'I swear I didn't mean it / I swear it wasn't meant to be / Must a been a dream. Or narrative itself-the sense that narrative might exist. As musique concrete the open spaces are similar but the sense of a narrative is stronger in 'Providence.' In 'Shadow of a Doubt' there is only the sense that a narrative might exist. Here it is distilled to one of its purest forms, jewel-hard and gleaming. I'm convinced it's the basis more than anything else of where people fall on this band. I love them, they always sound evocative and insinuating and lovely to me. Yes, the strange tunings, it's always the strange tunings with Sonic Youth. It is an inspired mashup as indeed is this song itself, potent with popular culture imagery and currents.

In my YouTube travels I found a nice homemade video ( here), made out of this song and scenes from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. Recorded live on 4/12/86 in Austin, Texas theĬontinental Club.This fascinating sound sculpture is mysteriously focused on Alfred Hitchcock movies-named after one, with plot points from at least one more woven into the whisper-chant from Kim Gordon.

Jim played guitar on this song while he was in the band.

It resurfaced again on the 2002 tour, played at most shows, and still pops up from time to time. Performed for the first time in 12 years at the Moore Theatre in Seattle on May 22nd, 1998, and became a set staple for the rest of the tour.

It was directed by Kevin Kerslake and featured footage of Kim riding on a train to a forest-like backdrop.

SY's second music video was for this song.

'Shadow of a Doubt' is also a Hitchcock film.

Lyrically inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock film 'Strangers on a Train'.

08/17/02 'LIVE AT CABARET METRO CHICAGO, IL 2002'.

Screaming Fields of Sonic Love video (music video).

Sonic youth shadow of a doubt lyrics