Cast No Shadow
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| ""Cast No Shadow"" | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Song by Oasis | ||
| from the album (What's The Story) Morning Glory? | ||
| Released | October 2, 1995 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:51 | |
| Label | Creation Records | |
| Writer(s) | Noel Gallagher | |
| Producer(s) | Noel Gallagher | |
| (What's The Story) Morning Glory? track listing | ||
| "Some Might Say" (7) |
""Cast No Shadow"" (8) |
"She's Electric" (9) |
"Cast No Shadow" is a song by British rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher and released on their second album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory?.
The song was dedicated to then-Verve singer, and close friend of the band, Richard Ashcroft. The opening lines of the song - "Here's a thought for every man, who tries to understand what is in his hands" - are similar to those in the refrain of The Verve's song History ("In every man, in every hand, in every kiss, you understand that living is for other men, I hope you do understand"), of which Gallagher is a huge admirer (he provided handclaps on History during recording). The song's chorus ("As he faced the sun, he cast no shadow") has been interpreted as some as a lament for those whose lives are lived so thinly that they leave no lasting impression or legacy upon their demise. When questioned about this line in a September 2005 interview with San Diego radio station FM94/9, Gallagher replied, "The reason why one would not cast no shadow is because one would be invisible." The interviewer had simply assumed it was a referance to Ashcroft's skinnyness.
While writing songs for (What's The Story)..., Noel was invited to play on Paul Weller's 1995 album Stanley Road (specifically, to contribute acoustic guitar to Weller's version of "I Walk on Gilded Splinters"). After visiting the studio and recording his part, Noel was given a preview of the other tracks from the album, and was immediately impressed; as a result, telling himself he "must do better," he went away and one of the first songs he completed was "Cast No Shadow." Prior to its recording during the Morning Glory sessions, the song was intended to be used as a B-side; however, once recorded, all present were enough impressed by the quality of the song and its arrangement to award the song a place on the album.
[edit] Re-recorded version
In October 2005, a re-recorded version of the song was released on the soundtrack to the movie Goal!. Known as the 'UNKLE Beachhead Mix', it was sung by Noel Gallagher and produced by James Lavelle and Richard File from UNKLE, with additional production from Cameron Craig.
