I’ve always been a fan of Blondie and love all of their well-known songs such as Heart of Glass, Dreaming, Atomic, and many more. However, there’s this one obscure song that really captivates me still to this day. It’s called Shayla and it’s about a woman who loses her job at a factory. The music is hauntingly wonderful and atmospheric. Deborah Harry’s vocals are magnificent and she looks radiant. The lyrics are spellbinding and artistically cryptic all at the same time. I might have interpreted it incorrectly but it seems to indicate that Shayla commits suicide which is a heartbreaking conclusion to the story of course. I always thought it would make a great movie too.
Listen to the song and read the lyrics and tell me what you think it all means. I could be way off base and I hope I am!
Still, either way, it’s a beautiful and memorable song in my book.
Lyric of the song “Shayla” of Blondie
Shayla worked in a factory
She wasn’t history. She’s just a number
One day she gets her final pay
And she goes far away
Green trees call to me
I am free but life is so cheap
Scenery is still outside of me
All alone, trapped by its beauty
Shayla turned to run away
To leave in peace and end her stay
Years of fear were in her way
Lost in space and down she came
Suddenly some subtle entity
Some cosmic energy brushed her like shadows
Down here we stop to wonder
Cars on the freeway. Bright lights and thunder
That music is hauntingly wonderful and the lyrics melancholy. I don’t think you’re off base. The lyrics do seem to imply she commits suicide, which is always a tragedy (I personally have been impacted by suicide and it is always so sad and tragic).
Sad, but beautiful song. I love Debby Harry.
Thanks for sharing. It was a nice break to my very LONG work day.
🙂
That music is hauntingly wonderful and the lyrics melancholy. I don’t think you’re off base. The lyrics do seem to imply she commits suicide, which is always a tragedy (I personally have been impacted by suicide and it is always so sad and tragic).
Sad, but beautiful song. I love Debby Harry.
Thanks for sharing. It was a nice break to my very LONG work day.
🙂
I love Shayla, @Merlene pointed me to your post thanks for sharing, I haven’t seen that video in years.
Chaz
I love Shayla, @Merlene pointed me to your post thanks for sharing, I haven’t seen that video in years.
Chaz
I loved Blondie but not really enamoured of this one. I think we skipped 'Eat to the Beat', not one of her (and their) best imo. Didn't really like Union City Blues I suppose either. I'm more of a One Way or Another kinda gal. :-)I suppose the lyrics for Shayla and the lyrics of Marianne Faithfulls 'Ballad of Lucy Jordan' lend themselves to a debate about whether they are about suicide or not. For me, the BofLJ is definately about suicide whereas my husband disagrees.
I loved Blondie but not really enamoured of this one. I think we skipped 'Eat to the Beat', not one of her (and their) best imo. Didn't really like Union City Blues I suppose either. I'm more of a One Way or Another kinda gal. 🙂
I suppose the lyrics for Shayla and the lyrics of Marianne Faithfulls 'Ballad of Lucy Jordan' lend themselves to a debate about whether they are about suicide or not. For me, the BofLJ is definately about suicide whereas my husband disagrees.
I loved Blondie but not really enamoured of this one. I think we skipped 'Eat to the Beat', not one of her (and their) best imo. Didn't really like Union City Blues I suppose either. I'm more of a One Way or Another kinda gal. :-)I suppose the lyrics for Shayla and the lyrics of Marianne Faithfulls 'Ballad of Lucy Jordan' lend themselves to a debate about whether they are about suicide or not. For me, the BofLJ is definately about suicide whereas my husband disagrees.
I loved Blondie but not really enamoured of this one. I think we skipped 'Eat to the Beat', not one of her (and their) best imo. Didn't really like Union City Blues I suppose either. I'm more of a One Way or Another kinda gal. 🙂
I suppose the lyrics for Shayla and the lyrics of Marianne Faithfulls 'Ballad of Lucy Jordan' lend themselves to a debate about whether they are about suicide or not. For me, the BofLJ is definately about suicide whereas my husband disagrees.