Facing Up
The Wrong Side Lyrics
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it's all ups and downs trying to reach the top
you think you know what my life's about
but i'm not being negative i'm just facing up.
there's more downs than ups, you have to realize
i don't have a plan i just try to live my life
it's hard to get by with people knocking you downsometimes you just gotta wear that frown
it's not being negative when it's the truth
no one has a plan, no one's looking out for you
i'm not saying give up, that's just how it is
but it's not my job to make the bad positive.
you rise and you fall,
and then you fall some more
pick yourself back up, go back for more
i learned it from life
didn't learn it from you
just because i don't show it doesn't mean that i'm through
you'll never know what my life's about
cause when i'm down you think i'm out
In “Facing Up” by The Wrong Side, the artist emphasizes the struggles that come with trying to reach the top. The first verse conveys the idea that the artist isn’t new to criticism or setbacks, but the resilience to keep trying is what keeps them going. The second verse is challenging the idea that life is a linear progression. There are more downs than ups, so it’s not always easy to get by when people actively try to knock you down. The artist cautions against taking an overly positive approach as a coping mechanism, as sometimes it’s necessary to accept that life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. In the third verse, the artist acknowledges that life is about both rising and falling, but it's important to keep going back for more. The artist shares that they've learned from their experiences in life, not from other people's opinions or perceptions. The final lines indicate that just because the artist is down doesn't mean they're out, and no one knows what their life is truly about.
Overall, the song is about resilience in the face of adversity. The artist acknowledges that life is tough, but it's important to keep trying despite the setbacks. They reject the notion that being negative is always a bad thing and instead choose to face reality head-on. The song stresses that life doesn't always go according to plan, but that doesn't mean it's not worth living.
Line by Line Meaning
I've heard it before so take your best shot
I've been criticized before, so I can handle whatever you have to say.
it's all ups and downs trying to reach the top
Life is unpredictable, and success is not always guaranteed.
you think you know what my life's about
You assume you understand my struggles and experiences without bothering to ask about them.
but i'm not being negative i'm just facing up.
I'm being honest about the challenges I face and the reality of my situation, rather than hiding behind false positivity.
there's more downs than ups, you have to realize
Life is difficult and presents frequent hardships.
i don't have a plan i just try to live my life
I don't have all the answers and often have to make decisions on the fly.
it's hard to get by with people knocking you down
The criticism and negativity of others can make life challenging.
sometimes you just gotta wear that frown
It's okay to be upset and show emotion when things aren't going well.
it's not being negative when it's the truth
Acknowledging harsh realities isn't negativity - it's realism.
no one has a plan, no one's looking out for you
There's no formula for success, and it's up to you to take care of yourself.
i'm not saying give up, that's just how it is
I'm not advocating defeatism - I'm simply acknowledging the difficulty of life.
but it's not my job to make the bad positive.
I'm not here to sugarcoat the negatives or force positivity upon you - I'm just here to tell the truth.
you rise and you fall,
Life is characterized by both successes and failures.
and then you fall some more
The road to success is often bumpy and setback-filled.
pick yourself back up, go back for more
Resilience and perseverance are key to overcoming failure.
i learned it from life
I gained this perspective from firsthand experiences and setbacks.
didn't learn it from you
I didn't gain this insight from any specific person or source.
just because i don't show it doesn't mean that i'm through
Just because I don't outwardly appear to be struggling doesn't mean that I'm not still trying to overcome obstacles.
you'll never know what my life's about
Despite your assumptions, you can never truly understand everything about my life.
cause when i'm down you think i'm out
You assume that my struggles and setbacks mean that I'm defeated or have given up, but this is not the case.
Contributed by Grayson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.