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.
My Oh My
Macklemore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That sawdust that pine sol and the moss
Around every spring when the winter thaw
We'd huddle around the radio twist the broken knob
710 AM no KJR Dave Niehaus voice would echo throughout the yard
Couldn't have been older than 10
But to me and my friends
The voice on the other end might as well have been God's
Edgars up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning got the whole town listening,
Swung on and belted the words that started, Joey Cora rounds third
Here comes Griffey the throw to the plate's not in time
My oh my the Mariners win it
Yes, fire works they lit up ceiling in the king dome
We had just made history.
And swung, Lined down the left field line for a base hit!
Here comes Joey! Here comes Junior to third base!
They're gonna wave him in! the throw to the plate will be'.
Late! The Mariners are going to play
For the American League Championship!
I don't believe it! It just continues! MY OH MY!
Laces woven barley holdin' that stitch
The creases are time amongst the grime and the grit
Where the leather he used to pound his fists
To some it's just a mitt, but see that glove was him
Yep, tell me stories on the field with that sun stained brim
Blood under my chin, he taught me how to spit
Sunflower seeds back when me and my crew sun burnt arms
Big league chew, yeah we were like the sand lot after dinner
After practice we listen to the M's in the kitchen
And if mom wasn't trippin' come on dad
Please I swear just one more inning
Voice went pump pump through the system break out the Rye bread
It's grand salami time
My oh My another victory yes, my city my city.
Childhood my life watchin' Griffey right under those lights
Under that light rain gleaming in that night came, can't stop now
Keep moving no break pads came here to prove a point,
Live my life on the field
Make history in between the base path
And compete against the fear that is in me
That's my only barrier and I swear I'm going to break that
From the mud the cleats that we drug threw the feet
This is that moment and you cannot take it back
And I don't really collect cards anymore,
Just a box and some old card board
Memories embedded in the dust,
In the fighters that age just like us
Livin' some where off in the drawer
This is what you make of it yeah we play to win
Live it like we're under the lights of the stadium
Fight until the day that God decided to wave us in,
Right until he waves us in
It's my city my city childhood my life that's right
Under those lights
My city my city childhood that's right Niehaus
My oh My come on, my city my city childhood my life that's right
Under those lights
It's my city my city childhood my life Niehaus My oh My Rest in peace.
The lyrics to Macklemore & Ryan Lewis's song My Oh My are a tribute to the Seattle Mariners baseball team and their legendary broadcaster, Dave Niehaus, who passed away in 2010. The song tells a story of a father and son bonding over the game of baseball, listening to Niehaus's play-by-play calls on the radio. The memories of sitting in the garage with the smell of sawdust and pine sol and the sound of Niehaus's voice on the radio are a powerful reminder of the importance of family, tradition, and community.
The lyrics also recount some historic moments in Mariners history, including Edgar Martinez's game-winning hit in the 1995 division series and Ken Griffey Jr.'s dramatic slide into home plate. The song celebrates the passion and dedication of Mariners fans, who have waited for years to see their team make it to the World Series. It is a tribute to a team and a city that never gave up, despite facing years of disappointment and frustration.
Overall, the lyrics to My Oh My are a nostalgic journey back through the history of the Seattle Mariners and a moving tribute to the love of baseball, family, and community.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to sit with my dad in the garage
I would spend time in the garage with my father
That sawdust that pine sol and the moss
There were familiar smells of sawdust, pine sol, and moss
Around every spring when the winter thaw
This occurred annually in the spring when the winter frost thawed
We'd huddle around the radio twist the broken knob
We would gather around the radio and turn its broken knob
710 AM no KJR Dave Niehaus voice would echo throughout the yard
The voice of Dave Niehaus on KJR 710 AM would carry throughout our yard
Couldn't have been older than 10
I was likely not more than 10 years old at the time
But to me and my friends
Despite my young age, my friends and I were deeply impacted by this experience
The voice on the other end might as well have been God's
Dave's voice was so powerful that it could have been God's voice itself
1995 the division series
This took place during the 1995 division series
Edgars up to bat
Edgar Martinez stepped up to bat
Bottom of the 11th inning got the whole town listening,
This was the bottom of the 11th inning and everybody in the town was listening
Swung on and belted the words that started, Joey Cora rounds third
Edgar hit the ball and Joey Cora began rounding third to head home
Here comes Griffey the throw to the plate's not in time
Griffey ran towards home plate and the throw was not in time to stop him from scoring
My oh my the Mariners win it
This led to an emotional and exciting victory for the Mariners
Yes, fire works they lit up ceiling in the king dome
The fireworks created an atmosphere of celebration and excitement throughout the Kingdome
We had just made history.
This was a historic moment that would be remembered forever
And swung, Lined down the left field line for a base hit!
The ball was hit and went down the left field line for a base hit
Here comes Joey! Here comes Junior to third base!
Joey began running, and Junior ran towards third base
They're gonna wave him in! the throw to the plate will be'.
They realized Joey would make it from third to home, and the throw to the plate was coming soon
Late! The Mariners are going to play
The throw to the plate was late and resulted in a win for the Mariners
For the American League Championship!
This win advanced the Mariners towards the American League Championship
I don't believe it! It just continues! MY OH MY!
They were almost in disbelief at how incredible the game was, and exclaimed 'My oh my!'
Laces woven barley holdin' that stitch
The laces of the mitt were woven together tightly
The creases are time amongst the grime and the grit
Time had passed, but the grime and grit remained visible in the creases of the mitt
Where the leather he used to pound his fists
My father used to hit his fist into the leather to break it in
To some it's just a mitt, but see that glove was him
To others, the mitt may appear as nothing more than an object, but it was a significant part of my father
Yep, tell me stories on the field with that sun stained brim
He would tell me interesting stories about his experiences on the field, with a hat that had been bleached by the sun
Blood under my chin, he taught me how to spit
I was learning how to spit seeds as my father and I were playing catch one day and accidentally hurt myself
Sunflower seeds back when me and my crew sun burnt arms
When my friends and I had sunburnt arms, we would go through sunflower seeds while watching baseball
Big league chew, yeah we were like the sand lot after dinner
We'd chew Big League Chew, like the boys from the movie The Sandlot, after dinner
After practice we listen to the M's in the kitchen
After practice, we'd listen to the Mariners games while in the kitchen
And if mom wasn't trippin' come on dad
If my mother wasn't upset, I would ask my father to let me stay up longer to listen to the games
Please I swear just one more inning
I would beg him to let me stay up just for one more inning
Voice went pump pump through the system break out the Rye bread
The voice of the commentator was getting louder and the excitement was spreading, so my father would break out the Rye bread for some snacks
It's grand salami time
There was the opportunity for a grand slam, and things were getting very exciting
My oh My another victory yes, my city my city.
Another win for the Mariners was a victory for our city
Childhood my life watchin' Griffey right under those lights
Watching Ken Griffey Jr. play baseball with my father as a child was a defining moment in my life
Under that light rain gleaming in that night came, can't stop now
Now, it is raining lightly under the lights, and there is a sense that things cannot stop progressing
Keep moving no break pads came here to prove a point,
We must continue to move forward and prove our worth, and not let anything slow us down
Live my life on the field
I will live my life as if it were a game of baseball, where anything is possible
Make history in between the base path
I want to make impactful and memorable moments, like those that can occur between the base paths
And compete against the fear that is in me
I want to challenge myself and compete with my own fears
That's my only barrier and I swear I'm going to break that
I will break down the barriers of my own fear, as it is the only thing stopping me
From the mud the cleats that we drug threw the feet
Our journey has been messy and difficult, but we have pushed through it together
This is that moment and you cannot take it back
It is a defining moment that cannot be undone or taken back
And I don't really collect cards anymore,
I have lost interest in card collecting over time
Just a box and some old card board
However, I still keep a box of old cardboard and its memories
Memories embedded in the dust,
There are memories attached to the dust collected on the box
In the fighters that age just like us
We are like the fighters, preserved in our memories as we age
Livin' some where off in the drawer
These memories are somewhere in a drawer, not quite forgotten, but a thing of the past
This is what you make of it yeah we play to win
You determine what you want to make of your life, and we play to win
Live it like we're under the lights of the stadium
We should live life as if we're always under the bright stadium lights, performing for the world
Fight until the day that God decided to wave us in,
We will keep fighting until the day we pass away
Right until he waves us in
Until that day, we will continue to give our all, leaving nothing behind
It's my city my city childhood my life that's right
The city, my childhood, and my life have always been intertwined and are now an inseparable part of my identity
Under those lights
These memories have all occurred in the bright stadium lights
My city my city childhood that's right Niehaus
This city and my childhood are forever linked through the voice of Dave Niehaus
My oh My come on, my city my city childhood my life that's right
The memories and the city are so important to my life that it elicited an 'Oh My'
It's my city my city childhood my life Niehaus My oh My Rest in peace.
Dave Niehaus passed away but continues to occupy a special place in my heart and memories
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BEN HAGGERTY, RYAN S LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Marcus1Arelius3
It’s September 28th, 2021
We’re half a game behind the Wildcard.
You wouldn’t believe the spirit of these boys, Dave. My, Oh My You wouldn’t believe it.
We’re still here to believe for you,
Yours truly,
Seattle
@melozanob
macklemore makes me so fucking happy for no reason at all
@shakalpb1164
Melissa Lozano me 2 :)
@gavynpersinger1368
You're f**** right because he makes me happy for no reason to
@xotkflip
+Melissa Lozano AND Ryan Lewis
@Roy51794
+Melissa Lozano It's his smile :D
@huntybangz
+Melissa Lozano
hap-pi-ness
/'hapēnes/
noun
definition~Macklemore
@tatertottyler4221
Mariners did it. Made the playoffs for the first time since 2001 and I instantly thought of this song and my childhood. Thank you Mack. You are amazing
@West_Cascade_Rail
Yes.
@Cobrafanatik22
I came back here after they won tonight !! My oh my !!
@West_Cascade_Rail
@Cobrafanatik22 I came here this morning to get hyped!!