+ 15

gvicky1297 2009-02-05 02:49:15

To me this song is about suicide. When he says I made it through the day, it means that he made it through even though hes so depressed. The "Why you always running in place, literally means, he never gets anywhere". So then he wants his parents to understand that its his life and his chice to end it, and that hes not mad, he wants to give someone else a second chance by leaving them. So then he doesn't want people to cry about his death, that hes not afraid because he knows it what he in his mind has to do. And he wants people to listen to what hes saying right now because he can't say it again after hes dead. Then the corus again. Blah, blah, blah. But I love this song, and this is merely what I beleive it means, I could be wrong xd.

w

+ 10

wanderer325 2010-11-09 03:21:58

Honestly, from the very first time I heard this song, I thought it was about a young man going into the military to be shipped off over seas and to finally do something with his life, "By the way, I'm leaving out today."
Seems like he's been doing nothing with his life and is going nowhere fast. Especially since Halley's Comet only comes around about every 75 years and he says that the comet spoke to him saying, "why you always running in place?"
He further states that he believes his life is going nowhere when he sings, "Even the man in the moon disappeared..." The "man in the moon" is stagnant, and never goes anywhere.
The chorus reminds me of that military commercial where the kid is having trouble talking to his parents about joining the army. "Tell my mother, tell my father I've done the best I can. To make them realize this is my life I hope they understand..."
Anyway, that's always been my take on the song.

p

+ 7

Prizy 2008-12-19 07:16:27

I relate to this song because it sounds to me like he's trying to tell his parents that in order for him to find his way, he needs them to back off, and realize that, like he said, this is his life. That's how I feel about my parents. It makes sense to me. Saying goodbye to someone-like your parents- to start over on your own, is a second chance. Great song. Love the "I just saw haley's comet" line. And where did you people get suicide from this song? I didn't get anything about suicide from this song.

k

+ 5

kko65 2008-11-20 04:10:08

I love this song and I had to look up the lyrics. Unfortunately, it sounds like he is about to commit suicide- he admits his eyes are still open as he writes this and made it through the day, like it was tough for him to do because he seems depressed. He says he's done the best he could and he says he is leaving out today. In his "note" he wants he Mother and Father to know that it wasn't their fault and not to cry because it is his choice and his life. He is saying goodbye, but I'm not sure what he considers his 2nd chance. He also makes references to the heavenly bodies, like Hailey's comet and the moon. Maybe I am off base, but that is what comes to my mind.

U

+ 4

Unregistered 2012-01-03 03:45:31

My interpretation is of someone (I'm going to use "he" but it could be either "her/he") who has made it through one stage of his life ("made it through the day" verse) and has reached a point where it is time to say "goodbye" to a part of himself, because it is this part that is holding him down ("running in place" verse). The person knows that although things may not have turned out how their mother or father wanted, he hopes they understand that although there has been injustice, pain, and that life has not been far from perfect, that he is still trying to make his way, that he is still taking the next step, and to make it in this life from now he has to let go, to live with no regrets, and say goodbye. He knows that it has all been done before, there are people worse off, yet with a strong heart they still make it in the world. ("even the man in the moon disappeared"). So he tells himself that every day he wakes, breathes, lives, is a second chance, and he can take the chance if he could say goodbye to yesterday.

g

+ 4

guitardude342 2009-02-20 03:38:47

I think It's about there being no chance for him to continue his life happily, and following his dreams. Once in a while you have to say goodbye to the ones you love. Including your parents. I understand how some people think this song might be about suicide. But like Fl8 said, most of these things he is saying point to a hypothetical suicide, not an actual one. Basically, he has to leave. He needed his parents to accept the fact that he needed to follow his dreams. And they couldn't do that so he left. "Sometimes goodbye is a second chance."

U

+ 3

Unregistered 2012-08-11 10:09:53

I had a friend that past away alittle over a year ago, and every time I hear this song it reminds me of him. He had a very strong addiction to drugs, and I believe the demon won him over! If you listen to the lyrics it explains it all! I believe he was sick an tired of chasin the demons! He just wanted some release, an wanted to not feel the hurt, the pain anymore that was consuming his body his soul everyday of his life! Well buddy ur demon free! See you again someday! Mmuah, miss you!

U

+ 3

Unregistered 2012-06-14 01:12:46

My son was 20 when he died 2 1/2 years ago in a car accident. Before he died I had told him that this song made me think of him, and he agreed. We always had a battle of points and this and that, but he was my one and only and we were extremely close.
When he died, I knew this song had to be played at his funeral.
His good bye to heaven was his second chance, and he was telling me that. I know he's with me all the time, and happy and at peace. I love the part listen close, this is my one and only voice - so very true. Parents listen to those little ones - they got a lot to say. God bless you jamie - love mom!

U

+ 3

Unregistered 2012-06-03 00:04:57

Sometimes your parents want you to do what they want, so that's what you try to do. Eventually, though, you realize that it isn't what you should do and it isn't what you want to do. Then, you have to try to convince your parents to let them do what you want. Finally, you see something that makes you realize that you'll never be able to convince them to let you do what you want, so you say goodbye and start over somewhere else, giving yourself a second chance at living the life you want.

g

+ 3

gvicky1297 2009-02-05 02:54:03

But I am tired of people sayig, oh the song means this. It could mean a lot of things to a lot of different people. It is merely what you people think the song means. Like I as said in my post thinks it is talking about suicide, even though a lot of people said its just about breaking away from your parents, I beleive it goes down a lot deeper than that, like when I listen to the lyrics each line has a meaning to me all talking about suicide. But seriously.

v

+ 3

Vejz0rz 2009-01-07 16:45:42

If you're too lazy to watch the video. Here is what he says:.
"This song was difficult for me to write the lyrics to because it's about my mother and my father, and about the day I said goodbye to them.
Because I have to go try, and I'm still trying today, to become a man.
This song is about that. It's about the moment that you wake up, and you decide you want to go for every single dream you ever wanted. This song is called second chance. "

l

+ 3

Live_n_let_live_92 2008-12-27 07:47:36

Wow I've been hooked on shine down for a long time but this is a new high. This song really hits home my parents are divorced and they both want a different life I'll be out on my own in a year living my own life but I've done some disappointing things and I think maybe good bye is my second chance. I guess I kinds see the suiside idea but I think it's more about going out and doing your own thing living your life and not what others think you should be doing saying goodbye for your second chance at life.

m

+ 3

mustangboy 2008-11-20 07:31:24

Like alot of people this song hits me hard too because I'm kinda young and have kinda fell away from my parents not because of anything bad really but because I guess I have my own ways for me and I have kinda pushed them away and this is really a song to them from me. . Tell my mother tell my father I have done the best I can to make them realize this is my life, I hope they understand I'm not angry I'm jus saying sometimes goodbye is a second chance. . This song can go alot of different ways and touch alot of different people.

U

+ 2

Unregistered 2021-01-26 23:21:35

As a parent I see this song as a rejection of parents desire to force their child to do what the parents want for the child, not what the actual child actually wants as the parents know best in their head. The opening line "My eyes are open wide, by the way, I made it through the day" to me is the child is saying I am not naïve and I survived on my own. We all have had to move out of our parents house at some point and had that moment when we question if we are making the right choice, At the end of the day it is our life and the parents just have to except our choices.

U

+ 2

Unregistered 2012-04-03 06:02:22

He's endured his own story, that has made him want to move on, and see the next chapter. Now, seeing what the world has to offer, he feels that there's something big out there. A destiny.
Goodbye was not meant to hurt them, it's an adventure he needed to set himself upon. There's a huge world out there, and the is his one opportunity to experience all that he wants to experience.
~brian~ , metro detroit, mi.

U

+ 2

Unregistered 2011-12-19 03:33:32

I'm pretty torn on this song. Shinedown has 3 that I really love but I think this song is the one that has real meaning to me. It makes me think of a young adult that messed up his life. Now he has an opportunity to fix it but he has to go somewhere far away to try, so he has to say goodbye to the only home he's ever known and the parents that stood by him through it all.

U

+ 2

Unregistered 2011-10-13 21:32:26

I was on the set when this music video was filmed off of anna maria island in bradenton, fl. It was filmed at my girlfriends, mother's, friend's house. The group are all genuine people and very fun to be around, they put a lot of effort and feelings into writing this song and it turned out great, not to mention I can relate to this song 100%. Sometime's good bye is a second chance for all of us, we just need to know when to let go and move on towards a better life, instead of clinging to what you think is right, but know is wrong.

t

+ 2

tencutty 2011-08-28 19:32:35

You know you're in trouble when songs speak to you don't you. Its that time of life where you need a sounding board and loved ones fail you. That's how I felt about this song. It came when I needed the strength to move away from everyone and venture blindly into new. I literally heard this song a dozen times as I was towing my rv packed with all my things, two pets and Girlfriend. I believe the inspiration for this song was heaven sent as many these days needed to go against the social norms or be risky. Nothing else seems to be working. I read others had similar stories, mine in particular is quite brutal as well. Ty Shinedown for blessing me with this song. I took the Haleys Comet reference as needing to be gone to see what is stretched beyond sight, 75 yrs is a bit long but sometimes when you come back everyone is happy to see you, make the time to celebrate your journey, and speculate where you have been. It could mean that in spect to our lives somehow. Wish I could meet Shinedown, maybe my life; s story would be a few more songs.

a

+ 2

ajk111 2010-11-11 16:40:53

My oldest son died in a tragic hit and run accident in December 2009. Ironically, he really liked this song and it ended up being our family's song to remember our son's life. My youngest son was with his brother when he died, being the survivor of the accident. The man who hit our son's fled the scene of the accident leaving them their to die like animals without calling 911 for help. They were pedistrians. It was an untimely death, our son was 33 years old, dying 2 weeks before his birthday. I cry everytime I hear this song because I know my son is telling me in my heart saying "sometimes good bye is a second chance"

s

+ 2

SuperDrummer 2010-03-05 02:50:58

Poor little pangea. This is absolutely great writing. He has taken his misfortune and turned it into a beautiful song. It relates to many of us here. We feel misunderstood and we want a second chance or give others a second chance. Look beyond what they lyrics are literally saying. Its not just that he is misunderstood but he also wants to get his life together.
"I just saw Haley's Comet she waved Said 'Why you always running in place'"
That means that other people see him as though he is running towards something but isn't really going anywhere. So he is leaving those who don't truly understand him so he can make something of himself and come back for. Wait for it. A second chance.

k

+ 2

Krystynama 2010-02-28 22:03:44

I think he is just trying to tell his parents that this life is his own and that no one can choose what he does and that just cause he is saying goodbye that doesn't mean they will never see him again it only means that he is going on with what he has to do and not what others want him to do. But I have also heard that he is struggling with drugs.

c

+ 2

compundwords55 2009-07-17 05:26:52

Song meaning: This song is about lead singer Brent Smith and his past experiences. It was about how he had to leave his native town in order to pursue a career in rock n' roll. He quotes, "This song for me is the most personal song on the record because it's about how I grew up and my childhood. It's about throwing caution to the wind and going after what you truly want in life." Basically it's about leaving behind things that you care about to get where you want to go. I ♥ this song!

t

+ 2

talldude1 2009-01-17 02:33:13

I think this song has to do with maybe giving your life for another which is why he says he hopes his parents understand and he is happy with his choice. When says sometimes goodbye is a second chance he may mean giving up his life for a fellow countrymen may mean he gives another a second chance. Running in place may mean that he has seen others die but now he is going to do something to save someone which all soldiers have had happen, no soldier has been to a war without losing someone they know.

t

+ 2

talldude1 2009-01-17 02:31:40

I think this song has to do with maybe giving your life for another which is why he says he hopes his parents understand and he is happy with his choice. When says sometimes goodbye is a second chance he may mean giving up his life for a fellow countrymen may mean he gives another a second chance. Running in place may mean that he has seen others die but now he is going to do something to save someone which all soldiers have had happen, no soldier has been to a war without losing someone they know.

f

+ 2

fla_g8rh8r 2009-01-04 22:46:33

I can understand why they interpret it as suicide, because he says "don't cry one tear for me" and "listen close, it's only for today". However, I think it is not a literal suicide, but a metaphorical one. Ending his current life and starting a new one. I am pretty certain it's a feeling I had back when I lived with my parents, which wasn't suicidal. "I made it through the day" just means that he is unhappy. His parents want him meet their standards, but he feels he is not progressing in their eyes or anyone else around him (including haley's comet, which can view everything from her vantage point). Which is why she says "why are you always running in place?" and wants them to realize "this is my life". He's not mad, he just wants the expectations out the window so he can live his own life on his own terms. So he wants to disappear "like the man in the moon even does" and get a second chance to do things his way. He says "Tell my mother, tell my father" because he just wants to leave the past in the past, and even those listening to him will be forgotten which is why they need to "listen close, it's only for today.

b

+ 2

brettfavre31 2008-09-21 08:16:11

I was just think to this song it is a very well done song I love it I just tho that yea saying goodbye can be a second chance I want to cry now becuz this song is so touching I feel this song growning in my heart I wish that they would make more songs like this and like it says Tell my Mother and Father I have did the best I can is true I have done the best I can in life I feel so sad becuz I don't give this enough tho but thanks guys for this song I love it make more.

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2013-11-02 15:38:16

I remember the day I first heard this song. I just turned down a country road where many teens have been killed "hill hopping" over the years. We did it when we were kids too but now I am fifty. A girl named Jamie (my name too) had been killed when she lost control of her suv on a hill as she rode with her friends. She was a popular pretty cheerleader who had just graduated high school and was going to go to college. I had seen her friends sitting on the roadside after it happened. They put up a cross and lots of flowers. Right before Christmas that year, I had just turned on that road when the song came on. I turned it up. As I approached the cross, I saw a man I assume was her dad putting a poinsettia by the cross. And on the radio Shine Down sang "tell my mother, tell my father" and "I just saw Haley's Comet..." I felt like I was getting a message from beyond. So the next time I was on that road I said to myself "if it was a message then play it again." And it came on just as I made the turn. Ever since then I have kept a list of songs that play when I go on that road and they speak to me with words in the song I never even noticed. Songs like Jordan Sparks - Tattoo, Green Day - 21 Guns, Bruno Mars - Everyday it'll rain, Band Perry - If I Die Young, fun - Carry On, and the list goes on. One day I saw a beautiful rainbow when I made the turn. It rose up on one side and stopped at the top where right underneath was the cross. After I passed the cross the rainbow was behind me.

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2012-07-11 22:11:24

It is about life. Life the way alot of people feel. It is a song that really goes deep I feel with alot of people. Because it don't matter if it is betten a parent and a child, or a husband and a wife. We all want and would like a second chance at life, to try and make thing differnet or better for ourselfs. This song really hits home for me and alot of people that I talk to. If you don't understand it you really need to look deeper because it is life!

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2012-03-09 02:48:12

I think that this song is not just about one person but for all the people out there that have to say goodbye in order to do what they want to do, to be who they need to be. For this song it only talks about one person, but it is a message to all of us in the audience: do what you need to do, because you only get one life and who knows how long it is going to be?

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2012-02-15 21:44:18

If you watch the video you kinda get the meaning. The girl wants to do ballet but her parents wont let her. She is really good considering the fact that she doesn't get lessons and she knows it. She just want to try something and the part where it says 'tell my mother, tell my father, I've done the best I can, to make them relize this is my life, I hope tuhey understand' kinda means that she has told them and told them that she is ready to do something with her life and they just don't see that. That's why she's leaving. It's her lilfe and she has tried the best she can to tell her parents that and show them it's time to move on with her life. So goodbye is a second chance at her new life ahead of her.

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2012-01-13 21:46:25

Interesting views, I can them all and appreciate them, it appears I see them (lyrics) as yup I made it through this day and I am going to join on halley's comet and these are my last words so listen close tell the ones that matter that I did my best but not good enough so perhaps this will be my second chance so don't cry as I am trying my second chance.

U

+ 1

Unregistered 2011-12-06 02:09:12

The mood of the song is an ambivalent combination of lamentation and hope. The hope is not that of a purely joyful type, but I think you can see it clearly in the lyrics. The hope of the future is used as a justification for what is being lamented; a goodbye. A very long goodbye, because this goodbye is a 'second chance'.
The artistic beauty of the song is the moral conflict between the pain of goodbye and the hope to fulfill life. This spine shows itself in the signature line: "sometimes goodbye is a second chance. "

r

+ 1

randomlistner 2009-10-16 07:09:29

This is a good song, it has many meenings, depending on religon, age, feelings, etc. I think everyone who listens to it has there own, Little flashback or Apiffiny as to whats going on in there life. We all get a second chance, but where it brings us or when it happens is the Mistery. We all need to let go at some point in time. I think to say is that letting go hurts, it's a process thst needs to happen for one to grow. Make it a happy moment not a bitter one. Goodbye.

+ 1

queen_of_lgv 2009-05-13 12:33:10

I love this song becuz it's speaks of what I've done. And what some gurls and boys should do if they want somethang so bad they should go for it take risk and let it fly spead ur wings and fly away do what ever it takes and know that you did what you had to do to prove to ur family that you warned them and the don't listen.

U

0

Unregistered 2022-08-20 09:01:18

I think the song "Second chance" is a guy saying with the lyrics ,,, My eyes are open wide, by the way I made it through the day,,, is meaning that he see's clearly now and that he has made it through the day by either being stronger mentally or either by not using a drug. Then the lyrics of I watched the world pass by, by the way I'm leaving out today" is meaning that he has wasted time just watching everyone else succeed through life sober so he is headed away for rehab. And when he says,, why you always running in place, I thinks thata asking why he hasn't done something in his life weather it be get sober or better his life. And in the part where he is talking about his parents, I think he is trying to tell them that it's not their fault and that he is sorry for his addiction, and is ready to quit and start over clean so he is going to rehab or moving away from the people or places he was able to get the drug from.
I must also say, I have read a lot of the remarks of what others think it means and I can understand how they think he may mean what they said.

p

- 6

pangaea 2009-10-08 15:26:40

What an overblown pretentiously overacted piece of drivel. My god this is awful. I can just see the guy belting his heart out over his self-imposed, self induced misfortune. . Boo hhooo hooo, my parents don't understand me. Boo hoo This is my Life ohh poor misunderstood me. Sometimes Goodbye is a second chance. Uuggghhhggg.
It wouldn't have worked even if it were sincere, but this is so made up and forced I can almost see the record company executive telling him to write something angst-ridden and 'deep'. Oh yeah, make sure you include all the angst-ridden vocal cliches that are so popular in this genre.
Truly embarrassing. Seriously, you guys think this is good writing?
It's too bad, because the music itself actually works. But our poor little doughboy hero ruins it with his little sob story.

Shinedown – Second Chance lyrics

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