Crouching down inside a deep ravine
Those angry cries pass quickly by, he can't be seen
So many ways spent hiding in so many undone plans
Forgetting what it's like to fight when no one understands
Close call there in the shadows
There's a fear in the dark
There's one out there

All those memories, pain and anger, flood back one by one
They must be just around the bend, they always come
At night as I lay sleeping they come to me in herds
Their lies remain, the dreams the same, it's only fleeting words
No one calls there in the shadows
There's no end to the dark
But there's one out there, no one but me

The hours pass so slowly, the life's slipping out of me
No way's the right way.
Is there a way out for me?
My life's slipping out

Rising up, the night is done, and now the bright lights come
Held back in my pitied world where everything's undone
A cold wind blows right through me, I'm made a hollow shell
There's nothing left, just ash remains, enrich the soil, no soil, no soil

Close call there in the shadows
There's an end to the dark
'Cause there's someone out there
Someone like me

The hours pass so slowly, the life's slipping out of me
No way's the right way, is there a way out for me
The hours pass so slowly
The life's slipping out of me
Is there a way out for me?
The hours pass so slowly
The life's slipping out of me
Is there a way out for me?
There must be a way out for me


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Out of the Shadows Lyrics as written by Sarah Mclachlan

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Out Of The Shadows song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Literally, the song appears to be about a fugitive, injured, dying by degrees. Fear of her (or perhaps more likely his) pursuers is keeping the fugitive trapped all night in the ravine. The sun rises and the fugitive anticipates approaching death, unable to hide from the mob, but manages to make it through the day into another night, frantically trying to overcome the paralysis of fear that will kill her even if the mob never finds her.

    Letmeinon May 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    To me, the song is about feeling alone and overwhelmed by old childhood dreams and fears (or possibly traumatic memories) that are haunting you as an adult.

    She feels hidden and alone:

    "So many ways spent hiding..." "...no one understands"

    These fears & memories always come to her while sleeping:

    "All those memories, pain and anger, flood back one by one They must be just around the bend, they always come At night as I lay sleeping they come to me in herds"

    She confirms that this song is not about an external threat... but that the only threat is herself... the fear that she will never overcome those old fears.

    "There's no one out there, no one but me"

    glennergyon June 11, 2018   Link

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