Ten Thousand Hours by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Drive for Artistic Mastery
Lyrics
That the people decide to walk with him
Regardless of Pitchfork cosigns I’ve jumped
Make sure the soundman doesn’t cock block the drums
Let the snare knock the air right out of your lungs
And those words be the oxygen
Just breathe
Hey man, regardless I’ma say it
Felt like I got signed the day that I got an agent
Got an iTunes check, shit man I’m paying rent
About damn time that I got out of my basement
About damn time I got around the country and I hit these stages
I was made to slay them
Ten thousand hours I’m so damn close I can taste it
On some Malcolm Gladwell, David Bowie meets Kanye shit
This is dedication
A life lived for art is never a life wasted
Ten thousand
Ten thousand hours felt like ten thousand ants
Ten thousand ants, they carry me
Ten thousand hours felt like ten thousand ants
Ten thousand ants, they carry me
Now, now, now
This is my world, this is my arena
The TV told me something different I didn’t believe it
I stand here in front of you today all because of an idea
I could be who I wanted if I could see my potential
And I know that one day I’ma be him
Put the gloves on, sparring with my ego
Everyone’s greatest obstacle, I beat him, celebrate that achievement
Got some attachments, some baggage I’m actually working on leaving
See, I observed Escher, I love Basquiat
I watched Keith Harring, you see I study art
The greats weren’t great because at birth they could paint
The greats were great ’cause they paint a lot
I will not be a statistic, just let me be
No child left behind, that’s the American scheme
I make my living off of words
And do what I love for work
And got around 980 on my SATs
Take that system, what did you expect?
Generation of kids choosing love over a desk
Put those hours in and look at what you get
Nothing that you can hold, but everything that it is
Ten thousand
Ten thousand hours felt like ten thousand ants
Ten thousand ants, they carry me
Ten thousand hours felt like ten thousand ants
Ten thousand ants, they carry me
Same shit, different day, same struggle
Slow motion as time slips through my knuckles
Nothing beautiful about it, no light at the tunnel
For the people that put the passion before them being comfortable
Raw, unmedicated heart no substitute
Banging on table tops, no subs to toot
I’m feeling better than ever man, what is up with you?
Scraping my knuckles, I’m battling with some drug abuse
I lost another friend, got another call from a sister
And I speak for the people that share that struggle too
Like they got something bruised
My only rehabilitation was the sweat, tears and blood when up in the booth
It’s the part of the show where it all fades away
When the lights go to black and the band leaves the stage
And you wanted an encore but there’s no encore today
‘Cause the moment is now, can’t get it back from the grave
Part of the show it all fades away
Lights go to black band leaves the stage
You wanted an encore but there’s no encore today
‘Cause the moment is now, can’t get it back from the grave
Welcome to the Heist
Welcome to the Heist
Welcome to the Heist
Welcome to the Heist
Welcome to the Heist
Welcome to the Heist
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’s ‘Ten Thousand Hours’ is not just a song, it’s an anthem—a bold declaration of dedication to the craft of art and music. The title itself references Malcolm Gladwell’s notion that 10,000 hours of deliberate practice are what it takes to achieve mastery in a field. As listeners dive into the lyrics, they’re invited into a narrative that celebrates persistence, self-belief, and the relentless pursuit of one’s passion amidst a world of distractions and challenges.
Through a barrage of evocative lyrics, ‘Ten Thousand Hours’ emerges as not only a track that resonates with burgeoning artists and dreamers but also serves as Macklemore’s personal introspection on his creative journey. It’s a raw and candid exploration of the trials and tribulations that accompany a life devoted to art, with every word underscoring the rhythm of the rapper’s heartbeat.
The Beat of Dedication: An Artist’s Pulse
‘Ten Thousand Hours’ opens up with a pulse, Macklemore’s fervent request – ‘Let the snare knock the air right out of your lungs.’ It’s a call for pure, unadulterated expression and an insistence that the music, the art, comes first. This line is not just about volume and sound, it’s about feeling the impact of creativity so strongly that it becomes as crucial as the air we breathe.
Macklemore’s narrative reflects the life of someone who has sacrificed conventional paths for the uncertainty and freedom of an artist’s journey. The mention of iTunes checks and paying rent is more than mundane detail—it’s the reality of turning passion into a profession, a nod to all the creators stepping out of their basements and into the world.
Unlocking the Hidden Meanings: Art, Effort, and Identity
‘On some Malcolm Gladwell, David Bowie meets Kanye shit’ is a loaded lyric that encapsulates the song’s hidden meaning. Macklemore aligns himself with Gladwell’s theory of effort equating to excellence, while also invoking the creative spirits of Bowie and Kanye—artists who continuously pushed boundaries. This line is a celebration of the eclectic influences that inform Macklemore’s own artistry, and a manifesto for creative innovation.
But beneath the surface, the song speaks to the universal human potential and overcoming societal limitations. ‘No child left behind, that’s the American scheme,’ he provocatively notes, challenging the education system’s narrow metrics for success and instead, proposes an alternative paradigm where passion and dedication are the true markers of achievement.
Memorable Lines that Hit Home: The Gritty Reality of Artistic Pursuit
‘The greats weren’t great because at birth they could paint, the greats were great ’cause they paint a lot.’ This memorable line strips away the myth of inborn genius to emphasize hard work and persistence. It’s a powerful counter-narrative that chimes with every struggling artist’s journey—reiterating that greatness is not preordained but earned through ‘ten thousand hours’ of relentless practice.
In another poignant moment, Macklemore confesses ‘I lost another friend, got another call from a sister,’ acknowledging the personal sacrifices that often shadow the pursuit of one’s dreams. These lines capture the essence of the song—that the path to mastery is tumultuous and laden with loss, but equally a path worth treading.
Beyond the Encore: Embracing the Impermanent
‘You wanted an encore but there’s no encore today’ is a stark reminder of art’s transient nature, reflecting the fleeting moments of glory on stage. It’s a metaphor for life itself; Macklemore reinforces the idea that the present is all we have, and we must seize it voraciously. The gravitas of this message is compacted into a few lines, serving as a poignant reminder of the temporary nature of success, or any moment for that matter.
The conclusion, with its repeated ‘Welcome to the Heist,’ is an invitation—or perhaps a challenge—to embrace the chaotic, unpredictable nature of pursuing one’s dreams. It’s an acceptance that the journey of creation is a heist—a natured and audacious attempt to extract meaning and beauty from the confusion of existence.
A Requiem for Complacency: Challenging the Status Quo
Throughout ‘Ten Thousand Hours,’ there’s an unmistakable disdain for complacency. Every stanza echoes a defiant resistance against settling for comfort over passion. ‘Same shit, different day, same struggle,’ Macklemore drones, encapsulating the mundanity that he’s actively rejecting in favor of the strife toward excellence.
This song is less a blueprint and more a battle cry for the bold, the fearless, and the undeterred. It beckons listeners to question their choices—to choose the brush, the pen, the microphone over the ‘desk’ and to count the hours not as a measure of time, but as a testament to their enduring commitment to their craft.
