100 Best Songs About Shadows

Standing in the Shadows of Love

There’s something aesthetically captivating about shadows. The representation of shadows in its different forms is associated with stories about myth and folklore. Although shadow refers to a dark area that takes shape when light from a light source is blocked, the term is used metaphorically to express a wide range of emotions by singers and songwriters. Creative concepts are brought to life with shadow as a symbolical representation.

The list below showcases a collection of rock songs, pop songs, country songs, R&B songs, folk songs, hip hop songs, alternative songs, indie songs, electropop songs, new wave songs, dance-pop songs, synthpop songs, disco songs, punk rock songs, reggae songs, jazz songs, blues songs, EDM songs and dance songs about shadows.

10 Best Songs About Shadows

1. “Shadow of the Day”—Linkin Park

2. “Shadows in the Moonlight”—Anne Murray

3. “Moonlight Shadow”—Mike Oldfield featuring Maggie Reilly

4. “Love in the Shadows”—Neil Sedaka

5. “Shadow of Your Love”—Guns N’ Roses

6. “Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow?”—The Rolling Stones

7. “Silver Shadow”—Atlantic Starr

8. “Savior’s Shadow”—Blake Shelton

9. “Shadows of the Night”—Pat Benatar

10. “Standing in the Shadows of Love”—Four Tops

What Do Shadows Convey in Songs?

In songs, the term “shadow” conveys a wide spectrum of beliefs and concepts. Singers and songwriters use the word to highlight diverse aspects of emotions. How people change at different stages of life is represented figuratively with shadow and light in several songs.

In several songs the shadow represents attributes of analytical psychology projecting an unconscious aspect of personality and human nature where the ego ideal, inner image of oneself, conflicts with the otherworldly image creating an emotional blind spot in the form of a shadow.

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The complexities that arise in relationships are showcased with the term shadow that represent an empty space created by lack of trust, love, and understanding. Mysterious elements and a sense of the unknown associated with people are creatively portrayed with shrouded objects and figures concealing the identity and nature of people. These songs showcase how certain people do not reveal their true self and live in a shadow of lies and deceit.

#11–20

11. “Shadow of a Doubt”—Earl Thomas Conley

12. “Shadow Man”—David Bowie

13. “In the Shadows”—The Rasmus

14. “Wonderful Shadow”—Tanita Tikaram

15. “Standing in the Shadow”—Whitesnake

16. “Lights and Shadows”—OG3NE

17. “Shadow on the Wall”—Mike Oldfield

18. “Moonshadow Road”—T. Grahm Brown

19. “Love in the Shadows”—E.G. Daily

20. “No Shade in the Shadow of the Cross”—Sufjan Stevens

What Do Shadows Symbolize in Songs?

In songs from different genres, shadows are symbolic of the feelings, thoughts, and urges that are suppressed by fear and consciousness. Often, the uncertainty and ambiguity associated with life is represented with shadows.

Certain singers and songwriters use the term shadow to express a sense of security. These tunes figuratively represent the protagonist being shielded from harm and evil. The shelter provided by shadows is associated with guardian angels keeping a watch over people all the time.

#21–30

21. “A Thousand Shadows”—The Seeds

22. “Shadow Moses”—Bring Me the Horizon

23. “Face the Shadow”—Genealogy

24. “Shadowplay”—Joy Division

25. “Be Your Shadow”—The Wombats

26. “Shadows of Your Love”—J.M. Silk

27. “Moonshadow”—Cat Stevens

28. “Shadows on Your Side”—Duran Duran

29. “Shadows”—Warpaint

30. “Shadowtime”—Siouxsie and the Banshees

Shadows as Duality and Ambiguity

Hidden aspects of personalities and subconscious thoughts are metaphorically brought to life with shadows in many songs. These tunes serve as a reminder that by exploring suppressed parts of our psyche we can achieve a deeper understanding of ourselves.

The dual nature of human beings is symbolized thoughtfully in certain songs about shadows. The good and bad that people do is represented with light and darkness engulfed in dual identities of shadows. Although shadows represent a diverse spectrum of attributes, in songs they symbolize the following:

Shadows in Music Videos

The mysterious and enigmatic allure of shadows are creatively showcased in music videos. The intriguing presence of shadows, light, and darkness are used to narrate gripping stories. Certain videos create an eerie suspense with shadows uncovering startling truths associated with the protagonist.

These tunes remind us that not everything is as it seems, and that we constantly need to uncover what lies beneath the surface. Hidden truths and deeper meanings are conveyed with a stirring sense of intrigue in music videos that showcase the dark side of human nature. In certain music videos, the shifting shapes, changing colors, and changing lengths of shadows represent the different aspects of life and its transitions.

In certain music videos lighting is used to create shadows that shroud figures and things. Often these shadows are employed creatively with the theme and the story representing a sense of mysticism and obscurity. In several songs, the darkness associated with evil is showcased with eerie looking shadows. In certain MV’s forbidden desire, passion, dreams, and fantasies are portrayed with aesthetically tasteful shadows.

#31–40

31. “Shadows in the Rain”—The Police

32. “Shadow Dancing”—Andy Gibb

33. “Just a Shadow”—Big Country

34. “I’ll Cast a Shadow”—Pantera

35. “Shadow of Love”—Wax

36. “Shadowboxer”—Fiona Apple

37. “Out of the Shadows”—Iron Maiden

38. “Shadowboxin’”—GZA featuring Method Man

39. “Cast No Shadow”—Oasis

40. “My Shadow”—Jessie J

Portrayal of Shadows in Songs

Certain singers and songwriters use the word shadow to portray the sinister alter ego of the protagonist. In songs that represent the dark, shadows portray diverse association with spirits, supernatural beings, and ghosts. The haunting past of the protagonist is brought to life figuratively in several songs. The fear and memories that lurk deep inside within are explored with dark aspects of a troubled conscience.

The end of a relationship is often showcased with a manifestation of shadows that represent emptiness and sadness. The connect between physical and metaphysical realms is brought to life in an engaging manner in these songs. In certain songs, shadows thematically symbolize the nature of life and existence.

Musicians that use religious and philosophical concepts in songwriting often showcase shadows as the end of days. The inevitability of death is explored in complex forms in these songs. The protagonist’s perception of time and reality is showcased with blurry thoughts associated with truth and illusion. In certain tunes shadows represent the mystery and deception associated with strangers.

#41–50

41. “Complicated Shadows”—Elvis Costello & The Attractions

42. “Shadow Days”—John Mayer

43. ‘Shadowfeet”—Brooke Fraser

44. “Burn My Shadow”—UNKLE featuring Ian Astbury

45. “Shadowside”—A-ha

46. “Shadows Fall”—The Coral

47. “Walk in the Shadows”—Queensryche

48. “Half a Woman, Half a Shadow”—Roxette

49. “Dancing with Your Shadows”—Phillip Phillips

50. “Shadow on the Sun”—Audioslave

#51–60

51. “Cry for a Shadow”—The Beatles

52. “The Shadow of Love”—The Damned

53. “The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows”—Gang of Youths

54. “Shadows”—The Gateway Plan

55. “Shadows”—Alphabeat

56. “One More Lie (Standing in the Shadows)”—Craig David

57. “We Kiss in a Shadow”—Doretta Morrow

58. “Playing in the Shadows”—Example

59. “Shadows and Light”—Joni Mitchell

60. “Shadows”—Future Islands

#61—70

61. “Shadow Boxer”—The Angels

62. “Shadows”—Westlife

63. “Shadow”—Ashlee Simpson