Shell | ORIGINAL SONG by Liv & Learn

Vocals by Liv & Learn
Composed by Liv & Learn
Visuals by Liv & Learn
Art by ‪@Croomie‬
Mixing by Liv & Learn

Stream this song on all major music stores: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/liv...
Bandcamp: https://livandlearnmusic.bandcamp.com...

***
My Website: https://livandlearnmusic.wixsite.com/...
Follow my Twitter:   / livnlearnmusic  
Follow my Instagram:   / livandlearnmusic  
Follow my Twitch:   / livandlearnmusic  
Join my Discord Server:   / discord  
Become a Learner, Subscribe:    / livandlearnmusic  

***
LYRICS:
One of these things is not like the other
They’re all composed, I can’t keep it together
This fish out of water is struggling to breathe
And I’m petrified of what’s underneath

For so long I wore myself thin
Feels like years, yet I still don’t fit in
I’d give anything to change out of my skin
But I can’t change the person I’ve always been

I hide in my shell but I don’t like what I see
Who is this stranger staring back at me?
Can’t love who I am or let myself be
I’d rather be anybody else but me
Wave after wave, lost the will to be brave
Bury myself underneath the sand
Disgust in the way it hurts to say my name
These feelings are something I can’t understand

One of these things is not like the other
I'm monochrome in a world of color
Flooded by sadness, treading is worthless
Failure if I’m not perfect

For so long I wore myself thin
Feels like years, yet I still don’t fit in
I’d give anything to change out of my skin
But I can’t change the person within
For so long I pushed you away
This lost cause doesn’t want you to stay
I’m drowning under all the pressure I face
I refuse to put you under all this weight

I hide in my shell but I don’t like what I see
Who is this stranger staring back at me?
I'm begging for change with my silent plea
I’d rather be anybody else but me
Wave after wave, lost the will to be brave
Bury myself underneath the sand
Surrender it all, bend me til I break
This mind is a place I’ll never understand

One of these things is not like the other
They’re breathing easy, yet I still suffer
This well’s running dry, I’ve nothing to offer
Don’t cry for me, why even bother

***
Back in late April, I was assigned to write, record, mix, and master an original song on Pro Tools for a class. This was around finals week, so I was juggling a ton of other assignments as well. I had to cram making the whole song in a 3-day timeframe for a class. I spent almost an all-nighter working on it, so a lot of effort and energy was poured into it.

I explain the whole process of writing this song in my blog post, which can be found here: https://livandlearnmusic.wixsite.com/...

I wasn’t sure what to do with it after I finished it and presented it in my class, but I felt it still needed work and wasn’t fully happy with it. I made some adjustments to it later when I felt comfortable enough to come back to it, 3 months later. Something weirdly significant with the number 3 with this song, funny enough. Drafted in the 3rd month of the year, written in 3 days, revised 3 months later, and 3 verses. Weird.

Anyway, this song has a very deep and personal meaning behind it. I hate being so depressing in front of my friends, which I guess extends to my audience too. I was even cringing at myself the whole time when I shared my early draft of Shell to my classmates. I don’t like getting too raw and emotional in front of people, basically. But with these lyrics, they accurately describe the habits I can fall into when I get into fits of self-loathing. I tend to blame myself for my problems and I can get very hard on myself if I don’t achieve the ridiculously impossible goals I hold myself to. I think in some weird way, it’s a distorted view of pride. I hate the idea of being narcissistic, so I try to avoid it as much as possible. In turn, I end up doing the opposite and neglect my mental health.

This song is not a cry for help, so I don’t want anyone to get worried for me, but I want it to sort of be a reminder that no one is perfect, even the people you look up to. Life sucks sometimes, and people often hide that from you, but no one’s alone in the sense that we’re all human and we have the same emotions.

On that note, I’d be happy to hear your thoughts on the new song and generally anything you guys have to say! I’ll see you in the comments section! :)