Ben Haggerty was born in Seattle, Washington, on June 19, 1983, one of two sons born to Bill Haggerty and Julie Schott. He was raised with his brother Tim in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. He has Irish heritage and was raised Catholic. Haggerty was six years old when hip hop first came into his life by way of Digital Underground. At the age of 15, he began to write lyrics.
At the time he started to sing, Haggerty listened to "a lot of East Coast underground hip-hop", listing Hieroglyphics, Freestyle Fellowship, Aceyalone, Living Legends, Wu-Tang Clan, Mobb Deep, Nas, and Talib Kweli as his major influences. He was interested in reaching a younger generation through his music and became part of a program focusing on education and cultural identity called "Gateways for Incarcerated Youth", where he facilitated music workshops. Haggerty attended Garfield High School and Nathan Hale High School. At Hale, he developed the stage name "Professor Macklemore" for an art project involving a made-up superhero, and at Garfield, he started a hip-hop group named Elevated Elements with other students. The group released an album, Progress, in 2000.
Haggerty enrolled at the College of Santa Fe for a year, later saying in an interview that "it was a very pivotal time in a lot of ways. Santa Fe was the place where I got good at rapping". After not getting into the music program, he moved back to Seattle. Haggerty later enrolled at The Evergreen State College in Olympia and completed his bachelor's degree in 2009.
On his debut album, The Language of My World, Macklemore drafts a lyrical landscape of classic proportions. This record is teeming with energy and ambition, serving as a fitting debut for one of this country's most promising young artists. Macklemore's gift, like that of all great songwriters, is his ability to speak on universal experiences in a uniquely personal way. Throughout The Language of My World, Macklemore consistently addresses topics that are uncomfortable or taboo, in an attempt to exorcise his own personal demons.
Macklemore's second mixtape, The Unplanned Mixtape, was released on September 7, 2009. It would later reach No. 7 on the iTunes Hip Hop chart. The mixtape was accompanied by the singles "The Town" and "And We Danced", the latter of which featured singer Ziggy Stardust. "The Town" was later remixed by Sabzi of the Blue Scholars.
His music is inspirational, filled with social and racial consciousness, as well as a constructive political vision. He's also funny as hell, making music that is at once hilarious and affecting. Born and raised in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood Macklemore has been an integral part of the Seattle hip-hop scene for the past 7 years. He developed his style and character as part of Elevated Elements, which he founded when he was just 14 years old, and quickly moved on to pursue his solo career. From these humble beginnings Macklemore has matured, both as a songwriter and performer, into an artist who is clearly beginning to realize his near limitless potential.
Macklemore's and Ryan Lewis's single "Thrift Shop" reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in 2013. The single was dubbed by Billboard as the first song since 1994 to top the Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label; however Macklemore, in a slightly unusual recording contract, pays a nominal percentage of sales to use Warner Bros. Records's radio promotion department to push his singles. Their second single, "Can't Hold Us", also peaked at number one on the Hot 100 chart, making Macklemore and Lewis the first duo in the chart's history to have their first two singles both reach the peak position. Their debut studio album The Heist was released on 9 October 2012, and charted at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard 200. The duo won four Grammy Awards at the 2014 ceremony, including Best New Artist, Best Rap Album (The Heist), Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance ("Thrift Shop").
Macklemore's and Lewis's second album, This Unruly Mess I've Made, was released on February 26, 2016. In June 2017, Macklemore released "Glorious", a single featuring Skylar Grey, which marked his return to the music industry as well as his first major single produced without Lewis since his mainstream breakthrough. Macklemore released a second solo studio album, Gemini, in September that year.
On October 29, 2021, Macklemore released a new single titled "Next Year", featuring American singer Windser. Macklemore also worked with Ryan Lewis on the single, marking their first collaboration in three years.
On July 22, 2022, Macklemore released a new single, "Chant", featuring Australian musician Tones and I. On August 19, 2022, Macklemore released the single, "Maniac", featuring American musician Windser.
Macklemore's third solo studio album, Ben, was released on March 3, 2023.
And We Danced
Macklemore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we danced
And we cried
And we laughed
And had a really, really, really good time
Take my hand, let's have a blast
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives
Our lives (our lives)
Oh, oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Tonight (tonight)
Tonight (tonight)
Tonight
'Cause tonight's the night
Am I right?
Dance
Feels like the night for a party
My nature's so naughty
There's a knock on the door
It's the neighbors
Quit cock-blocking
We're having a ho-down, you hoes down?
Don't let me pull my hose out
'Cause it's big, long, pink, strong
And been known to dance, like, all night long
DJ, grab my hand, play this song
DJ, save my life, come on
Leave your fear, back off the wall
Free of beat and pussy pop
And if you don't have a pussy
Pop a cock into a booty
Into a booty, yay, yay
And we danced (oh)
And we cried (oh)
And we laughed (oh
And had a really, really, really good time (oh)
Take my hand (oh), let's have a blast (oh)
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives
I am not, I am not going to stand on the wall
I will dance, I will dance, I will break that ass off
And I see you in the corner, corner looking so small
Doing the robot like, if I die tonight, at least I went hard
I will not, I will not give a damn who watches me
I will live, I will live, liberate the fox in me
I will be the discoball
Freakin' give my all
To whatever girl's booty
I'm freaking on
I'm not skeeting, nah
It's just freaking hot
Alright, I skeeted
I will not be a mannequin (no)
The ego banished
The roof's on fire
Let's burn down the Vatican
I will moon walk to Pluto in honor of Michael Jackson
In heaven he'll be saying that man is tight at dancing
Rip to the king, Michael Jackson, we learned it all from you
Dedicate this to the dance floor
Party up the sorrow 'til tomorrow morning happens
We pledge allegiance to the DJ
Put your hands up
And we danced (oh)
And we cried (oh)
And we laughed (oh)
And had a really, really, really good time (oh)
Take my hand (oh), let's have a blast (oh)
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives
You see me looking at you from that bar right over there
But your friends are huddled up and they are hating on a player
I just want to dance with you
Get on the back of you
Tip tap the boots
Extract the truth
Da-dance with you
Get on the back of you
Da-dance dance dance
Awesome
Oh-ee, oh-ee, oh
(Oh-ee, oh-ee, oh)
Hey-oh, hey-oh
(Hey-oh, hey-oh)
Uh-ah-ba-bo
(Uh-ah-ba-bo)
Zib-oh-da-we-bab-ba-dap-bop-bop
(Zib-oh-da-we-bab-ba-dap-bop-bop)
Go, go, go, go, go go
Ladies, I just wanna dance with you
I just wanna dance with you, come here
Go go, go, go, go, go
I just wanna dance with you, I just wanna dance with
And we danced
And we cried (oh-ee, oh-ee, oh)
And we laughed
And had a really, really, really good time (hey-oh, hey-oh)
Take my hand, let's have a blast
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives (hey-oh, hey-oh)
Macklemore's "And We Danced" is a party anthem that encourages listeners to let loose and enjoy the moment. The song invites us to join in an unforgettable night of dancing, laughter, and memories that will last a lifetime. The track is characterized by its upbeat tempo, catchy chorus, and infectious energy that puts you in the mood to dance.
The lyrics of the song speak to the idea of embracing life to the fullest and living in the moment. Macklemore encourages listeners to let go of their inhibitions and have fun on the dance floor. He also celebrates the importance of making memories that will last forever, recognizing that life is short and that we should cherish the moments that bring us joy.
Through his lyrics, Macklemore also touches on themes of self-expression and individualism. He urges listeners to be true to themselves and not be afraid to dance like no one is watching. He emphasizes the transformative power of music and the way it can bring people together, regardless of their differences.
In summary, And We Danced is a high-energy party anthem that encourages listeners to embrace life to the fullest, be true to themselves, and make unforgettable memories.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, leah, ooh, leah, ooh, leah
Musical interlude
And we danced
We expressed ourselves through movement
And we cried
We let out our emotions, both good and bad
And we laughed
We found joy in the moment
And had a really, really, really good time
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves
Take my hand, let's have a blast
Let's make the most of this moment together
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives
Let's cherish this experience forever
Our lives (our lives)
Emphasis on the impact of this experience on our personal lives
Oh, oh, oh, oh (oh, oh, oh, oh, oh)
Musical interlude
Tonight (tonight)
Emphasis on the present moment
Tonight
We will enjoy ourselves
'Cause tonight's the night
This is the night to let loose and have fun
Am I right?
Affirmation of the previous statement
Dance
Encouragement to dance and let go
Feels like the night for a party
The atmosphere is perfect for celebration
My nature's so naughty
I am feeling mischievous
There's a knock on the door
Someone is at the door
It's the neighbors
The neighbors are interrupting
Quit cock-blocking
Stop preventing us from having fun
We're having a ho-down, you hoes down?
We are throwing a party, are you ready to join?
Don't let me pull my hose out
Don't make me take it to the next level
'Cause it's big, long, pink, strong
A reference to a hypothetical object (possibly a hose)
And been known to dance, like, all night long
It has the ability to keep going
DJ, grab my hand, play this song
Request for DJ to play a specific song
DJ, save my life, come on
Music has the power to uplift and energize
Leave your fear, back off the wall
Don't be afraid to express yourself, let go of inhibitions
Free of beat and pussy pop
Do whatever feels natural, without the expectation to conform
And if you don't have a pussy
If you're not female
Pop a cock into a booty
Join in the dancing and fun
Into a booty, yay, yay
Affirmation of last line
I am not, I am not going to stand on the wall
I refuse to be a passive observer
I will dance, I will dance, I will break that ass off
I am going to dance with full enthusiasm
And I see you in the corner, corner looking so small
Addressing someone who is feeling shy/insecure
Doing the robot like, if I die tonight, at least I went hard
Giving it your all and living in the moment
I will not, I will not give a damn who watches me
I don't care if anyone is watching/judging
I will live, I will live, liberate the fox in me
I will be myself and not worry about societal expectations
I will be the discoball
I will be the center of attention
Freakin' give my all
I'll give it all I've got
To whatever girl's booty
The specific object of affection isn't important
I'm freaking on
I am in the moment, feeling the music
I'm not skeeting, nah
I'm not trying to have sex with anyone
It's just freaking hot
The temperature is quite high
Alright, I skeeted
I couldn't help myself
I will not be a mannequin (no)
I refuse to be a lifeless observer
The ego banished
I let go of my pride and insecurities
The roof's on fire
We're having so much fun, it seems like the roof is on fire
Let's burn down the Vatican
An exaggerated statement to emphasize our rebelliousness
I will moon walk to Pluto in honor of Michael Jackson
A tribute to a legendary dancer
In heaven he'll be saying that man is tight at dancing
A hypothetical statement about Michael Jackson's opinion of the singer
Rip to the king, Michael Jackson, we learned it all from you
An explicit tribute to Michael Jackson
Dedicate this to the dance floor
This song is meant for dancing
Party up the sorrow 'til tomorrow morning happens
We will put our problems aside for tonight and embrace the happiness of the moment
We pledge allegiance to the DJ
We respect the power of music and the role of the DJ in creating a great party
Put your hands up
Encouragement to show enthusiasm
You see me looking at you from that bar right over there
Addressing someone in the room
But your friends are huddled up and they are hating on a player
The artist is receiving negative attention from the addressed person's friends
I just want to dance with you
The artist wants to have fun with the addressed person
Get on the back of you
A flirty suggestion
Tip tap the boots
Dancing together, possibly in a flirty way
Extract the truth
Maybe revealing something personal about themselves?
Da-dance with you
The singer wants the addressed person to dance with them
Da-dance dance dance
Encouragement to dance some more
Awesome
Expressing enthusiasm
Oh-ee, oh-ee, oh
Musical interlude
(Oh-ee, oh-ee, oh)
Musical interlude
Hey-oh, hey-oh
Musical interlude
(Hey-oh, hey-oh)
Musical interlude
Uh-ah-ba-bo
Musical interlude
(Uh-ah-ba-bo)
Musical interlude
Zib-oh-da-we-bab-ba-dap-bop-bop
Musical interlude
(Zib-oh-da-we-bab-ba-dap-bop-bop)
Musical interlude
Go, go, go, go, go go
Encouragement to keep dancing
Ladies, I just wanna dance with you
The singer wants to dance with women
I just wanna dance with you, come here
The singer is urging the women to join them
And we danced
We expressed ourselves through movement
And we cried (oh-ee, oh-ee, oh)
We let out our emotions, both good and bad
And we laughed
We found joy in the moment
And had a really, really, really good time (hey-oh, hey-oh)
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves
And remember this moment for the rest of our lives (hey-oh, hey-oh)
Let's cherish this experience forever
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN HAGGERTY, NOAH GOLDBERG, RYAN S. LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
N S
What makes Macklemore an amazing songwriter is the fact that he can make fun bullshit songs like this but also super serious songs like Wings and Otherside.
Vadoom 335
Noah Shively-Blinn he made downtown and then releases kevin it's awesome
George E.
Gamester Of Triskelion It's not bullshit song my friend... If you close ur eyes and listen the rythm and the whole music you'll understand it's very good song.
George E.
Gamester Of Triskelion And dancing hit.
N S
I know it's a great song, I meant it was bullshit as in there's no real hard hitting message behind it, it's just about having a great time.
Aron Davis
Awesome song, good stuff Mack !!
足の裏みたいな顔
洋楽で1番好きやわ
Mochi
I love how this song is both ridiculously silly, and also still full of a lot of positivity about just being comfortable and happy with yourself.
LukaWillMakeIt
@Grande Capo and being toxic to others
Pete1987pl
All you have to do is dance. It's easy. 🎉🎉🎉🎉 lol