45 (acoustic) - Shinedown - MP3 instrumental karaoke

Shinedown’s acoustic version of "45" appeared on the June 2004 re‑release of their debut album Leave a Whisper—originally issued in 2003. While the rock version became a Top Five hit on the U.S. Mainstream Rock chart, the stripped-back acoustic rendition offered a deeply emotional alternative to its heavier counterpart. Written by Brent Smith and Tony Battaglia and produced by the latter, "45" reflects on confronting pain, disillusionment, and the quest to define one's own path, using the metaphor of “staring down the barrel of a .45” to suggest feeling trapped by circumstance and responsibility. Presented in G major at ~139 BPM, the acoustic version lets Brent Smith's raw vocals and the song’s conversational lyricism shine without studio polish. Included as the closing bonus on Leave a Whisper, this acoustic version helped solidify Shinedown’s reputation for honest, soul-driven rock, bridging aggression and vulnerability in a way that defined their early sound.