In the Shadows is a 2003 song by Finnish alternative rock band The Rasmus. The single achieved chart success throughout Europe and worldwide, including the United Kingdom, where it reached No.3. It is featured on the group’s fifth studio album Dead Letters. The song currently holds the record for performance royalties received abroad on a Finnish composition (overtaking the works of Jean Sibelius).
Three different music videos were produced to promote the single. The US/UK (Mirror) version is the most gothic and appealing. In the video, directed by Philipp Stölzl in Bucharest, Romania, the band are performing a concert in what looks to be an old Victorian mansion. During the verses, a maid is seen constantly busy serving the masters of the house in what appears to be the past of the mansion. The maid sees (lead singer) Lauri and the concert in mirrors on the walls, which causes her to become distracted, making mistakes and dropping trays. Eventually, while despairing over her errors in her room, she sees Lauri and all the fans in her mirror, while the master of the house is approaching with somebody else, possibly the head maid, presumably to reprimand the new maid. Lauri tugs her through the mirror in her room to where they are performing. She then finishes watching the concert. It concludes with the master of the house and the others entering to find the maid’s room empty.
Lyrics:
No sleep until I am done with finding the answer
Won’t stop
Won’t stop before I find a cure for this cancer
Sometimes
I feel like going down and so disconnected
Somehow
I know that I am haunted to be wanted
I’ve been watching
I’ve been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I’ve been searching
I’ve been living
For tomorrows all my life
In the shadows
In the shadows
They say
That I must learn to kill before I can feel safe
But I
I’d rather kill myself than turn into their slave
Sometimes
I feel that I should go and play with the thunder
Somehow
I just don’t wanna stay and wait for a wonder
I’ve been watching
I’ve been waiting
In the shadows for my time
I’ve been searching
I’ve been living
For tomorrows all my life
Lately I been walking walking in circles, watching waiting for something
Feel me touch me heal me, come take me higher
I’ve been watching
I’ve been waiting
In the shadows all my time
I’ve been searching
I’ve been living
For tomorrows all my life
I’ve been watching
I’ve been waiting
I’ve been searching
I’ve been living for tomorrows
In the shadows
In the shadows
I’ve been waiting