Anthem
Yngwie Malmsteen Lyrics
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Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
Wonders in the world they wrought.
Live for yourself
there's no one else
More worth living for
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will
Only cry out for more
Well, I know they've always told you
Selfishness was wrong
Yet it was for me, not you, I
Came to write this song
Yngwie Malmsteen's Anthem is a song about being true to oneself and not allowing oneself to be limited or put down by other people's expectations or judgments. The lyrics encourage the listener to be independent and self-reliant, to not rely on anyone else for their success or happiness. The first verse in particular makes this clear: "Know your place in life is where you want to be/Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me/Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round/Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down." Here, the singer is advising the listener to focus on their own goals and dreams, and not to allow others to dictate what they should or should not be striving for.
The chorus of the song then takes a turn toward the reflective and melancholy: "Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind/A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind/We marvel after those who sought/New wonders in the world they wrought." Here, the singer seems to be lamenting the loss of creativity and vision in the modern world, and perhaps even mourning the passing of great artists and thinkers who came before. However, the song ends on a more positive note, with the final verse urging the listener to live for themselves and not to be swayed by the emotional appeals of others: "Live for yourself/there's no one else/More worth living for/Begging hands and bleeding hearts will/Only cry out for more."
Line by Line Meaning
Know your place in life is where you want to be
Understand that you should be where you want to be in life, not where others dictate.
Don't let them tell you that you owe it all to me
Do not allow others to claim credit for your success.
Keep on looking forward; no use in looking 'round
Always focus on the future and do not dwell on the past.
Hold your head above the ground and they won't bring you down
Stay confident and resilient to prevent others from bringing you down.
Anthem of the heart and anthem of the mind
A song that speaks to both emotions and intellect.
A funeral dirge for eyes gone blind
A mournful song for those who cannot see the truth.
We marvel after those who sought
We admire those who aspire to greatness.
New wonders in the world, wonders in the world,
New and amazing achievements in the world.
Wonders in the world they wrought.
They created wonders in the world.
Live for yourself
Focus on yourself and your own happiness.
there's no one else
Others cannot provide true happiness.
More worth living for
Your own life is the most valuable thing to live for.
Begging hands and bleeding hearts will
Appeals and pity from others may come.
Only cry out for more
But they will never be enough to satisfy one's self.
Well, I know they've always told you
The common wisdom has been to condemn self-interest.
Selfishness was wrong
It has been considered morally incorrect to think of yourself first.
Yet it was for me, not you, I
This song was written for the sake of the author.
Came to write this song
The author wrote this song for himself.
Lyrics © ANTHEM ENTERTAINMENT LP, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DERUYTER, JANSSEN, SCHEFFERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind