Raised in Katonah, New York by a director and an actor/sculptor, Galvin was encouraged to explore the visual and performing arts in his youth, eventually focusing on both playing drums and dance. He was a contributing songwriter to Walk the Moon while in college, and went solo with Yellerkin in 2013.
Featuring bright, harmonic anthems and thudding drums, his first EP as Yoke Lore, Far Shore, was released in the spring of 2016 by B3SCI Records. Its songs were quickly licensed for series on MTV and Netflix. By then based in Brooklyn, where he also co-founded the dance troupe Boomerang, his song "Hold Me Down" garnered seven-figure streams before the end of the year.
In early 2017, he released the single "World Wings" shortly before making his SXSW festival debut and touring the U.S. in support of Overcoats. The song later appeared on his follow-up EP, Goodpain, which was released in June of that year.
Chin Up
Yoke Lore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The tragic day will bless you
You don't respect the past
You think the world's unsafe
You think that you gotta act
Like you're at peace with all of the facts
But I know that there's much more to you than that
I wish that you were happy in your skin
I wish that I could show you where the center is
But I believe the sleights are in your head
'Cause I will love you long after I'm dead
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
You're reeling and then he wrecks you
You're thrown out like the refuse
Bleach your hair, live in the sun
Make believe you're just like everyone
A little man with a big gun
A little man with a big gun
I wish that you were happy in your skin
I wish that I could show you where the center is
But I believe the sleights are in your head
'Cause I will love you long after I'm dead
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
The lyrics of Yoke Lore's song "Chin Up" explore the struggles of someone who is weighed down by their emotions and traumas from the past. The opening lines convey the idea that the person's feelings are controlling them, as if they have been "arrested" by them. The second line suggests that perhaps this tragic state of mind is something that the person has unwittingly welcomed, as if it is a "blessing" of some kind. The lines that follow express the idea that the person is not able to move beyond their past, and they view the world as being a dangerous place.
The next set of lyrics portrays the person as feeling like they have to keep up appearances, as if they are pretending to be at peace with themselves and their circumstances. The singer, however, sees beyond this act and recognizes that the person is much more complex than they let on. The chorus provides reassurance that despite everything, the person should keep their "chin up." The following verses suggest that the person has been mistreated by others, and this has damaged their self-esteem. The lines "Bleach your hair, live in the sun/Make believe you're just like everyone/A little man with a big gun" speak to the idea that the person is trying to change themselves in order to fit in, but they are still feeling small and insignificant.
Overall, "Chin Up" is a song that encourages the listener to persevere through difficult times, and it offers the hope that things will get better. The lyrics are full of empathy and compassion for someone who is struggling to find their way in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Your feelings, they arrest you
Your emotions are holding you back
The tragic day will bless you
The hardships in your life will eventually benefit you
You don't respect the past
You don't acknowledge the significance of the past
You think the world's unsafe
You believe the world is a dangerous place
You think that you gotta act
You believe that you need to put on a front
Like you're at peace with all of the facts
Like you have accepted the truth of the situation
But I know that there's much more to you than that
But I know that there are deeper, more complex parts to you
And I know that there's much more to you than that
And I know that there are deeper, more complex parts to you
I wish that you were happy in your skin
I wish you were content with who you are
I wish that I could show you where the center is
I wish I could guide you to a greater understanding of yourself
But I believe the sleights are in your head
But I think your negative thinking is holding you back
'Cause I will love you long after I'm dead
Because my love for you is eternal
You're reeling and then he wrecks you
You're knocked down, and then someone else takes you down further
You're thrown out like the refuse
You're treated like garbage and tossed aside
Bleach your hair, live in the sun
Change your appearance and pretend to live a carefree life
Make believe you're just like everyone
Pretend to be like others to fit in
A little man with a big gun
Someone who tries to assert dominance with little power
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Stay positive and don't lose hope
Writer(s): Ariel Loh, Adrian Galvin
Contributed by Jayce G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ekin8209
Your feelings, they arrest you
The tragic day will bless you
You don't respect the past
You think the world's unsafe
You think that you gotta act
Like you're at peace with all of the facts
But I know that there's much more to you than that
And I know that there's much more to you than that
I wish that you were happy in your skin
I wish that I could show you where the center is
But I believe the sleights are in your head
'Cause I will love you long after I'm dead
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
You're reeling and then he wrecks you
You're thrown out like the refuse
Bleach your hair, live in the sun
Make believe you're just like everyone
A little man with a big gun
A little man with a big gun
I wish that you were happy in your skin
I wish that I could show you where the center is
But I believe the sleights are in your head
'Cause I will love you long after I'm dead
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Chin up, chin up, chin up
Such a beautiful, meaningful song... I'm so glad I found this. Thank you, please keep making music. 💕
@megladorians37
Use this as the "here before he becomes super famous" button
@mistykempton763
YUP.
@tannersundwall12
Dude keep it up. I really hope that you one day get the recognition you deserve
@madisonhamil4068
was lucky enough to hear this live two nights ago and this brought me to tears, the most beautiful words and melodies. your music is magic
@mariecamino5345
same! beautiful.
@alexasheeran1962
Wow! Really lucky! Wish you even more!
@_sob_
My interpretation definitely doesn’t work with the music video (even tho it is a GORGEOUS video), but my grandma recently passed away this year, leaving me with very few family members left, and i’m absolutely distraught about it. This song is the one I happy smile to when I hear and think about all of our happy memories, and all the struggles she helped me overcome. “I wish you were happy in your skin” definitely hits hard. Beautiful work, I know you’ll be big one day. “Beige” is the first song I heard from you and it’s another one i’m absolutely obsessed with
@analuizasussmann7287
This is a piece of art
@Alexdoh
4 years on and I'm still coming back because of how deeply entrenched your music has become in my life.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the amazing music you produce and allow me to express emotion I can't normally.
@tessa2461
obsessed with this song! found it on spotify two nights ago!!