Macy Gray was originally hesitant to record a studio album due to what is, arguably, her most recognizable feature -- her voice. She started her music career as a songwriter. Her first album was actually a mistake; she was at the studio waiting for the person who was supposed to be singing her song, and the producer wanted to hear what one of the songs was supposed to sound like. Once she started singing, the producer liked the rough sound of her voice so much he offered her a record deal.
Do Something
Macy Gray Lyrics
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Got the masses at my feet
Got a living dwell
Down on easy street
I'm the latest craze (oh yeah)
And if you stay a while
Inevitably
You gone be bitin' my style
Let me tell you what is fact
And what is true
I get high and that ain't that much to do
I'm always in a daze (uh huh)
That was just a dream I had
Last night in my bubble bath
Next to my wishing well
Oh yeah, you betta
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Don't let the days of your life pass you by
You got to
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
How will you make it if you never even try
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Can't spend your whole life tryin' to get high
You got to get up, get out
And do somethin'
Cause you and I have to do
For you and I
What's been happenin'
How you doin'
Where you been
I'm further behind now
Than I was back then
Lost in some old maze (uh huh)
Some years have passed me by
All I want is to go get high
I'll get it together
Some other day
In my dreams I dwell (uh huh huh)
Cause all my dreams are swell (woo, woo, woo)
You would too
If you could see them
That's what I know
I gotta go
Get up
Get out and (yeah)
Heaven's at my feet
Got a living dwell
Down on easy street
I'm the latest craze (uh huh)
It's just a dream I had
Last night in my bubble bath
Next to my wish--yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Don't let the days of your life pass you by
You got to
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
How will you make it if you never even try
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Can't spend your whole life tryin' to get high
You got to get up, get out
And do somethin'
Cause you and I have to do
For you and I
Why don't you do somethin'?
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Don't let the days of your life pass you by
You got to
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
How will you make it if you never even try
Get up, get out
And do somethin'
Can't spend your whole life tryin' to get high
You got to get up, get out
And do somethin'
Cause you and I have to do
For you and I
In Macy Gray's song "Do Something," the singer conveys a message to listeners through her lyrics, which encourages them to get up, get out, and do something with their lives. She likens herself to Queen Cleopatra, ruling over her legions of fans as the latest craze, living on easy street. Those who stay around long enough will inevitably start to copy her style, even in their later days. However, despite all her wealth and fame, Gray seems to be stuck in a rut. While she gets high frequently, she admits that there isn't much to it. Gray is lost in some old maze, and years have passed her by, but all she wants is to go get high. She tells listeners not to get caught up in the same trap she is in and not to let the days of their life pass them by.
Gray repeats the chorus throughout the song, imploring listeners to "get up, get out, and do something" because "you can't spend your whole life trying to get high." She reminds people to take action in their lives because they are the only ones who can do it. Nobody else can make the difference for them. The lyrics can be interpreted as a call to action for individuals to pursue their dreams instead of idly zoning out or dwelling in the realm of daydreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Like Cleopatra
Feeling powerful and in control
Got the masses at my feet
Having a lot of fans or followers
Got a living dwell
Having a comfortable life
Down on easy street
Having an easy and comfortable life
I'm the latest craze (oh yeah)
Being very popular and trendy
And if you stay a while
People will start to copy your style
Inevitably
It's bound to happen
You gone be bitin' my style
Others will start copying my style
In your later days (well, well, well)
In the future
Let me tell you what is fact
I'll tell you what's true
And what is true
What I say is true
I get high and that ain't that much to do
I'm not doing much with my life
I'm always in a daze (uh huh)
Feeling confused or unfocused
That was just a dream I had
I was just imagining
Last night in my bubble bath
While relaxing in the bath
Next to my wishing well
Where I make wishes
Oh yeah, you betta
You better listen to me
Get up, get out
Take action, be proactive
And do somethin'
Accomplish something
Don't let the days of your life pass you by
Don't waste your life
How will you make it if you never even try
You need to take chances in life to succeed
Can't spend your whole life tryin' to get high
You can't spend your whole life being lazy or unproductive
Cause you and I have to do
We are responsible for our own success
For you and I
For both of us
What's been happenin'
What's been going on
How you doin'
How are you
Where you been
Where have you been
I'm further behind now
I'm further from my goals now
Than I was back then
Than I was before
Lost in some old maze (uh huh)
Feeling lost and confused
Some years have passed me by
Time has gone by
All I want is to go get high
I just want to be lazy and do nothing
I'll get it together
I'll get my act together
Some other day
Not right now
In my dreams I dwell (uh huh huh)
I spend a lot of time imagining
Cause all my dreams are swell (woo, woo, woo)
Because my dreams are great
You would too
You would imagine too
If you could see them
If you could see my dreams
That's what I know
That's what I believe
Heaven's at my feet
I feel like I'm on top of the world
Why don't you do somethin'?
Why don't you take action?
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Darryl Otis Barnes, Andre Benjamin, Patrick L. Brown, Thomas Decarlo Callaway, George S. Clinton, Cameron F. Gipp, Natalie Hinds, Greg O. Mays, Raymon Ameer Murray, Antwan Patton, Jeremy Ruzumna, Garry Marshall Shider, Darryl Allen Swann, Rico R. Wade, G
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Anonymous
on I Try
Redemption Song - Macy Gray - Lyrics
Old pirates, yes, they rob I
Sold out to the merchant ships
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit
But my hand was made strong
By the hand of the Almighty
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery
None but ourselves can free our minds
Have no fear for atomic energy
'Cause none of them can stop the time
How long shall they kill our prophets
While we stand aside and look?
Some say it's just a part of it
We've got to fulfill the book
Won't you help me sing
These songs of freedom?
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs
Redemption songs
It’s all I ever have
Redemption songs