Hands Up
Soltero Lyrics


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Everybody knows
So everyone says
It's built on your bones
It's stacked on your stones
And everybody tries
To mean it for real
Like who do you trust
What do you steal
And how many foreigners can i really feel
You put away all your poems
And you buried the box
The day that you were rejected
From the school of hard knocks
And i took a permanent marker
To my deepest desires
Took a look inside and i cut
All of the wires
Hands up we got back to the questions
Gave up on a better direction
Hands up we go back to the scene
I often wonder what the answers mean
There's a place in the sky
Where the canadians go
They got a password that i
I don't think i'll ever know
So we keep a place in the corner
Where we can stay for a while
Just keep your hands in your lap
Don't give a smile don't give a smile
Hands up we go back to the questions
Gave up on a better direction
Hands up no it never ends
Would you go country before all your friends
Hands up we go back to the questions
Gave up on another election




Hands up with your heart on your sleeve
Oh life before death - yeah oh yeah, i believe.

Overall Meaning

In "Hands Up," Soltero delves into themes of identity, trust, and self-rejection. The first verse reflects on the fact that life is built upon one's own experiences, choices, and values. The line "It's built on your bones/It's stacked on your stones" alludes to the fact that one's life is a culmination of their own being. The second verse seems to address the struggle to find meaning and authenticity in life. The lines "And how many foreigners can I really feel" suggest a yearning for connection and understanding beyond one's immediate culture or environment, and the lines "You put away all your poems/And you buried the box/The day that you were rejected/From the school of hard knocks" hint at a loss of creative expression when faced with rejection and hardship.


The chorus of the song finds the singer and the listener returning to the "questions" of life, perhaps embracing uncertainty and doubt as a mode of navigating the world. The line "I often wonder what the answers mean" reinforces the idea that perhaps there is no clear answer, but the act of questioning can bring one closer to understanding themselves and the world around them.


Overall, "Hands Up" invites reflection and introspection, encouraging the listener to examine their own experiences and beliefs. It acknowledges the challenges of navigating life and finding one's place in the world.


Line by Line Meaning

Everybody knows
It is a common knowledge


So everyone says
And everyone talks about it


It's built on your bones
The foundation of this thing is formed by your experience & effort


It's stacked on your stones
On top of your foundation, progress is built slowly and gradually


And everybody tries
Everyone makes an attempt


To mean it for real
To make their attempt count


Like who do you trust
Choosing trustworthy people is a critical aspect of success


What do you steal
Corrupt means can never prosper


And how many foreigners can i really feel
Can one empathize with people from foreign cultures?


You put away all your poems
You hide away your creativity and passion


And you buried the box
You went out of your way not to show it to anyone


The day that you were rejected
Due to an unpleasant experience


From the school of hard knocks
From a harsh, but valuable lesson


And i took a permanent marker
I took an important step


To my deepest desires
Towards my true aspirations


Took a look inside and i cut
I took a close look and made changes


All of the wires
To remove the clutter and focus on fundamentals


Hands up we got back to the questions
Let's revisit our challenges for resolution


Gave up on a better direction
Admitting to losing sight of where to go forward


Hands up we go back to the scene
Let's revisit what went wrong


I often wonder what the answers mean
I constantly ponder about the elusive solutions


There's a place in the sky
Mythical places where idealistic solutions exist


Where the canadians go
Where only the enlightened find their way


They got a password that i
Secrets that lay behind the veil


I don't think i'll ever know
There is a high possibility I may never unlock this secret


So we keep a place in the corner
We keep hope alive where there is none


Where we can stay for a while
Hold on to our beliefs for a time


Just keep your hands in your lap
Don't get your hopes high


Don't give a smile don't give a smile
Do not put up a facade


Hands up no it never ends
Hands up again, the struggle continues


Would you go country before all your friends
Willingness to stand alone if necessary


Hands up we go back to the questions
Let's ask again, let's find answers


Gave up on another election
Accepting defeat, but still hopeful


Hands up with your heart on your sleeve
Hands up, and a candid act of sincere gesture


Oh life before death - yeah oh yeah, i believe.
Hopeful ideology is the outlook




Contributed by Ruby Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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