If you’ve watched the feature film A Star Is Born with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, you couldn’t miss Shallow. It sounds three times in the film, but the scene in which the main characters improvise it at a concert in front of a huge audience is especially memorable.
However, it makes no sense to retell the plot of the popular melodrama. Let’s find out better how the composition was written.
The story of creation & the meaning of the song Shallow – Lady Gaga
The ballad was composed especially for the film A Star Is Born by a team of authors.
Talking about the history of the track, Lady Gaga explained what Shallow is about:
I worked on Shallow with Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt and Anthony Rossomando. We created this song for Ellie and Jack and it’s a very special song. Two people talk to each other about the need and incentive to dive deep and stay out of shallow water.
Beats 1 Radio, 2018
The singer recalled how work on Shallow went:
I was sitting at the piano and the guys took the guitar and we started making up words and talking to each other. Actually, that’s what the song is about. This is a conversation between a man and a woman. But when we started, we didn’t know that.
Los Angeles Times
In the original version of the script for the film, Bladley Cooper’s character was drowning, which led the authors to think about water and depth.
Lady Gaga’s word:
…we thought it might be the end credits song. Then when the script was changed, we turned it into a song about two lovers.
Los Angeles Times
Lady Gaga also explained the main idea of Shallow:
[Она написана] from Ellie’s point of view. This is one of the reasons why they fell in love. When I wrote the music for the film, I was forced to think of Ellie as if she was not me.
Beats 1 Radio
It’s a song that essentially inspires both of them to not be afraid. In his case, not to be afraid of love, but in hers, not only not to be afraid of love, but also the ability to reveal that part of himself that writes songs, which is embarrassed to perform his songs.
Los Angeles Times
Release and achievements
The song Shallow was first introduced to listeners in the trailer for A Star Is Born, released in June 2018.
In September Shallow, performed by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, released the first single from the A Star Is Born soundtrack. The composition hit the charts in dozens of countries, topping several popular charts.
Video Shallow Lady Gaga
Below is a video clip of Shallow Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, created from footage from A Star Is Born.
Cover versions
Let’s listen to how members of the family trio Vazquez Sounds sang Shallow.
Shallow – Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper Lyrics
Tell me something, girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need more?
Is there something else you’re searchin’ for?
I’m falling
In all the good times I find myself
Longin’ for change
And in the bad times I fear myself
tell me something boy
Aren’t you tired tryin’ to fill that void?
Or do you need more?
Ain’t it hard keeping it so hardcore?
I’m falling
In all the good times I find myself
Longing for change
And in the bad times I fear myself
I’m off the deep end, watch as I dive in
I’ll never meet the ground
Crash through the surface, where they can’t hurt us
We’re far from the shallow now
In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
In the shallow, shallow
We’re far from the shallow now
Andrew Wyatt / Anthony Rossomando / Mark Ronson / Stefani Germanotta
Lyrics to “Shallow”, © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Shallow Lyrics Lady Gaga/Bradley Cooper Alternative
Tell me girl
Are you happy in this modern world?
Or do you need something more?
Are you looking for something else?
I’m falling,
In good times I understand
I long for change
And in bad times, I’m afraid of myself.
Tell me boy
Are you tired of filling this void?
Or do you need something more?
Isn’t it hard for you to lay out like that?
I’m falling,
In good times I understand
I long for change
And in bad times, I’m afraid of myself.
I’m on the edge of the abyss, watch me dive in
I will never get to the bottom.
Break through the surface, we won’t get hurt here
We are far from shallow water.
In shallow water, in shallow water
In shallow water, in shallow water
In shallow water, in shallow water
Now we are far from shallow water.
Shallow Quotes (A Star Is Born Movie)
She’s melancholy and sad, but she’s also incredibly uplifting thanks to her performance in the film.
Mark Ronson, Los Angeles Times
This is the song that gives you the wings to fly.
Lady Gaga, Los Angeles Times, 2018
