Starting Over
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lyrics

One, two, now
Starting something new.

Those 3 plus years, I was so proud of
Talking about past achievements.

And I threw "em all away for 2 Styrofoam cups
Lamenting on how one mistake resulted in a loss of everything.

The irony, everyone will think that he lied to me
Reflecting on how public life invites scrutiny.

Made my sobriety so public, there's no fuckin' privacy
Public admission of a private problem.

If I don't talk about it then I carry a date
Hiding something is torturous.

08-10-08, but now it's been changed in every
Time changes things.

When they put me in some boxes that say
Judged by the public.

That I never was, it's the false prophet that never came
How the public can be misled.

And will they think that everything that I written has all been fake
Doubting one's credibility.

Oh well I'll just take my slip to the grave
Accepting that mistakes are yours to bear.

Uh, what the fuck are my parents gonna say?
The fear of disappointing loved ones.

The success story that got his life together and changed
Being an inspiration to others.

And you know what pain looks like
Empathizing with those who are hurting.

When you tell your dad you relapsed and look him directly into his face
Confronting the consequences of one's actions.

The seep on your shoulder's the seemingly heavy weight
Feeling the burden of regrets.

I haven't seen tears like this on my girl
The sadness one causes those they love.

In a while the trust that I once built's been betrayed
Rebuilding trust.

But I'd rather live telling the truth than be judged for my mistakes
Owning up to one's mistakes.

Them falsely held up, give em props, loved and praised
How society builds up and tears down individuals.

I guess I gotta get this on the page
Putting thoughts into words.

Feeling sick and helpless, lost the compass where self is
Feeling lost and unsure of oneself.

I know what I gotta do and I can't help it
Knowing the right thing to do, but struggling to do it.

One day at a time is what they tell us
Taking life step by step.

Now I gotta find a way to tell them
Finding the strength to open up.

God help 'em
Asking for strength from a higher power.

We fell so hard
Reflecting on a difficult past.

Now we gotta get back what we lost, lost
Trying to reclaim what was lost.

I felt you'd go
Feeling abandoned.

But you were with me all along along
Realizing the support that was there all along.

And every kid that came up to me
Being an inspiration to others.

And said I was the music they listened to when they first got clean
The impact that one's work can have on others.

Now look at me, a couple days sober
Acknowledging progress.

I'm fighting demons
Struggling with one's inner demons.

Back of that meeting on the east side
Attending a support group meeting.

Shaking tweakin', hope that they don't see it
Fearing judgment from others.

Hope that no one is looking
Security in anonymity.

That no one recognizes that failure under that hoodie
Hiding vulnerabilities.

Was posted in the back with my hands crossed shooken
Feeling isolated during recovery.

If they call on me I'm passing, if they talk to me I'm booking out that door
Avoiding confrontation and vulnerability.

But before I can make it somebody stops me and says are you Macklemore?
Unexpectedly being recognized in a vulnerable moment.

Maybe this isn't the place or time
Awkwardness in unexpected encounters.

I just wanted to say that if it wasn't for other side I wouldn't have made it
How one's work can have a life-changing impact on others.

I just look down at the ground and say thank you
Gratitude for the impact one has had.

She tells me she has 9 months and that she's so grateful
Encouragement and gratitude from others.

Tears in her eyes, looking like she's gonna cry fuck!
Emotional outpouring.

I barely got 48 hours, treated like I'm some wise monk
Feeling like an imposter despite one's struggles.

I wanna tell her I relapsed but I can't
Fear of judgment and disappointment from others.

I just shake her hand and tell her congrats
Putting on a brave face for others.

Get back to my car and I think I'm tripping yea
Reflecting on a surreal experience.

'Cause God wrote Otherside, that pen was in my hand
Believing in a higher purpose for one's life.

I'm just a flawed man, man I fucked up up
Acknowledging one's imperfections and mistakes.

Like so many others I just never thought I would
Feeling like one's struggles are unique but realizing others face similar challenges.

Didn't pick up the book
Ignoring one's resources for recovery.

Doin' it by myself, didn't turn out that good
Realizing the importance of support.

If I can be an example of getting sober
Being an example for others.

Then I can be an example of starting over
Believing in the possibility of change and redemption.