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

Your rating:
Total ratings: 413









Released: 2011
Length: 4:30
Plays (last 30 days): 3
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 (68)add comment
Crap... Period.
LMAO! it's not just you... we're all in the dog house.
 oldslabsides wrote:
Why is she yelling at me?
 

 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.
Over played,Over rated,bombastic and down right depressing😖😖😖😖😖😖
Thank you Rebecca and Bill, didnt know florence before
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.

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 ...
 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.

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 ^^
 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}
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. 

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.

They are sooooo good!   {#Bananapiano}
 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"!
 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.
 oldslabsides wrote:
Why is she yelling at me?
 
She hates you and you deserve it.

 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.

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.
 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.

 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}


Why is she yelling at me?
I love her passion...she's full of life. Totally dig Florence!
Self-absorbed.
 
 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.
I like it, but I'm not sure the homage to Neil Diamond's "America" belongs at the end...
Abba is alive!
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. 
Like a third-rate Annie Lennox.
 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.

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!)
Sinead O'Connor called, she wants her vocal track back.

Annoying voice, can't get past it, nuh uh.{#Snooty}
Please please please play Where the water takes me!!!!
 kaybee wrote:

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

 
haha
truth

 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.

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.

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 
Shake it out....shake
That crazy Florence can really bring it. . .
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.
Ahhh, one day people will realise quite how mediocre 'flo' actually is... or alas, not as the case may be :(
 johnjconn wrote:
something sexy about a bitchy sounding female singer.
I lust her
 

keep it short-term..........
Man, I'm loving what I've heard from the new album. Love these lyrics.
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}


 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.
 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}


 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!

It is *NOT* darkest just before the dawn. It is darkest in the middle of the night. It is, however, the coldest around dawn.
8 for the song; 3 for Florence's fingernails scratching on a chalkboard voice


:::swoon:::
I can appreciate Florence's strong voice, but its just a bit quivery for my tastes.  Not a soothing voice to listen to - IMO.
Ugh, I just cannot get into them. Her voice is so annoying to me...sounds like she's wailing.
sounds like florence and a noisy machine
glurg
See on hea.
Is it just me or we getting more female singers with big strong clear voices?  I like it.
...i like it!..
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.
I liked that. 7 for now.
A real sleeper.  Get's a 8 on first blush.
Bleeeeaaacccchhhhhh

 
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}