Shinedown - Second Chance - Lyrics Meaning

Second Chance, a song from Shinedown's 2008 album The Sound of Madness was written by lead singer Brent Smith. Smith stated this particular song was the most personal song on the entire record for him because it had to do with Smith leaving his hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee to pursue his dream of being a rock musician. The song touches on many phases of Smith's life from childhood to manhood. It's about throwing caution to the wind and following your dream even if it means losing support of family and friends who do not understand. Destiny calls out to Smith who finds courage from within and chooses to follow the path of his heart.

The song touches on how fate calls out and some find courage to step out and some do not. The song conveys the personal struggle Smith felt when he was faced with pleasing his family or going after his dream. The song lyrics convey this as Smith sings out "Tell my mother tell my father I've done the best I can to make them realize it's my life."

The single reached number one on the mainstream and modern rock charts and was played in the television show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.