbye". The "silence" that "greets the last goodbye" represents the inability to find the right words to say (“the words I need”). The truth, however, is reflected in the eyes (“I see it in your eyes”) - the proverbial window to the soul… indicating the other person both “sees” and recognizes that it’s time to let go. However, that the first line is a question "Is it our last dance?" reveals an uncertainty.

These failed relationships have left behind a drop of cynicism for love and romance – “same old moves” and “same old lies” can be used to start a “new romance” but these lines suggest the “same old” ending will result.

The “they" in the chorus refer to the fleeting promises of everlasting love; when you “close your eyes, they’ll all be gone”, unable to stand the test of time. The promises of love were “sold out” – deceived, broken and unfulfilled. The “screaming and shouting” reveal the pain of broken promises.

The promise of eternal love is like god – something revered and believed in but intangible and perhaps on a pedestal so high that it is unreachable. But promises serve this purpose without choice (as “slaves”).

The chorus…”keep shining/keep smiling” is a message to move on and to keep on loving. The line “shine on” suggests illumination, light, clarity and the imagery of the sun brings warmth - both embody what it’s like to have love in your life. “You and I just shone”, you and I just loved.

Even though relationships sometimes don’t work out, it’s never a waste of time because it gives us “a cloud to dance on” and brings us closer to that seemingly unreachable “god” in the sky – a love that will last forever.

hmm also - did anyone else notice that the introduction sounds like 'stand by me'? i wonder if this was intentional - if so it could have some relavence to the meaning, why would a song about a split up have 'stand by me' undertones? unless the protagonist is in denial about the end of the relationship, or the split up is forced by society rather than in the hearts of the individuals, or else perhaps it is pathos...

I completely agree with and understand the interpretation of this song as the end of a relationship, but I also think there is an entirely valid secondary interpretation as well. I can definitely see how one might view this song as the relationship between God and a devoted believer.

Specifically, I think that the follower is near death and desires God's reassurance and blessing. The line "And when silence greets my last goodbye" brings to mind the death of the believer and the departure of the soul. Not to detract too much, but I would like to connect this line to Shakespeare's 'Hamlet', as Hamlet's final words before death are "The rest is silence." The earlier phrase of "our last dance" in the first line of the song also brings this thought, perhaps of the final moment of life.

Furthermore, the line "Cause they're all just slaves to the Gods they've made" suggests that those who are in the physical world surrounding the dying believer are not followers of the same religion, and actually worship false deities. The line follows with "But you and I, just shone, just shone," insinuating that the believer was unbothered by the others because he/she had the light of God in life.

Finally, the principle images in the song are eyes, the sun, and a cloud, and they all connect to the interpretation of faith. The eyes are suggestive of the ever-present eyes of God. The sun connects directly to the song's title and has symbolized almighty power and salvation since ancient times. The cloud is likely a simple metaphor for heaven, with the "dancing" as a representation of basking in heaven.

This is personally my favorite of James Blunt's songs because of just how ambiguous it is upon examination. Blunt often wrote on themes of religion in some of his songs and this song is no exception. Lastly, I will add that this interpretation connects fairly well to the title of the whole album - "All the Lost Souls"

Mmm, this song is so beautiful. I just love the way he sings "eyes." This song is so fragile at times, it's so beautiful.

Absolutely beautiful song. I think this whole album is purely and entirely a piece of magic. "Back To Bedlam" was an awesome record to and I do love it, but I think the emotions and the feelings go even deeper on "All The Lost Souls". I think this song could be interpreted as finding "The One" and the way that they shine like a star in your life. The whole world feels like it's afire with beauty and love and nothing can be truly wrong as long as you can look in to that person's eyes and see their smile at the end of the day. The bit about others screaming that they've been sold out, but they're the ones who paid for the cloud they're dancing on to me could mean that all the lovers who came before are showing their jealosy and implying that they feel used or possibly abandoned, but to the two subjects of the song the exes were the ones who paved the way to finding each other. It makes me think of my boyfriend. He shines so brightly in comparison to my passed partners.

This song is so fitting for my life right now, the end has come to a 6 month serious relationship, and this describs how i felt and how things when. After she had said goodbye and we we were going to have to seperate for now, silence greeted her words, i knew that things were rocky and that i probly was not going to be able to sort things out but nothing could prepare me for the heart ache that i have right now. But like gina.ly said it is so worth every tear shed and puts me so much closer to the feel on a love that will last forever.

God Bless you all and happy new year.

this song is so amazing and powerful in its own way!

i love james blunt!!!!

im not sure what this song is supposed to be about but it makes me think of a young couple I read about in the news recently, who stole millions from friends and aquaintences, partly through credit card fraud. They then splashed their money about a lot and amongst other things went on long holidays, photos of which they posted up on facebook much to the disbelief of the victims who knew them, and amazement of the police who promptly arrested them. the song makes me think of them because it seems that their relationship is coming to an end but not necessarily because there is no longer any affinity between the couple, the singer speaks of how everyone else feels they have been sold out by them, but they dont care because they have been having a great time, rising above everyone else and not playing by their rules (or gods) they have been living at the expense of those around them. without any sense of responsibility or obligation. i think that this is a very negative reading of a song which is probably supposed to be uplifting and positive, i think you are meant to be on the side of the couple, if it is a couple... so i dont for a single moment suggest this is the correct reading, besides which i think the song was probably written long before this news story! but to me it really seems to fit...

this song makes me think of being in love in highschool and the last dance of prom and both you and your sweetheart are going to different schools so you decide to end it for what's best even if neither one of ou want to. Enjoying what time you have left and wishing each other good luck in the future