Shake It Out

The Shake It Out Songfacts reports that the song is about having a hangover and wanting to shake it out. Speaking to XFM radio, Florence explained: "I wanted to just shake something out, shake out these regrets, shake out these things that haunt you. It was one of those songs that came in about half an hour and when you've got a hangover, it is almost like a hangover cure. You're like, thank you!" She continued: "I don't want everyone to think that I always write songs with a hangover! Cause I don't, I really don't. But with this one I have to say there was a bit of one lurking in my mind as I wrote it. It was like I was trying to write a hangover cure."

[Intro] Regrets collect like old friends Here to relive your darkest moments I can see no way, I can see no way And all of the ghouls come out to play And every demon wants his pound of flesh But I like to keep some things to myself I like to keep my issues drawn It's always darkest before the dawn [Verse 1] And I've been a fool and I've been blind I can never leave the past behind I can see no way, I can see no way I'm always dragging that horse around All of his questions, such a mournful sound Tonight I'm gonna bury that horse in the ground 'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn But it's always darkest before the dawn [Chorus] Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh-whoa [Verse 2] And I am done with my graceless heart So tonight I'm gonna cut it out and then restart 'Cause I like to keep my issues drawn It's always darkest before the dawn [Chorus] Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh whoa (Shake him off) [Bridge] And it's hard to dance With a devil on your back (Shake him off) And given half the chance Would I take any of it back? (Shake him off) It's a fine romance But it's left me so undone (Shake him off) (Shake him off) It's always darkest before the dawn Oh whoa Oh whoa [Breakdown] And I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't So here's to drinks in the dark at the end of my rope And I'm ready to suffer and I'm ready to hope It's a shot in the dark aimed right at my throat 'Cause looking for heaven, found the devil in me (Oh woah) Looking for heaven, found the devil in me (Oh woah) But, what the hell, I'm gonna let it happen to me, yeah [Chorus] Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa Shake it out, shake it out Shake it out, shake it out, oh whoa And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back So shake him off, oh whoa [Outro] (What the hell...) Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-woah-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-woah-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-woah-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh Oh-oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh-woah-oh