Can't Hold Us – English Lyrics
Lyrics & Translation
Explore the themes of perseverance and triumph in Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' hit song, “Can't Hold Us.” Learn about the meaning behind the lyrics, the creative process, and the song's impact on listeners around the world. Discover how this song inspires individuals to overcome challenges and reach for their dreams.
[English]
[Music][Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
hey
[Music]
[Music]
all right okay
all right
[Music]
what it is what it does what it is what
is it looking for a better way to get up
out of bed instead of getting on the
internet and checking the new hippie get
up this shot come straight walking a
little bit of humble a little bit of
cautious somewhere between like rocky
and cosby's for the game nope y'all
[Music]
light go and shine on down got that bob
barker soup game and plinko in my style
money stay on my craft and stick around
for those pounds but i do that to pass
the twitch and put on for my tail trust
me
[Music]
[Music]
we give that to the people spread it
across the country labels out here now
they can't tell me nothing we give it to
the people spread it across the country
can we go back this is the moment
tonight is the night we'll fight till
it's over so we put our hands up like
the ceiling can't hold us
like the ceiling can't hold up can we go
back this is the moment tonight is
[Music]
but that's what you get when wu tang
raised you y'all can't stop me go hard
like i gotta it went in my heartbeat and
i'm eating at the beat like it gave a
little speed to a great white shark on
shark week raw tryna go up a girl says
goodbye i got a world to see my girl she
wanna see rome sees her make
this is our party we came here to live
life like nobody was watching i got my
[Music]
like the ceiling can't hold us
like the ceiling can hold us
[Music]
[Applause]
oh
[Music]
that's right
ain't what my people say
[Music]
[Applause]
[Music]
the fears
[Music]
exist
[Music]
[Applause]
oh
[Music]
you
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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run /rʌn/ A1 |
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fight /faɪt/ A2 |
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hold /hoʊld/ A1 |
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go /ɡoʊ/ A1 |
|
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spread /sprɛd/ B1 |
|
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raise /reɪz/ B1 |
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shine /ʃaɪn/ B1 |
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trust /trʌst/ B1 |
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watch /wɑːtʃ/ A1 |
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light /laɪt/ A1 |
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people /ˈpiːpl/ A1 |
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heartbeat /ˈhɑːrtbiːt/ B2 |
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world /wɜːrld/ A1 |
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moment /ˈmoʊmənt/ A2 |
|
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ceiling /ˈsiːlɪŋ/ B1 |
|
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Key Grammar Structures
-
what it is what it does what it is what
➔ Repetition for emphasis
➔ The repetition of "what it is" emphasizes the speaker's questioning and searching for meaning or purpose.
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looking for a better way to get up out of bed instead of getting on the internet
➔ Gerunds (looking, getting) and prepositional phrases (out of bed, on the internet)
➔ "Looking" and "getting" function as nouns showing the action that's being considered. Prepositional phrases provide context and location. "Instead of" introduces an alternative action.
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labels out here now they can't tell me nothing
➔ Double negative (can't tell me nothing)
➔ While grammatically incorrect in formal English, the double negative is used for emphasis in informal speech and adds to the colloquial feel. It's meant to strongly convey that labels have no influence.
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we put our hands up like the ceiling can't hold us
➔ Simile (like the ceiling can't hold us)
➔ Uses "like" to compare the feeling of freedom and limitlessness to a ceiling being unable to contain their energy. Illustrates a feeling of unbounded energy and success.
-
Wu Tang raised you y'all can't stop me
➔ Informal language ("y'all"), declarative sentence with a strong assertion
➔ "Y'all" is a contraction of "you all," common in Southern American English. The sentence expresses confidence and defiance.
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go hard like i gotta it
➔ Informal phrasing, Simile ("like I gotta it")
➔ "Gotta" is a colloquial contraction of "got to." The simile emphasizes the necessity and intensity of his effort.
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eating at the beat like it gave a little speed to a great white shark on shark week
➔ Simile (eating at the beat like it gave speed...)
➔ This simile compares the intense rhythm and energy of rapping to a great white shark on Shark Week being given a boost of speed, highlighting its powerful and aggressive nature.
