Amongst the Shadows & the Stones

Album: What the Dead Men Say (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Guitarist Corey Beaulieu came up with the idea for this song, inspired by a war history website that he follows. The site posted a story of a soldier visiting the graves of his fallen comrades, which he described as walking "amongst the shadows and the stones."

    The first lyric Beaulieu came up with was, "The ghosts of war will haunt my bones, amongst the shadows and the stones," which then inspired the music he wrote for it.
  • Beaulieu had already inserted the screams on the "amongst the shadows and the stones" part of the hook. When he played the demo to his bandmates, bassist Paolo Gregoletto took that and started writing lyrics for the rest of the song. He explained to Apple Music that the lyrical subject changed as they got deeper into the songwriting.

    "I ended up thinking about how we're coming up on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the war on terror, and what the real consequences have been - not only for us, but for the people on the other end," he said. "So it's about the aftermath, when the dust has settled and there's just rubble and nothing."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80s

Wang Chung Pick The Top Songs Of The '80sSongwriter Interviews

'80s music ambassadors Wang Chung pick their top tracks of the decade, explaining what makes each one so special.

Scott Stapp

Scott StappSongwriter Interviews

The Creed lead singer reveals the "ego and self-fulfillment" he now sees in one of the band's biggest hits.

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17

Martyn Ware of Heaven 17Songwriter Interviews

Martyn talks about producing Tina Turner, some Heaven 17 hits, and his work with the British Electric Foundation.