Same Love is a song by the American hip-hop duo Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and part of the their 2012 album The Heist. The song talks about love, homosexuality and acceptance, and was recorded during the Washington Referendum 74 campaign, which upon approval came to legalize same-sex marriage in the state of Washington.
The song reached the 1st place in Australia and New Zealand, and was placed in 11th on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Additionally, in was nominated for Song of the Year at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.
In an interview, Macklemore stated that Same Love was originated from his discontent regarding the too common existing homophobia and misogyny in hip-hop. According to him: “Those are the two acceptable means of oppression in hip-hop culture […] It’s 2012. There needs to be some accountability. I think that as a society we’re evolving and I think that hip-hop has always been a representation of what’s going on in the world right now.”
The lyrics tackle various issues faced by homosexual individuals. For instance, it criticizes the pervasive conservatism that stigmatises homosexuality and that sees it as a ‘decision’ as something that can be cured and treated - “For those that liked the same sex/Had the characteristics/The right wing conservatives think it’s a decision/And you can be cured with some treatment and religion/Man made rewiring of a predisposition”. Furthermore, it mentions the feelings of despair that homosexual individuals, including children, endure as a consequence of the public judgment and bullying they suffer due to their sexual orientation - “When kids are walking ‘round the hallway plagued by pain in their heart/A world so hateful some would rather die than be who they are”.
Notwithstanding its success, Same Love triggered some controversy. As an example, an arts teacher, in Michigan, was suspended after playing the song in class due to its lyrics about homosexuality. This incident just reinforced the need for more songs like this one. Same-sex marriage has recently been legalized throughout the all country but legislation by itself is not enough to change mentalities and end discrimination. The fight for equality has to be resonant and fearless and has to make use of all means possible, including music. Same Love is must listen whether you are a fan of hip-hop or not, and definitely a great attempt to promote gay rights through music.
Lyrics:
When I was in the 3rd grade
I thought that I was gay
Cause I could draw, my uncle was
And I kept my room straight
I told my mom, tears rushing down my face
She’s like, “Ben, you’ve loved girls since before Pre-K!”
Tripping, yeah, I guess she had a point, didn’t she?
A bunch of stereotypes all in my head
I remember doing the math, like
“Yeah, I’m good at little league”
A pre-conceived idea of what it all meant
For those that like the same sex had the characteristics
The right-wing conservatives think it’s a decision
And you can be cured with some treatment and religion
Man-made, rewiring of a pre-disposition, playing God
Ahh, nah, here we go
America the brave still fears what we don’t know
And “God loves all his children” is somehow forgotten
But we paraphrase a book written thirty-five hundred years ago
I don’t know
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
If I was gay I would think hip-hop hates me
Have you read the YouTube comments lately?
“Man, that’s gay” gets dropped on the daily
We’ve become so numb to what we’re saying
Our culture founded from oppression
Yet we don’t have acceptance for ’em
Call each other faggots
Behind the keys of a message board
A word rooted in hate
Yet our genre still ignores it
“Gay” is synonymous with the lesser
It’s the same hate that’s caused wars from religion
Gender to skin color, the complexion of your pigment
The same fight that led people to walk-outs and sit-ins
It’s human rights for everybody, there is no difference
Live on! And be yourself!
When I was in church they taught me something else
If you preach hate at the service, those words aren’t anointed
That Holy Water that you soak in has been poisoned
When everyone else is more comfortable remaining voiceless
Rather than fighting for humans that have had their rights stolen
I might not be the same but that’s not important
No freedom til we’re equal
Damn right I support it
I don’t know
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
We press play, don’t press pause
Progress, march on!
With a veil over our eyes, we turn our back on the cause
‘Til the day that my uncles can be united by law
Kids are walking around the hallway
Plagued by pain in their heart
A world so hateful
Some would rather die
Than be who they are
And a certificate on paper
Isn’t gonna solve it all
But it’s a damn good place to start
No law’s gonna change us
We have to change us
Whatever god you believe in
We come from the same one
Strip away the fear, underneath, it’s all the same love
About time that we raised up!
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
And I can’t change
Even if I tried
Even if I wanted to
My love, my love, my love
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
She keeps me warm
Love is patient, love is kind
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
Love is patient (not crying on Sundays)
Love is kind (not crying on Sundays)
