Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I spent my time, watching
The spaces that have grown between us
And I cut my mind on second best
Oh, the scars that come with the greenness
And I gave my eyes to the boredom
Still, the seabed wouldn't let me in
And I try my best to embrace the darkness
In which I swim
Now walking back, down this mountain
The strength of a turnin' tide
Oh the wind so soft, and my skin
Yeah, the sun so hot upon my side
Oh, lookin' out at this happiness
I searched for between the sheets
Oh feelin' blind, I realize
All I was searchin' for, was me
Oh-oh-oh, all I was searchin' for was me
Oh yeah
Keep your head up, keep your heart strong
No, no, no, no, keep your mindset, keep your hair long
Oh my, my darlin', keep your head up, keep your heart strong
Na, oh, no, no, keep your mind set in your ways
Keep your heart strong
And I saw a friend of mine the other day
And he told me that my eyes were gleamin'
Oh, I said I'd been away, and he knew
Oh, he knew the depths I was meanin'
And it felt so good to see his face
All the comfort invested in my soul
Oh, to feel the warmth of his smile
When he said, "I'm happy to have you home"
Oh-oh-oh, I'm happy to have you home
Oh yeah
Keep your head up, keep your heart strong (keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
No, no, no, no, keep your mindset, keep your hair long (keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
Oh my, my darlin', keep your head up, keep your heart strong
No, no, no, no, keep your mind set in your ways
Well keep your heart strong
'Cause I'll always remember you the same
Oh, eyes like wildflowers, oh with your demons of change
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) may you find happiness here
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
May all your hopes all turn out right
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) no, no, no, no
(Keep your mindset, keep your hair long)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) Oh my, my darlin'
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(No, no, no, no, keep your mindset in your ways)
(Keep your heart strong)
'Cause I'll always remember you the same
Oh, eyes like wildflowers, oh with your demons of change
The spaces that have grown between us
And I cut my mind on second best
Oh, the scars that come with the greenness
And I gave my eyes to the boredom
Still, the seabed wouldn't let me in
And I try my best to embrace the darkness
In which I swim
Now walking back, down this mountain
The strength of a turnin' tide
Oh the wind so soft, and my skin
Yeah, the sun so hot upon my side
Oh, lookin' out at this happiness
I searched for between the sheets
Oh feelin' blind, I realize
All I was searchin' for, was me
Oh-oh-oh, all I was searchin' for was me
Oh yeah
Keep your head up, keep your heart strong
No, no, no, no, keep your mindset, keep your hair long
Oh my, my darlin', keep your head up, keep your heart strong
Na, oh, no, no, keep your mind set in your ways
Keep your heart strong
And I saw a friend of mine the other day
And he told me that my eyes were gleamin'
Oh, I said I'd been away, and he knew
Oh, he knew the depths I was meanin'
And it felt so good to see his face
All the comfort invested in my soul
Oh, to feel the warmth of his smile
When he said, "I'm happy to have you home"
Oh-oh-oh, I'm happy to have you home
Oh yeah
Keep your head up, keep your heart strong (keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
No, no, no, no, keep your mindset, keep your hair long (keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
Oh my, my darlin', keep your head up, keep your heart strong
No, no, no, no, keep your mind set in your ways
Well keep your heart strong
'Cause I'll always remember you the same
Oh, eyes like wildflowers, oh with your demons of change
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) may you find happiness here
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
May all your hopes all turn out right
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) no, no, no, no
(Keep your mindset, keep your hair long)
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong) Oh my, my darlin'
(Keep your head up, keep your heart strong)
(No, no, no, no, keep your mindset in your ways)
(Keep your heart strong)
'Cause I'll always remember you the same
Oh, eyes like wildflowers, oh with your demons of change
Lyrics submitted by DefeningSilence, edited by M4TTY
Keep Your Head Up Lyrics as written by Benjamin John Howard
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Verse2 "Now walking back, down this mountain, The strength of a turnin' tide." He feels as tho his life is being pushed along/down by somthing as relentless as the tide. 'BACK down'.. this seems as though he's retracing his steps to find and mend where it went wrong or collapsed. Maybe that somthing pushing him along is his emotions? "Oh the wind so soft, and my skin, Yeah the sun so hot upon my side." 2 things here.. the first that he's beginning to recover in that he can see the good again or maybe the second being that his raw emotions are whats causing this sensitivity. "Oh lookin' out at this happiness I searched for between the sheets," -Reminiscing his relationship's happiness.. or other people's happiness or his ex's current happiness. 'The sheets' Symbolising their love/making love Or his bedridden sadness but this was in vain.. "Oh feelin' blind, I realize, All I was searchin' for, was me. Oh oh-oh, all I was searchin' for was me." Blinded by his clouded judgment due to his depression. The turning point of the song: "All I was searchin' for, was me." In actual fact, his mind so set on searching for his other half to complete him again, that he fails to realise this isnt the case. Alll he really requires it to find himself, again.
:)