Ten Thousand Hours
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lyrics

Uh, I hope that God decides to talk through him
The singer hopes that the artist is able to create inspiring music with the help of God.

That the people decide to walk with him
The artist hopes that his music can emotionally connect with the people.

Regardless of Pitchfork cosigns I've jumped
The artist is confident in his music regardless of the status given by reviews like Pitchfork.

Make sure the soundman doesn't cock block the drums
The artist wants to make sure the soundman lets the drum beats come through loud and clear.

Let the snare knock the air right out of your lungs
The artist wants the listeners to feel the music's impact in the core of their being.

And those words be the oxygen
The artist believes that his lyrics can be the source of life for the listener.

Hey man, regardless I'ma say it
The artist is determined to speak his mind, no matter what the consequences may be.

Felt like I got signed the day that I got an agent
The artist's breakthrough came not from getting signed by a label, but by getting representation from an agent.

Got an iTunes check, shit man I'm paying rent
The artist is excited to be able to live off the money he makes from his music.

About damn time that I got out of my basement
The artist is grateful to have achieved success after struggling for so long.

About damn time I got around the country and I hit these stages
The artist is grateful to have the opportunity to tour the country and perform on stage.

I was made to slay them
The artist feels as though he was born to perform and defeat his competition.

Ten thousand hours I'm so damn close I can taste it
The artist has worked tirelessly on his music for 10,000 hours, and is on the brink of achieving his goals.

On some Malcolm Gladwell, David Bowie meets Kanye shit
The artist is influenced by greats like Malcolm Gladwell, David Bowie, and Kanye West.

This is dedication
The artist is committed to his craft and puts in a lot of effort to perfect his music.

A life lived for art is never a life wasted
The artist believes that a life dedicated to creating art is always purposeful.

Ten thousand
The artist uses the phrase 'ten thousand' to display the immense effort he has put into his music.

Ten thousand hours felt like ten thousand ants
The artist has devoted so much time to the art of music that it feels almost endless, akin to ten thousand crawling ants.

Ten thousand ants, they carry me
The artist credits his success in music to all the little moments of hard work and dedication, which have added up to a great accomplishment.

Now, now, now
The artist is emphasizing the urgency of the present moment.

This is my world, this is my arena
The artist is confident in his talents and feels that he dominates the music scene.

The TV told me something different I didn't believe it
The artist refuses to be influenced by what is portrayed as popular and instead believes in his own message.

I stand here in front of you today all because of an idea
The artist's success has come from his dedication to his ideas and beliefs, which he expresses through his music.

I could be who I wanted if I could see my potential
The artist believes in the power of visualization, and that unlocking one's potential is key to being oneself.

And I know that one day I'ma be him
The artist is confident in his ability to be truly great and leave a lasting influence on the music industry.

Put the gloves on, sparring with my ego
The artist is challenging himself to overcome his internal doubts and beliefs.

Everyone's greatest obstacle, I beat him, celebrate that achievement
The artist has confronted and overcome the self-doubt that hindered his progress, and is proud of his accomplishment.

Got some attachments, some baggage I'm actually working on leaving
The artist has experienced struggles and personal issues, but is striving to move past them and better himself.

See, I observed Escher, I love Basquiat
The artist draws inspiration from creative greats like Escher and Basquiat.

I watched Keith Harring, you see I study art
The artist has taken the time to learn from the techniques of fellow artists, and applies that knowledge to his own work.

The greats weren't great because at birth they could paint
The artist believes that true greatness comes from practice and dedication, not just natural talent.

The greats were great 'cause they paint a lot
The artist emphasizes the importance of persistence and constant work in achieving greatness.

I will not be a statistic, just let me be
The artist is determined to make his own path and not be defined by others' expectations.

No child left behind, that's the American scheme
The artist is critical of the educational system of the United States and how it can limit students' potential.

I make my living off of words
The artist earns a living through his music, which is based on the power of the lyrics.

And do what I love for work
The artist is grateful to have found a career that he is passionate about and enjoys.

And got around 980 on my SATs
The artist did not do exceptionally well on his standardized test scores, but that did not dictate his future success in music.

Take that system, what did you expect?
The artist is proud to have achieved success despite the limitations of societal systems like the education system.

Generation of kids choosing love over a desk
The artist observes that many young people today prioritize pursuing their passions and dreams over traditional career paths.

Put those hours in and look at what you get
The artist emphasizes the payoff that comes from dedicating oneself to something, in this case music.

Nothing that you can hold, but everything that it is
The artist acknowledges that the reward of success in music is not necessarily something tangible, but rather the fulfillment of the pursuit itself.

Same shit, different day, same struggle
The artist feels that his daily struggles are unchanging and repetitive.

Slow motion as time slips through my knuckles
The artist feels that time is slipping by at a slow pace, but he is unable to grasp control of it.

Nothing beautiful about it, no light at the tunnel
The artist feels trapped in his daily struggles and cannot see a way out.

For the people that put the passion before them being comfortable
The artist identifies with those who are willing to sacrifice comfort for their passions.

Raw, unmedicated heart no substitute
The artist values raw emotion in music, and believes that it cannot be replaced by anything else.

Banging on table tops, no subs to toot
The artist does not need any backing tracks or digital enhancements- he creates all the beats and rhythms himself.

I'm feeling better than ever man, what is up with you?
The artist is excited about his success and is expressing his confidence in himself and his music.

Scraping my knuckles, I'm battling with some drug abuse
The artist admits that he has struggled with drug addiction, but is fighting to overcome it.

I lost another friend, got another call from a sister
The artist has experienced personal loss due to drug addiction, which is a struggle that afflicts his friends and family as well.

And I speak for the people that share that struggle too
The artist's music is for those who can relate to his struggles with addiction and personal loss.

Like they got something bruised
The artist's intended audience has experienced emotional trauma and feels a sense of hurt.

My only rehabilitation was the sweat, tears and blood when up in the booth
The artist found catharsis and healing through dedicating himself to creating music and pouring his heart and soul into it.

It's the part of the show where it all fades away
The artist is transitioning to a moment of reflection and introspection.

When the lights go to black and the band leaves the stage
The artist is describing the end of a concert, when everything appears to be over and done with.

And you wanted an encore but there's no encore today
The artist is emphasizing the finality of certain moments in life, when there may not be a chance for a do-over or encore performance.

'Cause the moment is now, can't get it back from the grave
The artist is urging the listener to live in the present moment and make the most of it, because once it has passed it can never be retrieved.

Welcome to the Heist
This phrase is repeated throughout the song, serving as an anthem for the artist's album 'The Heist,' which is a tribute to his own journey of hard work and success in the music industry.