Shinedown’s “Daylight” Lyrics Meaning

Brent Smith has offered what can be considered two completely different explanations of “Daylight”. 

What is clear, as he revealed and as also alluded to in the final line of the first verse is that “Daylight” was inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic. And as for the chorus, although it revolves around the vocalist celebrating a loved one who, as implied, has saved his life on numerous occasions, based on Smith’s explanations it speaks to grander ideas than that.

One of such explanations states that this song is about, most simply, human empathy or the propagation of such. Or put otherwise, according to Brent we as individuals should not reach a point where we become so unsympathetic that we could walk by another person who is visibly in need or distress and proceed on as if nothing is happening. 

So with that notion, in mind this addressee he’s singing to obviously symbolizes such an idealized individual, i.e. someone in the singer’s life who has inconvenienced him or herself more than once in the name keeping Brent from perishing, if you will. 

And as relayed in the bridge, the vocalist is compelled to acknowledge having such a person in his life because it’s during “the hard times”, such as the COVID-19 pandemic if you will, that you find out who your true loved ones are.

“You saved my life, not once but twice
You keep me free from falling”

He continues:

“You saved my lifе, make it all alright
When I don’t feel like talking
You makе sure I always see the daylight”

As for Smith’s second explanation, he has stated that Daylight is “about the people or the elements in your life that get you to tomorrow”. He went on to further explain that what he’s referring to is “the thing motivates you to get up in the morning”.  And he also went on to clarify that it doesn’t have to be a person or even any living being for that matter, although these lyrics are very interpersonal.

So the phrase “you make sure I always see the daylight”, as found at the end of the chorus, can be taken in two ways, once again based on how Brent Smith has described the meanings of this song. 

On one hand it is literal, as in alluding to someone who, according to the vocalist, has saved his life, thus affording him the opportunity to greet a new day. But on the other hand, it is also theoretically indicative of said individual being a motivational influence, i.e. someone who inspires the vocalist to face each day anew, not only in the name of imitating this person’s selflessness but also giving Brent hope in mankind in general.

When was “Daylight” released?

“Daylight” is song number 15 on the “Planet Zero” album, which is the 7th studio project released by this Florida band. The song, which dropped on June 1 of 2022, serves as the second single from “Planet Zero”.

Who are the Writers and Producers of “Daylight”?

The songwriters behind this track are the following members of the group:

• Brent Smith
• Eric Bass
• Zach Myers

US songwriter and producer Dave Bassett contributed to the penning of the song. He was also involved in its production along with Bass.   

The “Planet Zero” Album

This album is a product of Atlantic Records, and it was officially made public on July 1 of 2022. In addition to “Daylight”, the project produced a total of four singles including its title track, which was released as the album’s lead single on January 26 of 2022.

The record’s third and fourth singles were issued in 2023. They are:

• “Dead Don’t Die”
• “A Symptom of Being Human”