The Mystic Mark’s Song of the Week: “Get Up” by Shinedown

Shinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida and I have been listening to them since 2003. They are one of my favorite bands playing today and they just continue to get better and better. Shinedown has continuously produced hard hitting rock songs that often times are accompanied by topics which encourage us to examine our own souls. In this week’s “Song Of The Week” we are examining “Get Up” by Shinedown and breaking the song down to it’s meaning and message.

Almost immediately, you can tell “Get Up” is a very uplifting song. Brent Smith, who is also the lead singer of the band wrote this song as a dedication to his friend and band mate, Eric Bass, who has suffered from clinical depression on and off all throughout their decades long friendship. It’s a subject Smith is intimately familiar with, having encountered his own demons and refused to give in to them.

“We don’t want people to feel ashamed about what they’re going through. …You’re not going to be defined by your failures,” Smith said. “You’re going to be defined by the fact that you didn’t give up.”

In the past Brent Smith was a heavy drinker and had his own battles with depression and substance abuse. He knows how debilitating depression can be. You can see in his lyrics below how he recognizes that drinking and drugs may help temporarily, but ultimately, they just numb you to the outside world.

“I know you’re clinging to the light of day
To tell you everything’s a-okay
A medication don’t do much
Yeah, it just numbs the brain”

Eric was asked in an interview shortly after Shinedown’s new Album “Attention Attention” debuted: Shinedown wrote “Get up” coming from a place of vulnerability and shared humility. Why do you think it’s an important focus?

Eric responded by saying: “Because by laying it all out there we’re saying, “We’re human. We struggle and fight everyday just like you. Sometimes mightily.” And by showing our struggles and scars to our fans and to the entire world, we’re letting those who deal with depression or with substance abuse know that they aren’t alone. It’s important for those in society who don’t deal with mental health issues to understand that depression, anxiety and the like, don’t discriminate. It affects people of all ages, races, genders and socioeconomic status. And when you’re living with it, you just feel the weight of this sadness and darkness pressing down on you, and you can’t explain to anyone why it’s happening. It’s very lonely. So, we are here to say to those people, “Yes, I’m a rock star. Yes, I have one of the best jobs on the face of the planet. But, just like you, I’m sick. I have depression, or I struggle with addiction. I know what you’re going through. But I’m here to bring you hope.” That’s why it’s so important for us to show our vulnerability. Because just like everyone else we’re human, not super human.”

His honesty is refreshing, and he is right, there are a lot of people out there that have struggled with depression and drug abuse (myself included). Hearing this song helps give people hope. It helps them capture a positive mindset to move forward and find happiness in life. It gives us the power to do anything we want as long as it comes from a place of love.

“If you’re ever in doubt
Don’t sell yourself short, you might be bulletproof
Hard to move mountains when you’re paralyzed
But you gotta try
And I’m calling out…”

If you are reading this blog then this is your moment when you need to say to yourself: “Get up” and try. Stop holding yourself back. Get out there and be the person you’ve always wanted to be. There are all times when we all feel paralyzed and that’s okay, but you are the only one who is going defeat your demons. Have faith in yourself and things will get better.

Check back here next week for more song breakdowns on TheMysticMark.com