Don't Look Down
Ivan B Lyrics


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I′m scared I'm wasting my time
Scared I′m losin' control of my life
I'm scared of commitment of calling anything mine
I would be lyin′ if I told you, "I′m fine"

Serving these tables to put some food in my stomach
I'm tired of seeing my mom to say "Don′t worry, it's coming"
My heart is racing, I′m running to anything more than nothing
Drowning in debt and I'm trying to pull us above it

Tell me everything will be okay
Tell me why does everybody got to fade away
Am I crossing your mind?
′Cause you been all up in mine
But if I saw you, I don't know what I would say

Instead of being together, I need to get it together
Instead of writing these letters, I want to live to remember
Am I better from the past?
Yeah, I wonder what I'll know
Haunted by a dream is when you really let it go

I guess things happen for a reason
But I′ma never leave anything at chance
At first glance I′m looking for God's hands
The Devil′s looking at me like, "Homie, come dance"

My grandma's getting sicker, I′m never there when I can be
See, my brother feeling lost, I guess it runs in the family
People telling me this music should be a plan B
How could you judge me if you don't understand me?

No breaks, one-twenty going in
Destiny′s calling, I'm like, "Baby, come on in"
Right now it feels like do-or-die
Everyday it's, "Who am I?"
You call it nine-to-five
Man, I call it suicide

I see what they can′t see, this is all that I can be
Rather be homeless and broke than be labeled as happy
They don′t understand me, 'cause no one can stand me
It′s always the outsiders who end up outstanding

I lost a hundred dollars on a bet
It's not a lot of money, but it said a lot about me
In the moment, guess I didn′t understand it
When nothing is certain, don't ever take it for granted
Pride is a poison that infested our planet
Greed is okay, well that′s the way that they brand it
Our view of everything is such a mess
Havin' less than we deserve is our perception of happiness

What am I supposed to do?
They say, "Follow the steps, stick to the guidelines"
If I listen to that, I'm just a kid on the side line
What′s in your eyes? I don′t care 'bout your eyeline
Never cared about all of that
Money got people snapping for their quarter back
If I get it, I′ma give it back
I feel like happiness is something everybody should have

But we are who we are
I've been lost in the dark, while I′ve been shooting for stars
Looking for love, like is it really that hard?
Or just have someone who's there when it′s all falling apart
But every scar only makes your heart stronger
Hold on, just fight a little longer
I ponder these lines while mopping floors every night
That's when you feel the fatigue and all your hunger

That's been killing me, keep going with what they′re telling me
More aggressed than memories
Sometimes you got to let it be
The past ain′t ahead of me, I gotta give my best
How do I make change if I don't give you my two cents?
I look around, I see the dying of youth
Why you′re picking up a bottle, let me pour you the truth
I used to be like all of you, like you got nothing to lose
Nobody want a commitment when everybody's been used

Step in my conscious, my heart is the pallet
The past is behind you, but lately I′ve been behind it
I'm finding I′ve been placed in happiness and people who leave
And they love it when you're broken, hate you when you achieve
It's like I can never be me, the world is just a routine
Telling you how to live and the certain value it brings
Like rings, summer flings, things ain′t what they seem
So, don′t you ever buy the happiness they sell on the screen

'Cause happiness ain′t a store bought can
And love isn't found in just a one-night dance
I′m looking at the sky like, "Give me one more chance"
I'm tired of sitting in my room like I know I can

Nothing′s done until you do it, just look at what I'm pursuing
To die like what you're doing, my girl is ′cause of my music
It was lose her or lose it, my hearts in the music
If I didn′t, I'd be dead, so I went and I choose it

Trying to figure it out, and this ain′t even about us
I'm trying to be something more, so that my kids can be proud of
I′m trying to show everybody there's not much worth in these dollars
I hear making a difference, don′t you give up
Every line that I'm writing is just for you to get up
Love is barely an offer
Yeah, we don't give it enough
Man, what′s the point of the top is nobody wants to look up?

So, look up, look up
Don′t look down
Look up, look up




Don't look down
Don′t look down

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Don't Look Down" speak of the fears and uncertainties that Ivan B has in his life. He is afraid that he is wasting time and losing control over his life. He is scared of commitment and of calling anything his own. Ivan feels like he is drowning in debt and is struggling to support his family. In the chorus, Ivan asks someone to tell him everything will be okay and whether they think of him as much as he thinks of them. Ivan is trying to make something of himself and succeed in this world but is also afraid of failing. He is haunted by his past and is uncertain about his future. He is tired of the routine and the guidance that the world sets out for everyone to follow. Ivan believes that true happiness and love are not found in materialistic things like money and possessions.


Overall, the song is about Ivan's struggle to find his way in life. He is trying to make a name for himself and is battling his fears and uncertainties. The song encourages listeners to stay positive and believe in themselves. It also reminds them to look up instead of looking down.


Line by Line Meaning

I′m scared I'm wasting my time
I'm afraid that the things I'm doing are not worthwhile


Scared I′m losin' control of my life
I'm afraid that I no longer have control over my life


I'm scared of commitment of calling anything mine
I'm afraid of commitment and taking ownership of anything


I would be lyin′ if I told you, 'I′m fine'
If I were to say I'm fine, I would be lying


Serving these tables to put some food in my stomach
I'm working as a waiter just to have enough to eat


I'm tired of seeing my mom to say 'Don't worry, it's coming'
I'm tired of reassuring my mom that things will get better


My heart is racing, I'm running to anything more than nothing
I'm desperately seeking something more meaningful than nothing


Drowning in debt and I'm trying to pull us above it
I'm overwhelmed by debt and trying hard to overcome it


Tell me everything will be okay
Please assure me that everything will turn out fine


Tell me why does everybody got to fade away
Why does everyone I care about have to leave my life?


Am I crossing your mind?
Do you ever think about me?


′Cause you been all up in mine
Because you've been constantly on my mind


But if I saw you, I don't know what I would say
If I saw you, I wouldn't know how to act or what to say


Instead of being together, I need to get it together
Instead of focusing on a relationship, I need to focus on improving myself


Instead of writing these letters, I want to live to remember
Rather than dwelling on the past, I want to create memories worth living for


Am I better from the past?
Have I improved compared to my past self?


Yeah, I wonder what I'll know
I'm curious about what I will come to understand


Haunted by a dream is when you really let it go
When a dream haunts you, it means you have truly given up on it


I guess things happen for a reason
I believe that events occur purposefully


But I′m never gonna leave anything at chance
I won't leave anything up to luck


At first glance I'm looking for God's hands
Initially, I seek guidance from a higher power


The Devil′s looking at me like, 'Homie, come dance'
The Devil is tempting me to engage in sinful activities


My grandma's getting sicker, I′m never there when I can be
My grandmother's health is deteriorating and I feel guilty for not being present


See, my brother feeling lost, I guess it runs in the family
My brother is experiencing confusion and despair, and it seems to be a family trait


People telling me this music should be a plan B
People advise me to consider music as a backup plan


How could you judge me if you don't understand me?
You have no right to judge me if you don't comprehend my situation


No breaks, one-twenty going in
I'm constantly pushing forward without taking any breaks


Destiny's calling, I'm like, 'Baby, come on in'
I welcome the challenges and opportunities that come my way


Right now it feels like do-or-die
Currently, it seems like a situation where success is the only option


Everyday it's, 'Who am I?'
Every day I question my own identity


You call it nine-to-five
You see it as a regular job


Man, I call it suicide
For me, it feels like a slow death


I see what they can't see, this is all that I can be
I perceive things that others cannot, and this is my true potential


Rather be homeless and broke than be labeled as happy
I would prefer to have nothing and be poor than be falsely labeled as happy


They don't understand me, 'cause no one can stand me
People cannot comprehend me because they find it difficult to tolerate me


It's always the outsiders who end up outstanding
Those who are seen as different are the ones who achieve greatness


I lost a hundred dollars on a bet
I lost a significant amount of money in a bet


It's not a lot of money, but it said a lot about me
Even though the amount wasn't large, it revealed something about my character


In the moment, guess I didn't understand it
At that time, I failed to grasp its significance


When nothing is certain, don't ever take it for granted
When nothing is guaranteed, always appreciate what you have


Pride is a poison that infested our planet
Excessive pride has become widespread and harmful


Greed is okay, well that's the way that they brand it
Society promotes the acceptability of greed


Our view of everything is such a mess
Our perception of everything is chaotic and confused


Havin' less than we deserve is our perception of happiness
Believing that we deserve less than we actually do is our definition of happiness


What am I supposed to do?
I'm unsure of what actions I'm supposed to take


They say, 'Follow the steps, stick to the guidelines'
They advise me to adhere to a predetermined plan and follow instructions


If I listen to that, I'm just a kid on the side line
If I comply with that advice, I will be a passive observer and not an active participant


What's in your eyes? I don't care 'bout your eyeline
I'm not concerned with how others perceive me


Never cared about all of that
I have never placed importance on those things


Money got people snapping for their quarter back
Money drives people to act irrationally


If I get it, I′ma give it back
If I acquire wealth, I will share it with others


I feel like happiness is something everybody should have
I strongly believe that everyone deserves to experience happiness


But we are who we are
We cannot escape our true selves


I've been lost in the dark, while I′ve been shooting for stars
While pursuing my dreams, I have felt lost and uncertain


Looking for love, like is it really that hard?
Searching for love, I wonder if it is truly difficult to find


Or just have someone who's there when it's all falling apart
Perhaps all I need is someone who will be by my side when everything goes wrong


But every scar only makes your heart stronger
Every wound and setback strengthens the resilience of your heart


Hold on, just fight a little longer
Hold on and keep persevering a little while longer


I ponder these lines while mopping floors every night
I think about these lyrics as I work tirelessly cleaning floors at night


That's when you feel the fatigue and all your hunger
At that moment, exhaustion and hunger become overwhelming


That's been killing me, keep going with what they're telling me
Following what others dictate has been detrimental to me


More aggressed than memories
Current circumstances are more pressing than memories from the past


Sometimes you got to let it be
Sometimes you have to accept things as they are


The past ain't ahead of me, I gotta give my best
I must focus on the present and give my best effort


How do I make change if I don't give you my two cents?
How can I make a difference if I don't express my opinions?


I look around, I see the dying of youth
I observe the decline of the younger generation


Why you're picking up a bottle, let me pour you the truth
Instead of resorting to alcohol, let me share some truths with you


I used to be like all of you, like you got nothing to lose
I used to be just like you, as if I had nothing to lose


Nobody want a commitment when everybody's been used
No one desires a commitment when they have been hurt by others


Step in my conscious, my heart is the pallet
Enter my consciousness, where my heart is the canvas


The past is behind you, but lately I've been behind it
The past is in the past, but recently I have been dwelling on it


I'm finding I've been placed in happiness and people who leave
I realize that I have been seeking happiness in transient relationships


And they love it when you're broken, hate you when you achieve
People enjoy seeing you in a state of vulnerability but despise you when you succeed


It's like I can never be me, the world is just a routine
I feel like I am unable to express my true self, as society follows a monotonous routine


Telling you how to live and the certain value it brings
Dictating how you should live and the supposed value it provides


Like rings, summer flings, things ain′t what they seem
Like engagement rings and short-lived summer romances, things are not as they appear


So, don′t you ever buy the happiness they sell on the screen
Therefore, do not fall for the false happiness portrayed on screens


'Cause happiness ain't a store bought can
Genuine happiness cannot be purchased


And love isn't found in just a one-night dance
True love cannot be experienced in a temporary encounter


I'm looking at the sky like, 'Give me one more chance'
I gaze at the sky, hoping for an opportunity for redemption


I'm tired of sitting in my room like I know I can
I'm tired of staying in my comfort zone when I know I'm capable of much more


Nothing's done until you do it, just look at what I'm pursuing
Nothing is accomplished until you take action, just look at what I'm striving for


To die like what you're doing, my girl is 'cause of my music
To live with purpose is what motivates me, my girl is inspired by my music


It was lose her or lose it, my heart's in the music
It was a choice between losing my girl or losing my passion for music, my heart resides in the music


If I didn't, I'd be dead, so I went and I choose it
If I didn't pursue my music, I would feel dead inside, so I made the choice to follow it


Trying to figure it out, and this ain't even about us
I'm trying to figure my life out, and this has nothing to do with our relationship


I'm trying to be something more, so that my kids can be proud of
I'm striving to become someone influential, so that my future children can take pride in me


I'm trying to show everybody there's not much worth in these dollars
I'm attempting to demonstrate to everyone that money is not as valuable as we perceive


I hear making a difference, don't you give up
I hear that making a difference is important, so don't give up


Every line that I'm writing is just for you to get up
Every line of my lyrics is intended to motivate you


Love is barely an offer
Love is rarely given


Yeah, we don't give it enough
Yes, we don't give love enough


Man, what's the point of the top is nobody wants to look up?
What is the purpose of achieving success if nobody aspires to be like you?




Writer(s): Ivan Paniagua

Contributed by Chase T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Johan du Toit

Ivan... dude... you might not see this, but your music has inspired and helped me this past year more than anything ever... your true, direct lyrics,, lyrics that come from the heart is what music should be

you helped me survive and have hope in dark times, and i'm sure many others

NEVER STOP DOING YOU

SH33 -

Johan du Toit exactly!🙏🏼

King Wavy

Johan du Toit same man same ..

Æther God of Wrath YT channel

Amazing yes, he and NF are my inspiration!

Mercy Muster

God may have placed his music in ur life for that reason. I know God has done that for me more than I can count. Even with hurleys music. But the man who truly won't let u down. Is Jesus. you may already you. then this is just a sweet reminder

School Account

I love you for making this. I’ve been through a lot myself, and me being able to listen to this around 8 times a day really helps. This is the kind of people that save people’s live not even knowing it. You are the hero.

Textizm

Dude i'm going through depression right now and the first few lines hit me hard

Cody Cox

Seriously.. you can't ever stop making music bruh🙌🏼🙌🏼 can relate to every song. And helps me with so many hard times👌🏼🔥🔥

Cade Langston

Every song you release is an instant classic

THE HARTSOE FAMILY

Team Ruthless he should collaborate with NF

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