Timeline / Singles
Released 24 March 2014
Shine My Shoes
Emerging from Robbie and Guy's first writing session together since their much-publicised split in the noughties, Shine My Shoes was the third and final single taken from Swings Both Ways. An energetic departure from the musically and lyrically tender singles that preceded it, the track went on to become the high-octane opener to Robbie's set on the Swings Both Ways Live tour.
Listen to Shine My Shoes
Guy Chambers and I started writing together again after a break of about ten years, and 'Shine My Shoes' came out of the first batch. It's in the spirit of a Sammy Davis Jr. song. In the biopic The Rat Pack there's a dream sequence where Sammy Davis Jr. is dancing against the racists. I'm singing against the haters and the naysayers, giving them my time in the form of a swing song detailing exactly why they should hate me. The smugness will infuriate the haters, and the people who kind of like me will just think that it's sweet.
Lyrics
Another dawn, another day, another dollar to be made
I got a pocket in my soul,
Where a little rock a little roll assimilate
And I don't care what you think you know
'Bout who I am and how it goes
I made it easy to be me so yeah,
It's easy to be me
And it's why I say
I know you can't stand me
'Cause I make you so angry
More and more each day hey hey hey
The way you don't love me
Kind of makes you look ugly
And the words you say hey hey hey
Come up and see me, I kind of like the abuse hey hey hey
There's no room in my bed but while you're here
Just bow your head and you can shine my shoes
Shine my shoes
Get outta my lane boy, you're not in my league
Some are born to thrive and some to underachieve
Here's something that'll make you sick
I'm as happy as a pig in sh-
I've been amused, I've been about, I've been amazed, I've been betrayed
That's why I say
I know you can't stand me
'Cause I make you so angry
More and more each day hey hey hey
The way you don't love me kind of makes you look ugly
And the words you say hey hey hey
Come up and see me, oh oh oh,
If you can take the abuse hey hey hey
There's no room in my bed but while you're here
Just lend a hand and you can shine my shoes
Shine my shoes
Kneel down boy
I know you can't stand me
I make you so angry more and more each day hey hey hey
The way you don't love me kind of makes you look ugly
Every words you say hey hey hey
Come up and see me, oh oh oh,
I kinda like the abuse hey hey hey
There's no room in my bed but while you're here
Then bow your head and you can shine my shoes
Shine my shoes
Shine my shoes
Until I see my face