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Florence + The Machine — Shake It Out
Album: Ceremonials
Avg rating:
6.6

Your rating:
Total ratings: 633









Released: 2011
Length: 4:28
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Regrets collect like old friends
Here to relive your darkest moments
I can see no way, I can see no way
And all of the ghouls come out to play

And every demon wants his pound of flesh
But I like to keep some things to myself
I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around

All of his questions, such a mournful sound
Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground
So I like to keep my issues drawn
But it's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

And I am done with my graceless heart
So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart
'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn
It's always darkest before the dawn

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
And given half the chance would I take any of it back
It's a fine romance but it's left me so undone
It's always darkest before the dawn

Oh whoa, oh whoa...

And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't
So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my road
And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope
It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat
'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Looking for heaven, found the devil in me
Well what the hell I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa

Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
Shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, shake it out, ooh whoa
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoa
Comments (75)add comment
People hating on her voice? Oh boy, this goes up to 10, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Posted 1 month ago by brianbouton    [ Reply ]
This would be so much more enjoyable if everything about it was dialed back to 10.
Posted 4 months ago by murrayn    [ Reply ]
 joko63808 wrote:

Massively overplayed. And she still can't sing.



She can certainly sing but she just can't resist cranking it up to 11.  
 
Posted 4 months ago by Alastair    [ Reply ]
 ick wrote:

or "Yoko and the Machine"!


Hazarding a guess that these are all men posting these snide comments. Florence, Bjork, Yoko, all strong women marching to the beat of their own drum. Makes insecure men's goolies shrink. 
Posted 5 months ago by siqbal    [ Reply ]
Massively overplayed. And she still can't sing.
Posted 6 months ago by joko63808    [ Reply ]
 Vinni_NL wrote:

Just upped this from a 7 -> 8 just because so many people are hating on her voice. There are SO many worse voices out there, I like her fierce and energetic style! Give us some more Bill ^^



Great live performances as well
Posted 7 months ago by brosen    [ Reply ]
 buddy wrote:

I'm reminded of "A Clockwork Orange" when Alex was put in a straight jacket with his eyes pried open and forced to listen to Beethoven while being tortured with scene after scene of death and destruction and violence in order to "cure" him of his own sadistic and violent behavior.  He still had the urge to be a ruthless animal, but after that he couldn't listen to Beethoven without becoming violently ill.

And so it is with me, O my brothers and friends, whenever I hear F&TM, only while I do get nauseous upon hearing them, my only thought of violence is to smash my computer to bits with my walking stick and stomp on the pieces with my Doc Martens to just.make.it.stop!!!

So, my dear droogies,I'm off for some lovely eggiwegs and lomticks of toast before heading down to the old milkbar for a few lashings of the old ultraviolet.


Ultraviolence, although you seem to have a pretty good understanding of the fundamentals.
Posted 7 months ago by Greyerwrit    [ Reply ]
Crap... Period.
Posted 12 years ago by tphord    [ Reply ]
LMAO! it's not just you... we're all in the dog house.
 oldslabsides wrote:
Why is she yelling at me?
 

Posted 12 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]
 Easyrider wrote:
Over played,Over rated,bombastic and down right depressing😖😖😖😖😖😖
 

Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion.  But every time I hear a Florence song I am a bit startled by its uniqueness.  The melody, tempo, flow etc capture my attention.
Posted 12 years ago by coyotexxx2    [ Reply ]
Over played,Over rated,bombastic and down right depressing😖😖😖😖😖😖
Posted 12 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
Thank you Rebecca and Bill, didnt know florence before
Posted 12 years ago by DerRadfahrer    [ Reply ]
I'm reminded of "A Clockwork Orange" when Alex was put in a straight jacket with his eyes pried open and forced to listen to Beethoven while being tortured with scene after scene of death and destruction and violence in order to "cure" him of his own sadistic and violent behavior.  He still had the urge to be a ruthless animal, but after that he couldn't listen to Beethoven without becoming violently ill.

And so it is with me, O my brothers and friends, whenever I hear F&TM, only while I do get nauseous upon hearing them, my only thought of violence is to smash my computer to bits with my walking stick and stomp on the pieces with my Doc Martens to just.make.it.stop!!!

So, my dear droogies,I'm off for some lovely eggiwegs and lomticks of toast before heading down to the old milkbar for a few lashings of the old ultraviolet.

Posted 12 years ago by buddy    [ Reply ]
I think her voice is great for this music. Like the lyrics too, love the way she manages to wrap such dark words in a upbeat, catchy pop tune.
Speaker volume goes up ...
Posted 12 years ago by yaelf    [ Reply ]
 fyrwoman1956 wrote:
I wish you would never ever play anything from this band. Her voice/their music just grates on my nerves. Unfortunately, when you play them, speakers go off.
 
All she does is yell at full voice with a huge wall of sound behind her. Every song is the same.

Posted 12 years ago by FlatCat    [ Reply ]
Just upped this from a 7 -> 8 just because so many people are hating on her voice. There are SO many worse voices out there, I like her fierce and energetic style! Give us some more Bill ^^
Posted 12 years ago by Vinni_NL    [ Reply ]
 Stratocaster wrote:
Like a third-rate Annie Lennox.
 

I'd put her rather as "a worthy successor"... Go Flora and the Margarine, I like your stuff   {#Lol}
Posted 12 years ago by Limpopoking    [ Reply ]
There's something intriguing about this band.
She's not a singer though, she's a shouter.
I like hearing them but I don't think I could ever listen to more than one song at a time; couldn't imagine listening to an entire disk.
A solid 6, maybe even a seven after a couple beers. 

Posted 12 years ago by Alafia    [ Reply ]
I wish you would never ever play anything from this band. Her voice/their music just grates on my nerves. Unfortunately, when you play them, speakers go off.

Posted 12 years ago by fyrwoman1956    [ Reply ]
They are sooooo good!   {#Bananapiano}
Posted 12 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
 bseib wrote:

I have to admit, I gave her fingernails voice a 4 rather than a 3.
After all, it could have been "Bjork and the Machine". {#Eek}
 
or "Yoko and the Machine"!
Posted 12 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
 Alexandra wrote:

I'm with ya....I wonder if it makes dogs howl like they do when an ambulance goes by.
 
My dog just asked to go outside. There's your answer.
Posted 12 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
 oldslabsides wrote:
Why is she yelling at me?
 
She hates you and you deserve it.

Posted 12 years ago by Imkirok    [ Reply ]
 Sasha2001 wrote:
Why do I feel like a child being scolded by a mean teacher? I'm sorry Ms. Florence, for whatever I did. Please stop yelling at me.
 
{#Lol}
Maybe she's yelling at you because of that thing you did a few months ago.  She must've been watching you and you didn't notice.

Posted 12 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
I am sure after hear this a few more times the "Shake it out" chorus will become annoying...but really liking it now...love her voice.
Posted 12 years ago by sbegf    [ Reply ]
 LizK wrote:
I like her energy.  Not that I would like each and every song on RP to have so much vibration.  But that's the way Florence sings, and it makes the day brighter. 
 
Agreed - I don't like everything this band creates, but I really dig this song.

Posted 12 years ago by eruwenolorien    [ Reply ]
 ihategrapejuice wrote:
It is *NOT* darkest just before the dawn. It is darkest in the middle of the night. It is, however, the coldest around dawn.
 
Yeah, forget the dawn — this time of year in Seattle it's REALLY dark at 4:30pm!  {#Yawn}


Posted 12 years ago by socalhol    [ Reply ]
Why is she yelling at me?
Posted 12 years ago by Red_Dragon    [ Reply ]
I love her passion...she's full of life. Totally dig Florence!
Posted 12 years ago by shakitten    [ Reply ]
Self-absorbed.
 
Posted 12 years ago by iggam    [ Reply ]
 Orodrigues wrote:
Abba is alive!
 

Yes, but they are not putting out music anymore. However if they did it would be a whole lot better than this crap.
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
I like it, but I'm not sure the homage to Neil Diamond's "America" belongs at the end...
Posted 12 years ago by chasech5    [ Reply ]
Abba is alive!
Posted 12 years ago by Orodrigues    [ Reply ]
I like her energy.  Not that I would like each and every song on RP to have so much vibration.  But that's the way Florence sings, and it makes the day brighter. 
Posted 12 years ago by LizK    [ Reply ]
Like a third-rate Annie Lennox.
Posted 12 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
 sirdroseph wrote:
Annoying voice, can't get past it, nuh uh.{#Snooty}
 
I'm with ya....I wonder if it makes dogs howl like they do when an ambulance goes by.

Posted 12 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
I can appreciate the energy and it's kind of catchy.  But, as noted,  she does kinda SING WITH ALL CAPS ON.  (That was a good line!)
Posted 12 years ago by shutter    [ Reply ]
Sinead O'Connor called, she wants her vocal track back.

Posted 12 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
Annoying voice, can't get past it, nuh uh.{#Snooty}
Posted 12 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
Please please please play Where the water takes me!!!!
Posted 12 years ago by jools    [ Reply ]
 kaybee wrote:

like she sings in caps ALL THE TIME.  It can get boring.

 
haha
truth

Posted 12 years ago by dreadpixie    [ Reply ]
 ihategrapejuice wrote:
It is *NOT* darkest just before the dawn. It is darkest in the middle of the night. It is, however, the coldest around dawn.
 
It just feels darkest.

I think the reason why I'm lukewarm on Florence is that her voice is always intense, like she sings in caps ALL THE TIME.  It can get boring.

Posted 13 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
I like the music, but I really get distracted by Florence's voice.  She slides so slowly into the notes she is trying to hit that she sounds like she is searching for the right pitch.  I like the timbre of of voice.  I just wish she'd ease off on that "style" and focus more on the actual melody.  IMHO.
Posted 13 years ago by bthomas100    [ Reply ]

Quiz: Florence, or a Machine?

Florence and the Machine will launch their new album with a performance at Hackney Empire this week. The show is sold out but you can watch it live online here. 

But first, can you tell the difference between Florence and the Machine lyrics and text produced by a random sentence generator? 

Have a look and see if you think these quotes come from Florence, or a machine...

hadley freeman florence machine 
Posted 13 years ago by ScottFromWyoming    [ Reply ]
Shake it out....shake
Posted 13 years ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
That crazy Florence can really bring it. . .
Posted 13 years ago by vandal    [ Reply ]
Florence acoustic. Florence without anything but a guitar. I wonder how she'd sound - she's got the voice, and maybe she doesn't need the bombastic background. Maybe the Machine could be less Terminator and more clock-radio.
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Ahhh, one day people will realise quite how mediocre 'flo' actually is... or alas, not as the case may be :(
Posted 13 years ago by HutchHarrison    [ Reply ]
 johnjconn wrote:
something sexy about a bitchy sounding female singer.
I lust her
 

keep it short-term..........
Posted 13 years ago by nigelr    [ Reply ]
Man, I'm loving what I've heard from the new album. Love these lyrics.
Posted 13 years ago by nevar23    [ Reply ]
I really enjoy hearing a Florence & The Machine song once in a while. I don't think I could listen to a whole album at once, though. Good in small doses.{#Smile}


Posted 13 years ago by TimeWaster    [ Reply ]
 ihategrapejuice wrote:
It is *NOT* darkest just before the dawn. It is darkest in the middle of the night. It is, however, the coldest around dawn.
 

You're right, of course.  Lots of poetic license in that expression.
Posted 13 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
 clwguy wrote:
8 for the song; 3 for Florence's fingernails scratching on a chalkboard voice
 
I have to admit, I gave her fingernails voice a 4 rather than a 3.
After all, it could have been "Bjork and the Machine". {#Eek}


Posted 13 years ago by bseib    [ Reply ]
 romeotuma wrote:


I'll dance to this...  love it...

 
 
I'll nod my head to the beat, but my back won't allow much more than that.  Hugs right back atcha, my friend!

Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
It is *NOT* darkest just before the dawn. It is darkest in the middle of the night. It is, however, the coldest around dawn.
Posted 13 years ago by ihategrapejuice    [ Reply ]
8 for the song; 3 for Florence's fingernails scratching on a chalkboard voice


Posted 13 years ago by clwguy    [ Reply ]
:::swoon:::
Posted 13 years ago by linden    [ Reply ]
I can appreciate Florence's strong voice, but its just a bit quivery for my tastes.  Not a soothing voice to listen to - IMO.
Posted 13 years ago by anabel    [ Reply ]
Ugh, I just cannot get into them. Her voice is so annoying to me...sounds like she's wailing.
Posted 13 years ago by K_Love    [ Reply ]
sounds like florence and a noisy machine
Posted 13 years ago by coy    [ Reply ]
glurg
Posted 13 years ago by Hannio    [ Reply ]
See on hea.
Posted 13 years ago by ottojama    [ Reply ]
Is it just me or we getting more female singers with big strong clear voices?  I like it.
Posted 13 years ago by AvoidingWork    [ Reply ]
...i like it!..
Posted 13 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
Doesn't sound like one of her lyrical masterpieces, but it's entertaining. I want to rank it 5.5, but I'll go with 6 for now.
Posted 13 years ago by q4Fry    [ Reply ]
I liked that. 7 for now.
Posted 13 years ago by TimeWaster    [ Reply ]
A real sleeper.  Get's a 8 on first blush.
Posted 13 years ago by Andy_B    [ Reply ]
Bleeeeaaacccchhhhhh

 
Posted 13 years ago by ckcotton    [ Reply ]
This is such a joyous sounding song!  I really like it - 8 for now, but will probably bump it up after a few more listens. {#Sunny}
Posted 13 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]