Nate Good is a recording artist based in Wilmington, NC. A hip-hop artist a… Read Full Bio ↴Nate Good is a recording artist based in Wilmington, NC. A hip-hop artist and songwriter, Nate's music reflects his lifelong love of diverse artists and musical styles—Motown, 60s rock and roll, 90s hip-hop, acoustic pop—and it is itself highly varied, both stylistically and thematically.

He sings about the process of creativity, about love and relationships, about the tension between an artist’s private and public personae. His work is unified by a complex aesthetic, which combines personal expression, verbal dexterity, intense musicality, philosophical insight, and ironic humor. And if you get to know Nate’s music, you get to know Nate.

Born in Evanston, IL, Nate moved with his family to Purcellville in Northern Virginia when he was eight; he now lives and works in Wilmington, NC, where he established a new recording studio in 2020. While Nate was growing up, favorite music at home included that of the Temptations, the Beatles, James Taylor, Kanye, Eminem, Drake, and John Mayer, along with classical trumpet and orchestral pieces. Nate took trumpet lessons and played in his junior high band for three years; he then studied guitar through high school, achieving local popularity with some standout individual singing performances in his high school talent shows and at local festivals. In the background, beginning in third grade, Nate was consistently writing poems and raps; a creative explosion during his high school years meant that by the time he left for college, he had composed, on his iPhone, over 700 songs.

After one year at the University of Tennessee, Nate decided in 2011 to return to Virginia to pursue music full time—writing, rapping, performing at local venues, recording, and then engineering his own work. In the years since, he has created and released lots of music and at the same time developed a deep understanding of engineering and mixing. His first full-length project, The Jump, in 2013, earned attention and many positive reviews, receiving an Editor’s Pick from DJ Booth for the song “Sugar Water.” His 2015 single, “Gold Coast,” caught fire in both the U.S. and Germany and has been featured on YouTube channels including Rap Nation and SwagyTracks; it currently has over 21 million streams on Spotify. In 2018, Nate received a feature in “Bangers This Week” via XXL. Nate has continued to be prolific in recent years, writing and releasing other impressive albums—Goals in 2017, and Winter in 2019—which include the fan favorites “Good Looks” and “Fast & Furious,” both with over 4 million streams on Spotify. He’s also created a remarkable array of singles—“Bad Dreams,” “Poison Petals,” “Moonwalk, “Smiley,” “Bloody Sneakers,” “Payback,” “7 Figures,” “Mood,” (released with Promoting Sounds)—working both on his own as well as in collaboration with other artists (Justin Stone, Jared Anthony, Vaboh) and producers Morgan Matthews, NiNETY8, and Jesse Calentine. Nate’s fan base has continued its organic growth, drawing over 350 thousand monthly listeners on Spotify.

“Tom Holland”—February 2022 co-release with Nic D hit over 200 thousand streams on Spotify in the first week—recently hit over 1.5 million streams on Spotify. Nate is currently working on songs and video content that are scheduled for release throughout spring 2022.

“Broadway Girls”—March 2022 feature with the band No Resolve and Drew Jacobs debuted #1 on iTune’s “Top 40 US Rock Songs” at #1 as well as #4 on iTunes “All Songs” chart. The following week it was #1 on Billboard’s Chart “Hard Rock Digital Song Sales.”

Head Held High
Nate Good Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yeah,
Oh oh oh oh oh mm mm mm,
Yeah,

All alone all alone, I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
With my head held high

Shit I pack bags, leave town
Give mum a kiss like wish me luck,
You don′t risk it all you don't risk enough
You don't risk enough and that′s giving up
No giving in ′till we rich as fuck,
I'm pouring liquor up in to a dixie cup
I need a pick me up you get the gist of what
Before I′m kickin' rocks I′m kickin' up the dust
My resume was in review, no phone call for that interview
So I call the back I′m in the
Queue, that whole music ain't nothing new
I bee on hold since Vietnam,
'Till I hear a voice I mean about damn time like

Hi is this Mr. Good?
Yes
Thanks for holding, so sorry to say the positions been filled
You lack a degree and appropriate skills
There′s always sales though if business fails so
All the best, wish you well!

All alone all alone, I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
With my head held high

All alone all alone,
I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
With my head held high

Brand new flows got a ton of those,
Can′t wait to see how the summer goes
Just like I'm Regis I run the show
Refusing to stop like a bloody nose

Never let a critic ever get the best of me
McCartney Lennon I just gotta let it
Be, diplomatic like I run the embassy
I′m saucin' on you man I got the recipe
Mama feelin' proud, Imma play it loud
Only going in never bowing out, flow is real
Fuckin′ up the beat
Aimin′ for the clouds, Jordan's on my feet

Cinderella story in it for the glory, story far from finished
Shining for a minute, I can never settle got a bigger purpose
Pour out my heart in every single verse

All alone all alone, I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
With my head held high

All alone all alone,
I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
With my head held high

Hot damn, baby tell ′em who I am
Don't lie, don't lie
Let me see your right hand

Oh my, Don′t cry
Keep your head, keep your head held high

Overall Meaning

In Nate Good's song "Head Held High," the lyrics speak to the struggles and triumphs of pursuing one's dreams and not letting fear or setbacks hold you back. The opening lines, "All alone all alone, I was so afraid I couldn't make it on my own," express feelings of isolation and doubt. However, the singer looks to the sky for a sign, suggesting a need for guidance and reassurance.

As the song progresses, Nate Good talks about taking risks and not giving up. He mentions leaving town and risking it all, emphasizing the importance of pushing oneself beyond comfort zones. The lyrics also touch on the frustrations of job hunting, with references to interviews and rejection. Despite the setbacks, the singer remains determined and holds their head high, refusing to let criticism or failure define them.

Throughout the song, Nate Good expresses confidence in his skills and ambitions. He mentions having new flows and refusing to let critics get the best of him. The lyrics highlight his determination to prove himself and shine in the music industry. The repeated chorus emphasizes the idea of looking up to the sky for a sign, symbolizing hope and perseverance.

Overall, "Head Held High" is an empowering song that encourages listeners to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams with confidence and resilience.

Line by Line Meaning

Yeah
Expressing agreement or affirmation

Oh oh oh oh oh mm mm mm
Vocalizing sounds without specific meaning

All alone all alone, I was so afraid I couldn′t make it on my own
Feeling scared and uncertain about being independent

Look up to the sky, I just need a sign
Seeking guidance and reassurance

Guess that's why they see me with my head held high
Understood that's why people perceive me as confident and determined

With my head held high
Maintaining a positive and self-assured demeanor

Shit I pack bags, leave town
Leaving behind a familiar environment in search of something better

Give mum a kiss like wish me luck
Saying goodbye to loved ones and seeking their well-wishes

You don′t risk it all you don't risk enough
Not taking enough chances or pushing oneself to the limit

You don't risk enough and that′s giving up
Not taking enough risks leads to surrendering and giving up

No giving in ′till we rich as fuck
Refusing to give up until achieving significant success

I'm pouring liquor up in to a dixie cup
Using alcohol as a coping mechanism or source of temporary comfort

I need a pick me up you get the gist of what
Desiring something or someone to boost morale and motivation

Before I′m kickin' rocks I′m kickin' up the dust
Before losing hope or giving up, I'm making every effort and leaving a noticeable impact

My resume was in review, no phone call for that interview
After submitting job applications, the lack of response or opportunity for an interview

So I call the back I′m in the Queue
Taking initiative to follow up and be placed in line for consideration

That whole music ain't nothing new
Acknowledging that the music industry is competitive and saturated

I bee on hold since Vietnam
Metaphorically being placed on hold or waiting for an opportunity for a significant period

′Till I hear a voice I mean about damn time like
Expressing relief and impatience for someone to finally acknowledge and give an opportunity

Hi is this Mr. Good?
Confirmation of identity

Yes
Affirmative response

Thanks for holding, so sorry to say the positions been filled
Apologizing for informing that the desired job position has already been taken

You lack a degree and appropriate skills
Reason given for not meeting the required qualifications for the position

There’s always sales though if business fails so
Suggesting an alternative career option in case of failure

All the best, wish you well!
Expressing good wishes and positive regards for the future

Brand new flows got a ton of those
Boasting about having a plethora of original and unique musical styles

Can′t wait to see how the summer goes
Anticipating and excited to witness the upcoming summer and its experiences

Just like I'm Regis I run the show
Comparing oneself to a famous television host, indicating that they are in control and in charge

Refusing to stop like a bloody nose
Persisting and refusing to give up, drawing a comparison to a nosebleed that is hard to stop

Never let a critic ever get the best of me
Not allowing criticisms to have a negative impact or overpower one's determination

McCartney Lennon I just gotta let it be
Referencing famous musicians to convey the importance of letting things be and not getting caught up in criticism

Diplomatic like I run the embassy
Handling situations tactfully and diplomatically, as if managing a country's diplomatic affairs

I′m saucin' on you man I got the recipe
Confidently asserting that one is superior and has the key to success

Mama feelin' proud, Imma play it loud
Making one's mother proud and expressing oneself without holding back

Only going in never bowing out, flow is real
Continuously moving forward and never giving up, while staying true to one's style and artistic expression

Fuckin′ up the beat
Showing mastery and uniqueness in creating music that deviates from the norm

Aimin′ for the clouds, Jordan's on my feet
Setting high aspirations and goals, symbolized by wearing a famous brand of shoes associated with success

Cinderella story in it for the glory, story far from finished
Being determined to achieve success against all odds and recognizing that the journey is still ongoing

Shining for a minute, I can never settle got a bigger purpose
Experiencing temporary success and recognition but refusing to become complacent, as there is a greater mission to fulfill

Pour out my heart in every single verse
Expressing genuine emotions and personal experiences through every line of the song

Hot damn, baby tell ′em who I am
Expressing excitement and confidence, urging someone to inform others about one's identity and talent

Don't lie, don't lie
Stressing the importance of honesty and authenticity

Let me see your right hand
Requesting to see someone's gesture of support or agreement

Oh my, Don′t cry
Encouraging someone not to be upset or discouraged

Keep your head, keep your head held high
Advising to maintain a positive and determined attitude

Writer(s): Nathanael Good

Contributed by Grayson I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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