The Shape I'm In - The Band - MP3 instrumental karaoke

"Go out yonder, peace in the valley / Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley / Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in," begins The Band's 1970 roots-rock freewheeler "The Shape I'm In," an exploration of the growing sense of anxiety and dread that had begun pervading The Band's lives and conversations. Were they coming apart at the seams? Penned by Robbie Robertson, "The Shape I'm In" is widely considered to have been written about lead vocalist and pianist Richard Manuel who had struggled with substance abuse issues and died by suicide on March 4, 1986. The funkily shambolic track, which was included on The Band's third studio album Stage Fright (1970) features some pretty wild-eyed clavinet work from Richard Manuel and remains one of the Canadian-American group's signature tunes, along with the Stage Fright title track, and has been covered by everyone from The Mekons to The Pointer Sisters.