Shut it Down

Album: Crash My Party (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This Tony Martin, Wendell Mobley and Neil Thrasher penned cut is built around the around the lyric "any hay to make can wait for now." Bryan commented that it's probably the first time he's done "a real, real sexy song."
  • The song finds Bryan singing about a farmer literally leaving the hay that he is making so that he and his wife can figuratively go make hay while the sun shines. The double meaning is based on the expression "make hay while the sun shines," meaning to act promptly when the opportunity arises. Other similar metaphors include "strike while the iron is hot" and "take time by the forelock."
  • Bing Crosby and Marion Davies sung a song titled "We'll Make Hay While the Sun Shines" in the 1933 movie Going Hollywood. It used the expression in a similar way:

    "Take me where the daisies
    Cover the country lanes
    We'll make hay while the sun shines
    We'll make love when it rains."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.