Grammer started as a busker on the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica and later performed in the Viper Room, the Roxy Theatre (West Hollywood) and the House of Blues. Grammer perfected his writing skills as an artist whilst performing on the streets and according to the Keep Your Head Up Songfacts he wrote the song to raise his own spirits after a particularly long day.
His debut video for "Keep Your Head Up" (starring Rainn Wilson) was an iTunes video of the week in 2010, and the version on the artist's site uses an interactive interface that allows the viewer to "send the singer into goofy scenarios". He performed the song on The Rachael Ray Show on November 17, 2010. He is currently opening for Plain White T's for the second leg of their "Wonders of the Younger" tour.
In January 2011, he was named an "Artist to Watch" by Billboard magazine.
He performed at SXSW 2011, playing BMI's Acoustic Brunch, where he was one of the artists contributing to a recording produced by Hanson to benefit the victims of the 2011 Japan earthquake.
His "Keep Your Head Up" video was nominated for MTV's O Music Award for Most Innovative Music Video in April 2011
Keep Your Head Up
Andy Grammer Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bills on my mindset
I can get deny they're getting high
Higher than my income
My income's breadcrumbs
I've been trying to survive
On accumule les problèmes
Accuser la vie comme elle
Essaye d'ouvrir les yeux
Même si je suis là c'est
Ce n'est qu'un cap à passer
Demain tout ira mieux
Oh, you'll turn out fine fine
Oh, you'll turn out fine
But you gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
You gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
Il n'est jamais trop tard
Pour y croire
Et faire les bons choix
Commence par relever la tête, oh
Ne jamais baisser les bras
Eh, je n'ai pas le cœur à m'emballer
Faut pas s'laisser aller
Malgré les galères et les angoisses
Car j'ai l'moral à zéro
Ne pas envie d'en faire trop
J'attends toujours que le temps passe
I'm seeing all the angles, starts to get tangled
I start to compromise
My life and the purpose
Is it all worth it,
Am I gonna turn out fine?
Oh, you'll turn out fine
Fine, oh, you'll turn out fine
But you gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
You gotta keep your head up, oh
And you can let your hair down, eh
Il n'est jamais trop tard
Pour y croire
Et faire les bons choix
Commence par relever la tête, oh
Ne jamais baisser les bras, eh
Only rainbows after rain
The sun will always come again
Its a circle, circling
Around again, it comes around again
Même si la vie n'est pas rose
On pourra faire bouger les choses
Et rien ne nous arrêtera
Car tu verra, et je suis près de toi
Commence par relever la tête, oh
Ne jamais baisser les bras, eh
Commence par relever la tête, oh
Ne jamais baisser les bras, eh
Il n'est jamais trop tard
Pour y croire
Et faire les bons choix
Commence par relever la tête, oh
Ne jamais baisser les bras, eh
Keep your head up, oh,
Lèves la tête
And you can let your hair down, eh
Et ne baisse jamais les bras
Keep your head up, oh
Lèves la tête
And you can let your hair down, eh
Et ne baisse pas les bras
Lèves la tête
Lèves la tête
Ne baisse jamais les bras
Ne baisse jamais les bras
In Andy Grammer's song "Keep Your Head Up," the lyrics express optimism and hope in the face of life's challenges. The opening lines suggest financial struggles with bills weighing heavily on the singer's mind, and the stress of a low income. However, the sunset gives the singer a moment of reflection, and they realize that their difficulties are part of a larger journey. They encourage themselves to drop their worries and trust that they will turn out fine.
The chorus is a simple, upbeat refrain that reinforces the song's message of hope. The singer encourages themselves and the listener to keep their head up, even when things get tough, and reminds them that they can let their hair down – relax and be themselves. The second verse describes the singer's struggles with doubt and feeling like they are compromising their life's purpose. However, they work through these challenges and remind themselves again that they will turn out fine.
The bridge of the song echoes the sentiments of the chorus, using a metaphor of rainbows and the sun to emphasize that even after the rain, good things will come again in a never-ending circle. Overall, the song is meant to be an uplifting message of encouragement for anyone facing difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been waiting on the sunset
I've been waiting for that daily moment of realization that everything is alright.
Bills on my mindset
I can't help but stress about money problems.
I can get deny they're getting high
I'm aware that others are more financially stable than me.
Higher than my income
Others seem to have a larger income than myself.
Income's breadcrumbs
My income is barely enough.
I've been trying to survive
I'm having a tough time making ends meet.
The glow that the sun gives
The moment when the sun is setting is the moment of insight.
Right around sunset
That moment of realization occurs every evening.
Helps me realize
I understand that everything is going to be okay.
This is just a journey
Life is a process and I'm just going through it.
Drop your worries
Do not let worries get in the way of enjoying life.
You are gonna turn out fine
Things will work out eventually, there's no need to fret.
Oh, you'll turn out fine
Things will work out eventually, there's no need to fret.
But you gotta keep your head up, oh
Stay positive despite the hardships.
And you can let your hair down, eh
You can relax a bit and enjoy life.
I know it's hard, know it's hard
I understand that it is difficult to stay positive.
To remember sometimes
It's easy to forget that everything will be okay.
I've got my hands in my pockets
I'm feeling down right now.
Kickin' these rocks
I'm aimlessly walking around, feeling defeated.
Its kinda hard to watch this life go by
It's challenging to witness others having better experiences that I cannot afford.
I'm buyin' in the skeptics
I'm listening to the naysayers that tell me things will never get better.
Skeptics mess with, the confidence in my eyes
Listening to the skeptics is starting to take away my self-confidence.
I'm seeing all the angles, starts to get tangled
I'm trying to figure out the complexities of life.
I start to compromise
I'm starting to give up my dreams to make ends meet.
My life and the purpose
I'm questioning my place in the world and my goals.
Is it all worth it
I'm wondering if the struggle is worth the outcome.
Am I gonna turn out fine?
I'm worried that everything will unravel and I won't come out okay in the end.
Only rainbows after rain
There's always something good after something bad.
The sun will always come again
The future will always bring new opportunities and happiness.
Its a circle, circling
Life is a cycle.
Around again, it comes around again
Everything repeats itself, so there's no need to worry.
Keep your head up, oh
Stay positive despite the hardships.
And you can let your hair down, eh
You can relax a bit and enjoy life.
I said oh, no no no no no no no
Just remain positive and everything will work out.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: NAZIM KHALED, MELISSA MARIE MADELEINE ZOHRA N'KONDA, ANDREW CHARLES GRAMMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind