[Intro- Bright electric guitar, walking bass, tambourine, finger snaps, punchy horns. Background singers answer with playful “Ooohs” and “Sha-la-la’s.”]
[Back Vocals]
Sha-la-la… hey, hey…
Shake it off, sugar…
[Verse 1- Drums settle into a bouncy Motown-style groove. Piano dances between the guitar chords.]
I woke up wearin’ yesterday’s worries,
Like they were stitched into my sleeve.
Mirror said, “Girl, quit that frown,”
You’ve got better things to believe.
Coffee’s cold, my luck’s been lazy,
The world’s been acting mighty strange.
But I’m too cute to stay this gloomy,
Time to make a little change.
[Pre-Chorus- Horns rise, tambourine gets busier, harmonies stack.]
Every cloud keeps chasing me,
Bless its little heart…
But storms don’t get the final verse,
They only get the start.
[Chorus- Full band bursts open. Big harmonies, hand claps, lively saxophone fills.]
Shake it off, sugar,
Don’t let trouble steal your swing.
Life keeps throwing lemons,
Honey, teach ’em how to sing.
Twirl that hurt into laughter,
Turn those tears into gold.
A dancing heart stays younger,
No matter how old.
Shake it off, sugar,
Leave those blues behind.
The best revenge on a bad day
Is having a real good time.
[Verse 2- Walking bass shines. Guitar plays bright little fills between the lyrics.]
Some folks live for gossip,
Some folks live for spite.
Me? I’d rather crank the jukebox
And dance until midnight.
Can’t buy peace with worrying,
Can’t outrun yesterday.
So I’ll throw on my favorite lipstick
And let the music lead the way.
[Pre-Chorus- Drums build with snare rolls. Backing vocals echo the lead.]
If my heart gets heavy,
I’ll make these old shoes fly.
It’s awful hard to stay miserable
When you’re reaching for the sky.
[Chorus- Bigger harmonies, brass section punches harder.]
Shake it off, sugar,
Don’t let trouble steal your swing.
Life keeps throwing lemons,
Honey, teach ’em how to sing.
Twirl that hurt into laughter,
Turn those tears into gold.
A dancing heart stays younger,
No matter how old.
Shake it off, sugar,
Leave those blues behind.
The best revenge on a bad day
Is having a real good time.
[Bridge- Everything drops to hand claps, upright bass, and snapping fingers. Then the horns slowly build back in.]
Bad days come knockin’,
They don’t pay the rent.
I’m changing the locks,
They can leave with every cent.
If tomorrow brings another storm,
I’ll meet it with a grin.
Because every time life counts me out…
I dance right back in.
[Final Chorus-Full 60s wall of sound. Tambourine shaking, soaring harmonies, joyful sax solo weaving through the vocals.]
Shake it off, sugar,
Let your heartbeat lead the way.
You weren’t born for hiding,
You were born to celebrate.
Spin around the heartache,
Smile into the rain.
Every little dance step
Breaks another chain.
Shake it off, sugar,
Sing it loud and free.
The world’s a little brighter
When you refuse misery.
[Outro- Sax takeslead while band claps and singers repeat]
“Sha-la-la… shake it off, sugar…”
foxy_flux
