The phenomenon of “going viral,” as we know it now, wasn’t really a thing yet in the 90s. But there did exist a possibility for an unknown artist to shoot into the stratosphere with a single song, based on a few lucky breaks and, of course, the quality of the track. That’s what happened to Shawn Mullins in 1997. Already several albums and years into his career, with seemingly no prospects of leaving behind indie obscurity, his song “Lullaby” hit the Top 10 and turned his career around.
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Mullins Makes It
Emanating from the Atlanta, Georgia area, Mullins developed a passion for making music in his high school years. He carried it with him to college, which he entered on an ROTC scholarship. After fulfilling his obligations to the military, he was soon out making music for a living.
The early years of his career included a stint as the leader of a power pop band called Shawn Eric Mullins With Twice Removed. Catchy name, but, alas, the band didn’t last that long. Mullins struck out on his own and began independently releasing solo albums.
Three albums came and went with little in the way of sales or exposure to show for them. Were it not for a song inspired by a chance encounter with a fan after a show in Los Angeles, he might have stayed in that rut. A track that he created based on that incident caught the ears of some local radio station programmers. And “Lullaby” took off.
A Fan’s Tale, Slightly Embellished
For his 1997 album Soul’s Core, Shawn Mullins wrote songs based on a journal that he kept while out on the road. That accounts somewhat for the loose verse structure of “Lullaby”, which indeed resembles someone’s unfiltered thoughts. In an interview with Songfacts, Mullins explained that the song was a blend of reportage and imagination:
“Yeah, there were certain details, like Sonny & Cher and Bob Seger, things in it that were real. But there’s also certain things about her character in the song that aren’t really like her. The person in the song took a sadder turn. The actual girl really had her act together and she was very smiley. Her smile was incredible.”
Once “Lullaby” gained traction locally in Atlanta, it wasn’t long before it rolled all the way to the Top 10 in America. Mullins suddenly found himself in demand as a singer-songwriter, with big tours and songs appearing on television. Although that surge dwindled, the interest in his biggest hit remains strong.
Behind the Lyrics of “Lullaby”
Shawn Mullins manages to deliver a vivid character sketch in “Lullaby”, all while also depicting his own road-weariness. The girl’s Hollywood pedigree has not brought her any happiness: “She can’t let go and she can’t relax.”
“Cause even her smile looks like a frown,” he says by way of description. “She’s seen her share of devils in this angel town.” He then pivots in the final verse to give his take on her surroundings. “It’s hard to play a gig in this town / And keep a straight face,” he deadpans. And then comes this succinct assessment: “Seems like everybody’s got a plan / It’s kind of like Nashville with a tan.”
When he launches into the chorus, promising, “Everything’s gonna be all right,” it’s hard to believe it based on what we’ve heard. “Lullaby” put Shawn Mullins on the 90s map, but only because he imbued it with the observations and frustrations he’d experienced on his road to reach that point.
Photo by Margaret Norton/NBCU via Getty Images
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