Shadow

Album: Autobiography (2004)
Charted: 57
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Ashlee Simpson wrote the lyrics about living in the shadow of her older sister, Jessica. On her appearance on Live With Regis And Kelly, Ashlee said: "It's really about dealing with myself and dealing with the voice in your head that's like, 'Oh, everything has to be so perfect, and I have to be like this,' and finding my identity and saying, 'OK, you know, this is who I am, you know, imperfections and all, and I love myself for me, and here I am.'"
  • Ashlee was very much in Jessica's shadow for a while, sometimes literally: Ashlee was one of Jessica's backup dancers. In 2004 Ashlee stepped out of that shadow with her debut album, Autobiography, which includes this song and sold over 3 million copies. For a brief time, Ashlee was the more famous of the two, but in October 2004 when she got caught lip-synching on Saturday Night Live, she faced a backlash. After touring for her third album in 2008, Ashlee stopped recording and performing. She came back in 2025 with a residency at the Voltaire in Las Vegas.
  • Like most of the songs on the Autobiography album, Simpson wrote "Shadow" with the seasoned scribes Kara DioGuardi and John Shanks. They also collaborated on her next album, I Am Me, released in 2005.

Comments: 3

  • Joel from Pittsburg, WiAshlee has talent and I enjoy her music. In particular her Autobiography cd. I think she looks cute as a brunette or w/red/auburn hair.
  • Taylor from Swan Antonio, Txi hate people like you -taylor san antonio TX
  • Anonymousperfectly logical reasons why I hate this song and you should too:
    1.Ashlee has a HORRIBLE voice. I'm sure you've heard of what happened at SNL, orange bowl,ect,ect.
    2.The song writing is is laughably stupid "mother sister father sister everything's cool now"(?????)
    3.Besides the sickening vocals and lyrical talents in this song, it's just plain OBNOXIOUS. Painful melody and the instruments sound out of tune. 4.Being a musician, I simply had to laugh at this song. Otherwise, I might of cried. It's a disgrace to the music industry.
    5. We all know Ashlee looks in the mirror and see's a punk, but when a sane person looks at her, they see a pathetic, ugly, self-absorbed little brat. I could go on forever, but I'm not going to waste my time talking about low-life anymore.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Second Wind Songs

Second Wind SongsSong Writing

Some songs get a second life when they find a new audience through a movie, commercial, TV show, or even the Internet.

The Fratellis

The FratellisSongwriter Interviews

Jon Fratelli talks about the band's third album, and the five-year break leading up to it.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Rock Revenge Songs

Rock Revenge SongsMusic Quiz

John Lennon, Paul Simon and Lynyrd Skynyrd are some of the artists who have written revenge songs. Do you know who they wrote them about?

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.