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.
Hold Your Head Up
Macklemore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
(x2)
A friend of mine once told me
We have many paths in this journey
So when you question don't be worried
It's not a wrong one
Beauty can be found in all of them
You'll meet people whose paths intersect
But you don't know how long you'll walk with them
Cos the truth is, and it's so hard, but you'll never know
How long we'll continue with our loved ones down this rugged road
The path veers and it's clear that we must steer alone
I've learned if you can't hold on to that moment that exists--
Let it go
Cos freedom is god
Freedom is acknowledging the mask you have on
And possessing the strength to take it off
Freedom is accepting every step of the path
And when it's hard having faith in the ability to embrace that
That's where you are
And this is it
The same shit that we work towards, but go against in the same sense
My friend hit me to some game and truth unravelled, she said
"the brighter the light, the darker the shadow"
And since i'm on cliche terms, knowing is half the battle
But i don't know
So i just go with what was destined
Life can be a burden or a blessing
The choice is yours to be connected
It's there if you want it, you got it, now let it
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
(x2)
I feel like i have nothing to give right now
This is my trial, tribulations, and it must go down
But where's the up?
I'm stuck with the broken smile
No jokin' now, wantin' to grab a swish and smoke this out
The moment of a man choosing what path i will go down
Do i give in, give up, or get up and live right now?
With a split gut pick myself up and spit my style
This is the only thing that can hold my ground
You're born into this world alone and alone you'll go out
All i have is myself and everyone else i doubt
You can only trust yourself and depend on the help of the pound
Inside of the chest that beats with the breath of the now
No sunshine when she's gone, i can only see clouds
No homies can hold me down, the spirit's testing me now
But i can withstand this world, but it seems so foul
Flood of emotions, it's like i'm being held down to drown
Hell's right around the corner, but i can turn it around
You always have a choice, no matter the situation you're not bound
To nothing, no one, you're chosen for this job
This is your life, you can't escape this bitch when it's hard
Just know that it passes, but you'll collect scars
They never go away, but they will make you who you are
This is a beautiful struggle, i share it in song cos
I can't control this, remember: the moment's beyond us
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
(x2)
And all my people say whoa.. whoa.. yeah
And all my people say whoa.. whoa..
(x2)
C'mon
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
[one more time]
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
In the lyrics to the song Hold Your Head Up, Macklemore is encouraging listeners to stay positive in difficult times. He acknowledges that life is filled with challenges and hardships, but reminds us that each moment is precious and should not be wasted. He also recognizes that everyone's journey is unique, with different paths and obstacles, but that we must keep our eyes on the prize and focus on our goals.
The second verse in the song talks about Macklemore's personal struggle, feeling like he has nothing to give and being stuck with a broken smile. He touches on the concept of choices and free will, and encourages listeners to trust themselves and depend on their own strength rather than relying on others.
The chorus, which repeats twice in the song, reminds listeners to hold their heads up and keep going, even though they may be fed up and tired. There is always a light in the sky, and it is up to us to navigate through the darkness and find it.
Overall, the lyrics to Hold Your Head Up are a powerful message of hope, resilience, and determination. Macklemore's words are a reminder that no matter how difficult life may seem, we have the ability to overcome it with strength and positivity.
Line by Line Meaning
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
Stay positive, there's hope even in the darkest situations
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
I understand that life may be tough, but you must persevere
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Every moment is valuable, don't waste it by just living day to day
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
Stay determined and focused on what you want to achieve
A friend of mine once told me
I learned a valuable lesson from a close friend
We have many paths in this journey
Life offers many choices and directions to take
They act in different directions
Each path has its own unique journey
So when you question don't be worried
Don't worry if you're unsure which path to take
It's not a wrong one
There is no right or wrong path, just different ones
Beauty can be found in all of them
Each path has its own beauty and meaning
You'll meet people whose paths intersect
You'll encounter people who share a similar journey
But you don't know how long you'll walk with them
You never know how long someone will be in your life
Cos the truth is, and it's so hard, but you'll never know
The truth is, we don't know what the future holds
How long we'll continue with our loved ones down this rugged road
We don't know how long we'll have our loved ones with us on our journey
The path veers and it's clear that we must steer alone
At times, we must face difficult decisions alone
I've learned if you can't hold on to that moment that exists--
If you're unable to cling to a moment, let it go
Let it go
Release your attachment to something that doesn't serve you
Cos freedom is god
Freedom is the ultimate power and is synonymous with a divine force
Freedom is acknowledging the mask you have on
True freedom comes with being honest about who you are
And possessing the strength to take it off
Having the courage to remove the facade and be vulnerable
Freedom is accepting every step of the path
True liberation comes when you accept and cherish every moment of your journey
And when it's hard having faith in the ability to embrace that
Believe in yourself and your ability to overcome difficult times
That's where you are
You're exactly where you're meant to be
And this is it
This moment is your reality, embrace it
The same shit that we work towards, but go against in the same sense
We often work towards the same goals we rebel against
My friend hit me to some game and truth unravelled, she said
A friend shared some wisdom that changed my perspective
"the brighter the light, the darker the shadow"
The greater the success, the greater the adversity
And since i'm on cliche terms, knowing is half the battle
Even though it's cliché, knowing something is only half the challenge
But i don't know
I don't have all the answers
So i just go with what was destined
I trust in fate and let life unfold as it will
Life can be a burden or a blessing
Life can be difficult, but it can also be beautiful
The choice is yours to be connected
It's your decision whether or not to connect with others
It's there if you want it, you got it, now let it
The choice to connect is available, so take advantage of it
I feel like i have nothing to give right now
I'm feeling lost and empty
This is my trial, tribulations, and it must go down
This is my challenge to overcome, and I must do it
But where's the up?
I don't see a bright side to this situation
I'm stuck with the broken smile
I'm trying to hide my pain but it's not working
No jokin' now, wantin' to grab a swish and smoke this out
I'm not in the mood for jokes and just want to escape
The moment of a man choosing what path i will go down
This is a pivotal moment for me to decide on a course of action
Do i give in, give up, or get up and live right now?
Do I succumb to my pain, give up on life, or rise up and live in the present?
With a split gut pick myself up and spit my style
Even though I'm hurting, I'll rise up and be true to myself
This is the only thing that can hold my ground
My authenticity is what will sustain me
You're born into this world alone and alone you'll go out
You enter and leave this world alone
All i have is myself and everyone else i doubt
I only trust myself and am wary of others
You can only trust yourself and depend on the help of the pound
You can only rely on yourself and those closest to you
Inside of the chest that beats with the breath of the now
Within you, at this moment, is where your power lies
No sunshine when she's gone, i can only see clouds
When someone is missing from your life, it can be hard to see the good
No homies can hold me down, the spirit's testing me now
Even with friends, sometimes you have to face challenges alone
But i can withstand this world, but it seems so foul
I'm strong enough to handle what life throws at me, but it still feels unfair
Flood of emotions, it's like i'm being held down to drown
Emotions are overwhelming me and suffocating me
Hell's right around the corner, but i can turn it around
Even though things seem bad, I have the power to change my fate
You always have a choice, no matter the situation you're not bound
You always have a choice, even if it doesn't seem like it
To nothing, no one, you're chosen for this job
You're not beholden to anyone or anything, you're here for a reason
This is your life, you can't escape this bitch when it's hard
You can't avoid the difficulties in life, you have to face them head-on
Just know that it passes, but you'll collect scars
Hard times will come and go, but they will leave their mark
They never go away, but they will make you who you are
Scars will always be a part of you, but they will shape you into the person you are
This is a beautiful struggle, i share it in song cos
This is a beautiful journey, and I express it through music
I can't control this, remember: the moment's beyond us
Sometimes things are out of our control, and we must learn to accept them
And all my people say whoa.. whoa.. yeah
Others are also feeling the same struggles and pain
C'mon
Let's do this together
[one more time]
Let's repeat the chorus one more time
Contributed by Sebastian M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Grifo
[Hook]
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
[Verse 1: Macklemore]
A friend of mine once told me, "We have many paths in this journey"
They act in different directions, so when you question don't be worried
It's not a wrong one, beauty can be found in all of them
You'll meet people whose paths intersect, but you don't know how long you'll walk with them
Cause the truth is, and it's so hard, but you'll never know
How long we'll continue with our loved ones down this rugged road
The path veers and it's clear that we must steer alone
I've learned if you can't hold on to that moment that exists-- let it go
Cause freedom is God
Freedom is acknowledging the mask you have on and possessing the strength to take it off
Freedom is accepting every step of the path
And when it's hard having faith in the ability to embrace it, that's where you are
And this is it The same shit that we work towards, but go against in the same sense
My friend hit me to some game and truth unraveled, she said
"the brighter the light, the darker the shadow"
And since I'm on cliche terms, knowing is half the battle
But I don't know, so I just go with what was destined
Life can be a burden or a blessing
The choice is yours to be connected
It's there if you want it, you got it, now let it
[Hook]
[Verse 2]
I feel like I have nothing to give right now
This is my trial, tribulations, and it must go down
But where's the up? I'm stuck with the broken smile
No joking now, wanting to grab a swish and smoke this out
The moment of a man choosing what path I will go down
Do I give in, give up, or get up and live right now?
With a split gut pick myself up and spit my style
This is the only thing that can hold my ground
You're born into this world alone, and alone you'll go out
All I have is myself and everyone else I doubt
You can only trust yourself and depend on the help of the pound
Inside of the chest that beats with the breath of the now
No sunshine when she's gone, I can only see clouds
No homies can hold me down, the spirit's testing me now
But I can withstand this world, but it seems so foul
Flood of emotions, it's like I'm being held down to drown
Hell's right around the corner, but I can turn it around
You always have a choice, no matter the situation you're not bound
To nothing, no one, you're chosen for this job
This is your life, you can't escape this bitch when it's hard
Just know that it passes, but you'll collect scars
They never go away, but they will make you who you are
This is a beautiful struggle, I share it in song cause
I can't control this, remember: the moment's beyond us
Utkarsh Goyal
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
Hold your head up, see, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
A friend of mine once told me
We have many paths in this journey
They act in different directions
So when you question don't be worried
It's not a wrong one
Beauty can be found in all of 'em
You'll meet people whose paths intersect but you don't know how long you'll walk with them
'Cause the truth is, and it's so hard, but you'll never know
How long we'll continue with our loved ones down this rugged road
The path veers and it's clear that we must steer alone
I've learned if you can't hold on to that moment that existed
Let it go
'Cause freedom is God
Freedom is acknowledging the mask you have on and possessing the strength to take it off
Freedom is accepting every step of the path and when it's hard having faith in the ability to embrace
That's where you are
And this is it
The same shit that we work towards
But go against in the same sense
My friend hit me to some game and truth unravelled, she said
"The brighter the light, the darker the shadow"
And since I'm on cliché terms, knowing is half the battle
But I don't know, so I just go with what was destined
Life can be a burden or a blessing
The choice is yours to be connected
It's there if you want it, you got it, now let it
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
Hold your head up, see, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
I feel like I have nothing to give right now
This is my trial
Tribulations and it must go down
But where's the up?
I'm stuck with the broken smile
No jokin' now, wantin' to grab a swish and smoke this out
The moment of a man choosing what path I will go down
Do I give in, give up, or get up and live right now?
With a split gut, pick myself up and spit my style
This is the only thing that can hold my ground
You're born into this world alone and alone you'll go out
All I have is myself and everyone else I doubt
You can only trust yourself and depend on the help of the pound
Inside the chest that beats with the breath of the now
No sunshine when she's gone, I can only see clouds
No homies can hold me down, the spirit's testing me now
But I can withstand this world, but it seems so foul
Flood of emotions, it's like I'm being held down to drown
Hell's right around the corner, but I can turn it around
You always have a choice, no matter the situation, you're not bound
To nothing, to no one
You're chosen for this job
This is your life, you can't escape this bitch when it's hard
Just know that it passes, but you'll collect scars
They never go away but they will make you who you are
This is a beautiful struggle, I share it in song 'cause
I can't control this, remember
The moment's beyond us
Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
Hold your head up, see, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
And all my people say
Woo woohoo, woo woohoo
Yeah
And all my people say
Woo woohoo, woo hoo
All my people say
Woo woohoo, woo woohoo
Yeah
And all my people say
Woo woohoo, woo hoo
C'mon
Hold your head up, see, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
One more time!
Hold your head up, see, there's a light in the sky
I know you're fed up, but you must try to survive
Each moment's precious, don't let life pass you by
Keep focused, keep your eyes on the prize
Jordan Codner
So many of Macklemore's songs deserve so much more recognition. Sad thing is there never gonna get it cause this stuff is way to real to ever hit the radio.
NegativeScion
This is the true Macklemore. Come back man. We're all fans of the lyrics that speak to our souls.
The Varmint
Ten Thousand Hours has great lyrics, from The Heist
Zach Adair
Kevin has good lyrics from the unruly mess
T Kerekere
This song still hits in 2020, Beautiful song <3
n o r e
This is the song that first got me into Macklemore 4 years ago. So glad that he's still a true artist now, and I hope that he's still like that even after this fame
L A
This is my favorite song. I believe his music is like the phases in life and this one suits me the most at the moment. He is just such a big influence in my life and i cant stress that enough :)
evilisk69
This is one of those songs that is timeless. It brings me back to myself when I'm depressed. Much respect
Danielle Cozzola
"You always have a choice, no matter the situation you're not bound."
This means the world to me.
Shon Hob
Truth