Aug. 17, 19701 viewer14.1K views
The Shape I’m In Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Verse 2]
Has anybody seen my lady?
This livin' alone would drive me crazy
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Bridge]
I'm gonna go down by the water
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
I'll just be lookin' for my maker
And I hear that that's where she's been
[Verse 3]
Oh, out of nine lives, I spent seven
Now how in the world do you get to Heaven?
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Bridge]
I've just spent sixty days in the jail house
For the crime of having no dough, no, no
Now here I am back out on the street
For the crime of having nowhere to go
Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Verse 2]
Has anybody seen my lady?
This livin' alone would drive me crazy
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Bridge]
I'm gonna go down by the water
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
I'll just be lookin' for my maker
And I hear that that's where she's been
[Verse 3]
Oh, out of nine lives, I spent seven
Now how in the world do you get to Heaven?
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Bridge]
I've just spent sixty days in the jail house
For the crime of having no dough, no, no
Now here I am back out on the street
For the crime of having nowhere to go
[Verse 4]
Save your neck or save your brother
Looks like it's one or the other
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Verse 5]
Now two young kids might start a ruckus
You know, they feel you're tryin' to shuck us
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Save your neck or save your brother
Looks like it's one or the other
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
[Verse 5]
Now two young kids might start a ruckus
You know, they feel you're tryin' to shuck us
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
About
This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation
Written by primary songwriter and guitarist Robbie Robertston, who made it no secret that it was a worried number about pianist Richard Manuel, who had self-destructive tendencies and struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction, and who sings the lead vocal here.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 3.In a Station
- 4.The Weight
- 5.We Can Talk
- 7.Chest Fever
- 17.Rag Mama Rag
- 19.When You Awake
- 21.Whispering Pines
- 28.The Shape I’m In
- 29.Stage Fright
- 30.The Rumor
- 32.Don’t Do It
- 50.Endless Highway
Credits
Producer
Writer
Lowrey Organ
Electric Guitar
Bass
Drums
Background Vocals
Clavinet
Lead Vocals
Recorded At
Woodstock Playhouse, New York
Released on
August 17, 1970
The Shape I’m In Covers
The Shape I’m In Live Performances
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