Shinedown: Second Chance Meaning
Song Released: 2008
Second Chance Lyrics
I made it through the day.
I watch the world outside, by the way
I'm leaving out today.
I just saw Hailey's Comet she waved
Said, "why are you always running in place?
Even the man in the moon...
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1TOP RATED
#1 top rated interpretation:This song really gets to me because I feel like there are many parallels in my life. Lead singer Brent Smith said: "It's important for you to hear this.. when I grew up, everyone was ok with being in a bubble. They were cool in their circle. That's fine. But no one should discourage someone if they have a dream, if they want something more [...] This song was difficult for me to write the lyrics to because it's about my mother and my father, and about the day I said goodbye to them, because I had to go try, and I'm still trying every day, to become a man. So, this song is about that. It's about the moment that you wake up and you decide you want to go for every single dream you ever want."
I think that it can have a multitude of meanings. There could be parallels make with dating and relationships where, after one person says goodbye, the relationship becomes stronger. I guess the song is kind of the idea of the latin phrase "succisa virescit," when cut down it grows back stronger. Once something is ended it can come back better or stronger than before. Even though it may be tough to keep hope, this song really helps me and I find comfort in its words. -
2TOP RATED
#2 top rated interpretation:I'm probably pretty far off on the meaning of the song, but these are just my thoughts on the first time I heard it.
I think the song is about an overly stressed person that begins considering suicide and finally announces that s/he will go through with it.
"My eyes are open wide, by the way
I made it through the day."
-The narrator is saying that the fact that they lived through yesterday is such a big deal that it needs to be acknowledged
"To make them realize this is my life
I hope they understand"-The narrator says that he will commit suicide and no one can do anything about it and that they should not be sad.
"I watch the world outside, by the way
I'm leaving out today."-The narrator now admits to considering suicide.
"I just saw Hailey's Comet she waved
Said, "why are you always running in place?"-the narrator begins thinking of everything in their life and "Why you always running in place?" is them basically saying that their life is "going nowhere."
"Even the man in the moon disappeared
somewhere in the stratosphere."-I feel that this is actually either dead-on correct or really far off, so let's find out. I think that "the man in the moon" is supposed to be the narrator's God and that they have even lost interest in their religion.
"Tell my mother, tell my father
I've done the best I can"-"mother and father" is a substitute for the narrator's friends and family and he is explaining why he should kill himself.
"Sometimes goodbye is a second chance."-The author states that suicide is a chance for him to have happiness once again. -
3TOP RATED
#3 top rated interpretation:When I heard this song, I honestly thought this song was really meant for the men and women in the militart.
In every stanza, I could make a connection to something my fiancee in the Army has said about his life and to everything I think he must feel.
Now I know that this song was written to be about moving away from your parents and starting your own life, but this is what this song means to me.
"My eyes are open wide
By the way I made it through the day
I watch the world outside
By the way I'm leaving out today"
He once told me that on the eve of the day he has to ship out, he can't believe the way he spent his last day, that he usually thinks of a million other ways he could have spent it.
"Well I just saw Hayley's comet, she waved
Said "why you always running in place?
Even the man in the moon disappeared
Somewhere in the stratosphere"
When I hear this particular part, I think about the way our lives are now and how compared to all of our non-military friends, I feel we are standing still. Everything we do has to work around the military and his duties as a soldier.
"Tell my mother, tell my father
I've done the best I can
To make them realize
This is my life
I hope they understand
I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance?"
His parents still haven't gotten used to the fact that he has to be thousands of miles away and that I'm just as important to him as they are. My parents aren't happy that I relocated with him. Obviously our families are the most important things in our lives, but now he is my family. In order to start our lives with each other, we have to to say goodbye to our lives with them as they were before.
"Please don't cry one tear for me
I'm not afraid of what I have to say
This is my one and only voice
So listen close, it's only for today"
To me this is one of the most beautiful parts of the song.
When I'm sad before he leaves, he tells me not to cry that we aren't going to have to live like this forever, but for now, this is something that he needs to do. That there's people who need his help as much as I need him, but that we have our whole future to look forward to. -
It’s about chasing your dreams, but I’ve always interpreted it as a song about suicide. He is telling those he left that he made what he considers a “conscious” decision and he wants his family to not be sad and move on.
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This song is about lead singer Brent Smith leaving his native Knoxville, Tennessee, to pursue a career in rock 'n' roll. He explained on Blabbermouth: "This song for me is the most personal song on the record because it's about how I grew up and my childhood. It's about throwing caution to the wind and going after what you truly want in life."
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This song for me is my inspiration! Years ago I left to become an Officer of the law to provide a better life for me and my son. My parents, specifically my father-my mother backed him, was angry and they refused to help with my son in anyway while I was away at the academy for weeks. I just said, F it I am going to do this, it’s my life! I made all the necessary arrangements and left to the academy!! My parents have always tried to control me and my decisions, even now that I am in my 50’s. My son is now grown, on his own and doing well, he and I endured a lot, though I wouldn’t Change MY decision ever! It’s MY LIFE!
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I think this song is awesome because when you are feeling down and want to kill yourself you can listen to this.
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Second chance to me is a great powerful song to leave toxic parents to save yourself no one deserves abuse.
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Songs often can have multiple interpretations. For me, I related Second Chance to coming out as a gay man to my family and friends. I was "running in place" for 40+ years and it was time to move in a new direction, to have a second chance at life. I was saying good bye to that old life.
Coming out was particularly difficult to my parents. I had no doubt they would accept and love me but, I felt like I was letting them down in some way...possibly from a traditional son (wife, kids, etc). "I did the best I can"...
Suicide was something I contemplated many times. Now out for nearly 1.5 years and even relate to the words even more. -
I think this song can be interpreted as suicide even though the singer himself said it's not.
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Wow. At 40 years old, how naive I still am. I truly thought that this song was about suicide. Well, actually a failed suicide attempt. It probably is because when I first heard it I was in that situation. It's was kind of a half suicide note and half speaking after the failed attempt.
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The singer says its about him telling his parents goodbye so he could follow his own dreams. But I've always interpreted this to be about suicide.
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I think this song is about running away from parents.
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"Tell my mother, tell my father, I've done the best I can
To make them realize this is my life" they want to be independent but their parents will not let them and keep trying to run his/her life for them.
"I hope they understand, I'm not angry, I'm just saying
Sometimes goodbye is a second chance" they ran away so they could be independent and start fresh with their life, have a second chance.
"Please don't cry one tear for me, I'm not afraid of what I have to say" they are finally speaking up and standing up to their parents and taking control of their own life.
"Even the man in the moon disappeared somewhere in the stratosphere" they realize that they are not a child anymore and that they're grown up. They have full control of their life now and realize being grown isn't all it's made out to be. -
I too think the song was about suicide and I really appreciate all the comments here, especially the one about the mom and her daughter. The lyric that made me think that was "by the way I'm leaving out today" what does that mean? He watched the world but today he will not be doing that. Which to me speaks of a final choice. Still a great song and the video suggests positive change not death so that is good.
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i think this song is about growing up and finally doing something like college. When the protaginst in this song got good grades and graduates but the parents dont have the money. That's why she ran away in the music video if any of you need help on depression ik because i have it. My gmail is shall2012889@gmail.com email me i know lyrics
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Its about a girl who got pregnet at an early age. She wanted to make her child proud of her. The girl followed her dreams and left to make a better life for hee and her child.
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