Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: funk
Song Meaning of “Shackman” by Medeski, Martin & Wood
‘Shackman’ by Medeski, Martin & Wood is a funk jazz tune. The song is about dealing with impermanence, a common theme in Medeski, Martin & Wood’s music. The title comes from the slang term “shackman”, which is used to describe a transient, someone who moves around from place to place with no real home or sense of stability.
The song reflects on the idea of impermanence, and talks about how life is always passing us by. It speaks of how things tend to change quickly and not always for the better and of how there is no real permanence in life. The song references the idea of the shackman constantly moving and searching, never really settling in one place.
The song’s lyrics also reference time, how quickly it passes and how we can never truly hold onto a moment for very long. But, the song also conveys a sense of hope, as it speaks of how each new day brings us a chance for something better and brighter.
At its core, ‘Shackman’ is a melancholic song about saying goodbye to the promise of a better tomorrow that never comes. Although it speaks to the sadness of that experience, it also is a reminder that we can still keep moving forward and hope for better days ahead.