Shake It Out

It just happened to me several days ago when I almost broke up and heard this song in How I met your mother, perfect song for interpretation of this situation of having difficulty getting rid of memory and past.

"It's always darkest before the dawn"--- it takes lots of internal painful struggle against the beautiful memories and lovely moments that are to be ceased. This indeterminaiton is the darkest and most torturing. The dawn is supposed to be the moment when you make up your mind to get over with it and let it go.

Ironically I decided to let it go and called it to an end, but he proposed that he would like to give it another try and make more effort, which he never did in the past.

This may be a positive ending, but I came to this question: Does it always have to be a goodbye that turns the situation around and make people change?

I dunno if I'm the only one, but i don't hear "Impaired" in this line:

"It's a fine romance but it's left me so impaired, It's always darkest before the dawn"

I hear "It's a fine romance but it's left me so UNDONE, It's always darkest before the dawn".

Anyone else?

I agree that "It's a fine romance but it's left me so impaired" should be "It's a fine romance but it's left me so undone"

I also think that in "Cause looking for heaven found a devil in me Looking for heaven found a devil in me"

The second time she says haven instead of heaven. As in a safe haven.

Anyway, this song is amazing. Clearly about your bast failures and bad memories affecting you today. Stop dragging them around and shake them out!

so, besides saying what a stunning song this is, i think this song is more about a change and a celebration of life.

I believe its about her being so overwhelmed and burdened by a relationship she has just decided to "shake it out"; become free and start fresh. She knows that its going to be hard and will hurt her but she realizes that in order for things to get better she has to take a leap of faith.

I belive this song is about moving on from your sorrow or maybe just the past.

Like the sentence says: "It's always darkest before the dawn"

Before the suns comes up and gives your life light it may be or has been the darkest.

This is my favorite Florence quote about this song:

"So this song was kind of like, 'Shake yourself out of it, things will be OK,' " she continued. "[Because] sometimes I have to write songs for myself, reminding me to let it go. But then, the end refrain of 'What the hell' is really important as well, because you'll dance with the devil again at some point, and maybe it will be fun. I've heard he does a really good foxtrot."

I love her :)

This song emotionally moves me, and brings me to the brink of tears. It reminds me of my deep personal struggle and how hard it is to move on from the pain of the past, but in the end through all the darkness you find new light. the only lyric I hear differently is instead of ' found a devil in me' I hear ' from the devil in me' like you're looking for Heaven from a state of hell or pain.

This song gives me chills... So amazing <3 And I hear '...a shot in the dark Aimed right at my throat...' Great song

Yep, it's "A shot in the dark aimed right at my throat".

Great song.