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The Shins — Saint Simon
Album: Chutes Too Narrow
Avg rating:
7.1

Your rating:
Total ratings: 418








Released: 2003
Length: 4:12
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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After all these implements and texts designed by intellects
So vexed to find evidently there's still so much that hides
And though the saints dub us divine in ancient fading lines
Their sentiment is just as hard to pluck from the vine

I'll try hard not to pretend
Allow myself no mock defense
As I step into the night

Since I don't have the time nor mind to figure out
The nursery rhymes that helped us out in making sense of our lives
The cruel, uneventful state of apathy releases me
I value them, but I won't cry every time one's wiped out

I'll try hard not to give in
Battened down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
Step into the night

La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum

Mercy's eyes are blue
When she places them in front of you
Nothing holds a Roman candle to
The solemn warmth you feel inside

There's no measuring of
Nothing else is love

I'll try hard not to give in
Battened down to fare the wind
Rid my head of this pretense
Allow myself no mock defense
Step into the night

La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum

Mercy's eyes are blue
When she places them in front of you
Nothing really holds a candle to
The solemn warmth you feel inside of you

do do do do do do do da dee da da da da da da-dun

La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
La-da-da-dum
La-da-da-da-dum-dum
Comments (54)add comment
Melodic with nice chords. Can't ask for more...well I could...but...nahhhh!{#Clap}
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
This song is soooo harsh on the ears...
(apologies to Romeo {#Angel})
Posted 13 years ago by jimbaca    [ Reply ]
Verse chorus verse...yes, very structured. I always complain when Dylan or Cohen are droning away, but I think this is what they should sound like if their poetry was set to music and sung in tone...in a very structured method.
Posted 13 years ago by Jared    [ Reply ]
 dharmanavy wrote:
Would the Shins or any of the other melodic sound alike groups even exist without The Beatles blueprint?...
 
Answer: not in their current form

Posted 13 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
 scraig wrote:
This may be my favorite Shins song. Love its depth.

could be my least favorite Shins tune.

Posted 13 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
suckobarfosuck {#Cowboy}
Posted 13 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
 PA1749 wrote:
Is this the same singer from Smashing Pumpkins, Billy something I think?
 
No - clever wordplay and creative musical accompaniment aside - James Mercer and Billy Corgan don't really sound alike to me.

Posted 13 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
Is this the same singer from Smashing Pumpkins, Billy something I think?
Posted 13 years ago by PA1749    [ Reply ]
My mother told me that if I can't say something nice don't say anything at all.  So, " . . . . "
Posted 14 years ago by Stefen    [ Reply ]
I just don't GET it sometimes, I guess.  5.

 spigolli wrote:
Sounds like a bad off Broadway show tune.
 


Posted 14 years ago by bluedot    [ Reply ]
Sounds like a bad off Broadway show tune.
Posted 14 years ago by spigolli    [ Reply ]
This may be my favorite Shins song. Love its depth.
Posted 14 years ago by scraig    [ Reply ]
 theirishtickler wrote:
wow, radio paradise appears to have a woody for the shins.....
 
RP favours the artists on the Garden State soundtrack.

Posted 14 years ago by nate917    [ Reply ]
 redeyespy wrote:
Feels like a Squeeze tune with Ben on lead vocals.
 
A very welcome idear.

Posted 14 years ago by Jared    [ Reply ]
Give this a listen for a minute or so and it grows on you.

I was one of the first to like Roxy Music, for godsake.  Quirky vocals are cool.


Posted 15 years ago by whistlercat    [ Reply ]
 wrangler wrote:
just cannot stand the shins.  this guy's voice is just weak.  yuck.
 
Trying to understand what you mean by weak?  Checked your ratings so you are not on the silly bandwagon that thinks Thom Yorke and Neil Young can't sing.  So why do you consider James Mercer's voice is weak? I think it is interesting, quirky and unique.

Posted 15 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
its trying to be 'lite'; its working, but i can't figure out if that's ok, or its a very very bad thing...
Posted 15 years ago by canadapaul    [ Reply ]
Sounds like it could have been a Schoolhouse Rock tune.
Posted 15 years ago by Derecho    [ Reply ]
 theirishtickler wrote:
wow, radio paradise appears to have a woody for the shins.....
 

Ya Think??

                                                      18 Search Results for "The Shins" on Radio Paradise:
ArtistSong TitleAlbum
The ShinsA Comet AppearsWincing The Night Away
The ShinsAustraliaWincing the Night Away
The ShinsBlack WaveWincing The Night Away
The ShinsCaring Is CreepyOh, Inverted World
The ShinsGone for GoodChutes Too Narrow
The ShinsKnow Your Onion!Oh, Inverted World
The ShinsMine's Not A High HorseChutes Too Narrow
The ShinsNew Slang (When You Notice the Stripes)Oh! Inverted World
The ShinsPhantom LimbWincing the Night Away
The ShinsPink BulletsChutes Too Narrow
The ShinsSaint SimonChutes Too Narrow
The ShinsSea LegsWincing the Night Away
The ShinsSleeping LessonsWincing The Night Away
The ShinsSpilt NeedlesWincing The Night Away
The ShinsThe Past And The PendingOh, Inverted World
The ShinsThose to ComeChutes too Narrow
The ShinsWe Will Become SilhouettesSuch Great Heights (Postal Service single)
The ShinsYoung PilgrimsChutes Too Narrow



Posted 16 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 wrangler wrote:
just cannot stand the shins.  this guy's voice is just weak.  yuck.
 
Yeah, I don't hear anything remarkable here. It reminds me of B-side filler one might have heard on an original (pre-Rod) Small Faces or Argent (speaking of Rods) recording. There isn't even some sort of guitar bit to suck me in. In short, it's drivel.


Posted 16 years ago by jagdriver    [ Reply ]
just cannot stand the shins.  this guy's voice is just weak.  yuck.
Posted 16 years ago by wrangler    [ Reply ]
great song - 6

Posted 16 years ago by calypsus_1    [ Reply ]
Best shins song !
Posted 16 years ago by Saliby_Br    [ Reply ]
It's Fleet Foxes!
Posted 16 years ago by Baby_M    [ Reply ]
wow, radio paradise appears to have a woody for the shins.....
Posted 16 years ago by theirishtickler    [ Reply ]
jah_blessed wrote:
This guy still can't sing. What about holding a note for just a split second?
Too bad "Jah" did not bless you with a good ear for music.
Posted 16 years ago by bigB_3    [ Reply ]
RP made me a fan of the Shins. Can't believe it was almost 4 years ago that I first heard them here.
Posted 17 years ago by thewaxtadpole    [ Reply ]
Would the Shins or any of the other melodic sound alike groups even exist without The Beatles blueprint?...
Posted 17 years ago by dharmanavy    [ Reply ]
jah_blessed wrote:
This guy still can't sing. What about holding a note for just a split second?
Seems I particularly like singers of which other people claim they can't sing. Neil Young and David Byrne are examples I can imagine, but James Mercer??
Posted 17 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
Have to hand it to them- they are one of the most original acts I've heard for some time. I haven't heard much by them, but when I check to see who is making that nice sound on the website, I seem to have found these guys quite a few times. Time to get the album i guess...
Posted 18 years ago by dapower    [ Reply ]
Love, love LOVE the guitar solo in the middle! I love the Shins!
Posted 18 years ago by Alexandra    [ Reply ]
pyxxel wrote:
I understand how someone might not like this track, but I thrive on the complexity of this arrangement. An 8 from me! :D
exactly! and given the complexity of the melody and harmonies in most of their music, i find it perplexing to read so many comments about how james mercer "can't sing." his voice is a bit reedy, to be true, but he carries a very complicated song amiably, i think.
Posted 18 years ago by rah    [ Reply ]
Posted 18 years ago by rollo_tomasi    [ Reply ]
This guy still can't sing. What about holding a note for just a split second?
Posted 18 years ago by jah_blessed    [ Reply ]
Crap album, great song.
Posted 18 years ago by tiddalick    [ Reply ]
Nice! Reminds me of one of the British Invasion bands from the early 60s; and that's a good thing.
Posted 18 years ago by Snagmaster    [ Reply ]
mab wrote:
Does this remind anyone else of solo Ben Folds?
Feels like a Squeeze tune with Ben on lead vocals.
Posted 18 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
daedalus wrote:
Chutes and misses....
I understand how someone might not like this track, but I thrive on the complexity of this arrangement. An 8 from me! :D
Posted 19 years ago by pyxxel    [ Reply ]
Chutes and misses....
Posted 19 years ago by daedalus    [ Reply ]
nuggler wrote:
Hell man, this is painful... Time for these lame white boys of today to take some pointers from the chicks !
Can't say I agree with the first part of your statement. But the second part-- I think it's high time we ALL took "some pointers from the chicks!"
Posted 19 years ago by Mangoman    [ Reply ]
Hell man, this is painful... Time for these lame white boys of today to take some pointers from the chicks !
Posted 19 years ago by nuggler    [ Reply ]
Great new twist to la-la-la-lum
Posted 19 years ago by kestrel    [ Reply ]
La-la-la. La-la-la. La-la-la. La-la-la. La-la-lah. La-la-lah. La-la-lah. La-la-lah. La-la-la. La-la-lah. La-la-lah. La-la-la. Lah-lah-lahhhh. I've been la-la'ed to near death. Thanks, but no thanks.
Posted 19 years ago by diane    [ Reply ]
Such a great song and great cd. The Shins have rocketed up to one of my favorite recent bands. Intricate lyrics and music for each song.
Posted 19 years ago by jstevep00    [ Reply ]
Funny, I sensed Ben Folds too. I checked the forum as soon as I heard it to see what the scoop was. Guess I'm not alone... Def sounds like he helped on this track.
Posted 20 years ago by scottmbow    [ Reply ]
mab wrote:
Does this remind anyone else of solo Ben Folds?
Exactly what I thought the first time. I like it!
Posted 20 years ago by redeyespy    [ Reply ]
Great song! Great album! Great live preformance! WONDERFUL band!! :nodhead:
Posted 20 years ago by SonOfSam    [ Reply ]
mmmmmmmm hmmmmmmmmmmm... was wondering when some Shins might finally show up on RP.
Posted 20 years ago by Platypus    [ Reply ]
What a band. This cd is solid from start to finish. And the lyric sheet/packaging is quite cleverly designed. They put on a fun show. Don't miss 'em if they come to your town. In addition to the songs RP is playing, "Kissing The Lipless" and "So Says I" would be two more good additions from this album.
Posted 20 years ago by mperry    [ Reply ]
mab wrote:
Does this remind anyone else of solo Ben Folds?
not feeling that, but I think they have some of the same (power-poppish) influences. Love 'em both.
Posted 20 years ago by josephthelevite    [ Reply ]
:nodhead:
Posted 20 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]
I only own this one (Chutes too Narrow). If you like this song, you will like the CD as well. It's very, very good.
Posted 20 years ago by Darlington    [ Reply ]
I'm really starting to like the Shins... Might spring for some of their CDs. Thank you RP for the introduction!
Posted 21 years ago by DaWiz    [ Reply ]
Does this remind anyone else of solo Ben Folds?
Posted 21 years ago by mab    [ Reply ]