Give It Up
Format Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I made my way back down to the valley
Right on past 83rd street
That's where we once belonged, but I'm gone
I swear, I'm long gone

So give it up, throw your hats in the air
And change just as they land
You're saying, "We'll get out of here"
But something tells me that you're too scared to go

So the stairs that you could climb
Are the ones you've left behind
And your eyes light up when we talk about the past

God, I miss those songs we used to sing
Talking like getting away would be the greatest thing
Well me, I got out
And you, you kept singing to me
Like that's really going to set this free

So give it up, throw your hats in the air
And change just as they land
You're saying, "We'll get out of here"
But something tells me that you're too scared
Something tells me that you're too scared to go

Like a ghost
You've been haunting all these dusty old roads and old homes
The ones we swore we'd never go, never go
As for Joe, oh, I've seen him around
Then there's Adam, he's afraid to go out
I don't blame him, I just wanted to go out to eat

Then there's Mark, god damn, I wish him the best
We were kids back then, as if we could progress
Sometimes I, I just can't sleep
Thinking of everything we could have been

So give it up, throw your hats in the air
And change just as they land
You're saying, "We'll get out of here"
But something tells me that you're too scared

Give it up, throw your hats in the air
And change just as they land
You're saying, "We'll get out of here"
But something tells me that you're too scared




Something tells me that you're too scared
Something tells me that you're too scared to go

Overall Meaning

In Format's song "Give It Up," the lyrics describe the singer's journey back to the valley where they once belonged, but have since moved away from. The singer sees their old friends who still live there and encourages them to "give it up" and make a change in their lives. They reminisce about the past and the songs they used to sing but acknowledge that getting away from the valley is the greatest thing that could happen. Despite this, the singer believes that their friends are scared to leave and trapped in the cycle of their lives. The chorus repeats the phrase "give it up," urging the friends to make a change.


The song evokes a feeling of nostalgia and a desire to escape from the past. The valley represents a place of comfort and familiarity, but also a stagnant and unfulfilling life. The singer has moved on and encourages their friends to do the same.


One interpretation of the song is that it represents a struggle with personal growth and change. The singer has left the valley and grown as a person, but their old friends are still stuck in the same place they have always been. The singer urges them to make a change and move forward, but acknowledges that it is easier said than done. The repeated phrase "something tells me that you're too scared" reinforces this idea that fear is holding them back.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I made my way back down to the valley
I returned to the place where I used to live


Right on past 83rd street
I went past the street where I used to belong


That's where we once belonged, but I'm gone
I used to belong there, but I have moved away


I swear, I'm long gone
I am very far away from that place


So give it up, throw your hats in the air
Let go of the past and move on


And change just as they land
Change immediately after releasing the past


You're saying, 'We'll get out of here'
You talk about leaving the place


But something tells me that you're too scared to go
But I think you are afraid to actually leave


So the stairs that you could climb
The opportunities that you had to leave


Are the one's you've left behind
You have missed your chance to leave


And your eyes light up when we talk about the past
You feel nostalgic about the past when we talk about it


God I miss those songs we used to sing
I miss the old times and the songs we used to enjoy


Talking like getting away would be the greatest thing
We talked about leaving as if it would solve all our problems


Well me, I got out
I left that place and moved elsewhere


And you, you kept singing to me
You kept telling me about your dreams of leaving


Like that's really going to set this free
But talking about leaving won't change anything


Like a ghost
You are like a spirit that has not moved on


You've been haunting all these dusty old roads and old homes
You are still attached to the old places we used to visit


The ones we swore we'd never go, never go
The places we promised never to go back to


As for Joe, oh, I've seen him around
I have seen Joe in that area


Then there's Adam, he's afraid to go out
Adam is also hesitant to leave


I don't blame him, I just wanted to go out to eat
I don't judge him, I just want to go out and enjoy life


Then there's Mark, god damn, I wish him the best
I hope Mark is doing well


We were kids back then, as if we could progress
We were young and naive, thinking we could achieve great things


Sometimes I, I just can't sleep
Sometimes I can't sleep because of all the memories and regrets


Thinking of everything we could have been
Thinking of all the missed opportunities and what we could have achieved


So give it up, throw your hats in the air
Let go of the past and embrace the present


And change just as they land
Take action and move forward as soon as you let go of the past


You're saying, 'We'll get out of here'
You still talk about leaving


But something tells me that you're too scared
But I believe you are still afraid to take the leap


Something tells me that you're too scared to go
I sense that you are not ready to move on




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Nate Ruess, Sam Means

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions