“Hey Look Ma, I Made It” by Panic! At the Disco

The lyrics of “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” basically covers Brendon Urie’s success and failures in the music industry. The title is self-explanatory as it shows him finally proving to his mother that he has been successful despite the hardships.

Brendon begins by acknowledging that he has been struggling all his life but is about to celebrate his accomplishments. He compares his craft to a hooker who sells songs under a record label, which he likens to a pimp. The writer then exposes the evil side of the industry; where people only want to use you as a tool to make money for themselves.

However, he is unnerved. He goes on to express his hopes of becoming the greatest, and assures his mother that everything will turn out to be perfect.

No Trust for the Music Industry

The second verse particularly addresses the lack of trust in the music industry. He emphasizes how fame makes it harder to trust people because you cannot really differentiate between genuine friends and those who have an agenda to use you.

The video of this song gives a clearer understanding of what the singer wanted to put across. It begins with Brendon looking in the mirror as he changes into a real-life puppet. He says goodbye to his parents to pursue his music career. He reaches the big city, then signs a record deal and soon after rises to fame.

The puppet (Brendon), as a result of his up-and-coming career, is now exposed to behaviors that are typical of celebrities. Big parties with high-class female escorts, alcoholism, drugs and all the pleasures associated with it. It’s almost as if he cannot reject them because they’re given to him by the same man from the record company.

Enters Trouble

His new wild lifestyle soon lands him in a lot of scandal and trouble. However, he manages to bounce back again as he focuses on writing music. He wins back the adoration of his fans but just as he takes a bow after a performance, the record label manager grabs him and throws him off the stage along with many other puppets.

Significance of the Puppet

Brendon used the puppet to demonstrate the reality of the relationship between fresh artists and record labels. Most new artists sign with the first company that offers them a deal, only to end up being used as puppets. The record labels often have the strings of these artist-turned-puppets in their hands.

Conclusion

In conclusion, “Hey Look Ma, I Made It” is about striving for success in an environment where it’s easy to lose sight of the real journey. It mainly speaks about being careful with people, working hard and focusing on your passion, which will eventually lead you into true success.