shadow

The Shadow Knows

The Coasters

Bwa-haa-haa

You can hide down in the alley

With your hat pulled over your eye

You can wear a wig or moustache

Or any old disguise

Well, you can change your name and your address

Even change your style of clothes

But the Shadow knows

The Shadow knows

You thought you had me baffled

You thought I didn’t know

But I know where you goin’, baby

Long before you go

You can’t even snap your fingers

Or wiggle you toes

Without the Shadow knows

The Shadow knows

(The Shadow knows, the Shadow knows, the Shadow knows, the Shadow knows)

The Shadow knows

I say, “Baby, stop your jiving

And your messing round”

Cause I know what you’re putting, baby

Long before you put it down

You better mind your p’s and q’s

And your m’s and n’s and o’s

Because the Shadow knows

The Shadow knows

Bwa-haa-haa

(The Shadow knows, the Shadow knows, the Shadow knows, the Shadow knows)

FADE

The Coasters were the undisputed novelty kings of the early rock 'n' roll era. Hits such as "Yakety Yak" and "Charlie Brown" reached the top of the charts and remain staples on oldies radio stations. Surprisingly, "The Shadow Knows" was the only Coasters' song to even come close to the horror genre.

Suggested by the popular radio program and its tagline, "Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows," this song focuses on the evil that lurks in the hearts of women. Similar in theme to the songs that deal with the Gaze, "The Shadow Knows" also covers the potential of female infidelity. Even though it doesn't place the female in the position of the object of looking and the knowledge the male has over his girlfriend's extracurricular activities does not come from sight, this song also represents an effort to control female sexuality through the knowledge and observation of the male.

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