Eminem

Lyrics

[Intro]
Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?
Yo

[Verse 1]
His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy
There's vomit on his sweater already, mom's spaghetti
He's nervous, but on the surface, he looks calm and ready
To drop bombs, but he keeps on forgetting
What he wrote down, the whole crowd goes so loud
He opens his mouth, but the words won't come out
He's chokin', how? Everybody's jokin' now
The clock's run out, time's up, over, blaow
Snap back to reality, ope, there goes gravity
Ope, there goes Rabbit, he choked, he's so mad
But he won't give up that easy, no, he won't have it
He knows his whole back's to these ropes, it don't matter
He's dope, he knows that, but he's broke, he's so stagnant
He knows when he goes back to this mobile home, that's when it's
Back to the lab again, yo, this old rhapsody
Better go capture this moment and hope it don't pass him

[Chorus]
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better
[Verse 2]
His soul's escaping through this hole that is gaping
This world is mine for the taking, make me king
As we move toward a new world order
A normal life is boring, but superstardom's
Close to post-mortem, it only grows harder
Homie grows hotter, he blows, it's all over
These hoes is all on him, coast-to-coast shows
He's known as the Globetrotter, lonely roads
God only knows he's grown farther from home, he's no father
He goes home and barely knows his own daughter
But hold your nose 'cause here goes the cold water
These hoes don't want him no mo', he's cold product
They moved on to the next schmoe who flows
He nose-dove and sold nada, and so the soap opera
Is told, it unfolds, I suppose it's old, partner
But the beat goes on, da-da-dom, da-dom, dah-dah-dah-dah

[Chorus]
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better
[Verse 3]
No more games, I'ma change what you call rage
Tear this motherfuckin' roof off like two dogs caged
I was playin' in the beginning, the mood all changed
I've been chewed up and spit out and booed off stage
But I kept rhymin' and stepped right in the next cypher
Best believe somebody's payin' the Pied Piper
All the pain inside amplified by the
Fact that I can't get by with my nine-to-
Five and I can't provide the right type of life for my family
'Cause, man, these goddamn food stamps don't buy diapers
And there's no movie, there's no Mekhi Phifer, this is my life
And these times are so hard, and it's gettin' even harder
Tryna feed and water my seed, plus teeter-totter
Caught up between bein' a father and a prima donna
Baby-mama drama, screamin' on her, too much for me to wanna
Stay in one spot, another day of monotony's gotten me
To the point I'm like a snail, I've got
To formulate a plot or end up in jail or shot
Success is my only motherfuckin' option, failure's not
Mom, I love you, but this trailer's got
To go, I cannot grow old in Salem's Lot
So here I go, it's my shot; feet, fail me not
This may be the only opportunity that I got

[Chorus]
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (Go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better
[Outro]
You can do anything you set your mind to, man

When we think of Eminem, one of the first songs that comes to mind is "Lose Yourself". Released in 2002, this epic track is not only an achievement in music history, but it is also a reflection of Eminem's personal story. The song is a part of the soundtrack for the movie 8 Mile, which was inspired by the rapper's life. The song has become one of Eminem's most iconic and successful tracks, and it still remains relevant and popular to this day.

About Lose Yourself

The opening line of "Lose Yourself" sets the tone for the entire song: "Look, if you had one shot or one opportunity to seize everything you ever wanted in one moment, would you capture it or just let it slip?" This line not only grabs the listener's attention but it also sets the stage for Eminem's introspective lyrics. The song is about seizing opportunities and taking chances in life, even when the odds are against you.

One of the interesting things about "Lose Yourself" is the fact that Eminem wrote the song during breaks while filming 8 Mile. In his autobiography, The Way I Am, he stated that he wrote the song in-between takes and while taking care of his children. The song's lyrics can be seen scrawled on A4 writing pad pages featured in his book.

When it comes to the production of the song, it is worth mentioning that Eminem was able to record all three verses in one take, according to engineer Steven King in an interview with Rolling Stone. However, Eminem has since shed doubt on this notion. The song's beat is a simple but powerful combination of rapid guitar strums, a heavy bass drum, and a single piano note looped throughout. The beat of the song, combined with Eminem's rapid-fire lyrics, creates a sense of urgency and intensity that is palpable throughout the track.

Commercially, "Lose Yourself" was a massive success, reaching number one in 20 countries, including the United States. It was Eminem's first US number one, and it held the top position for 12 weeks, becoming the third-longest chart-topper from a movie soundtrack. As of 2022, it is 13x Multi-Platinum in the US. The song won two Grammys (Best Male Rap Solo Performance & Best Rap Song) and became the first rap song to win the Oscar for Best Original Song. Interestingly, Eminem did not attend the ceremony as he did not think he would win, so he did not perform the track.

"Lose Yourself" is not only a commercial and critical success, but it has also had a significant cultural impact. The song has been used in various commercials, including Apple's advertisements for iTunes and the iPod. The iconic instrumental and Eminem's verse was also used for Chrysler's 2011 Super Bowl commercial. In 2021, Eminem opened up a restaurant in Detroit called "Mom's Spaghetti," which is a lyric that has been extensively meme'd online, even having its fan-made song.

The Verdict

Lose Yourself remains one of Eminem's most successful and influential tracks of all time. It is a perfect example of how a song can tell a story, reflect the artist's life, and have a significant impact on popular culture. It is a timeless track that people still listen to and appreciate today.

If you haven't listened to "Lose Yourself" yet, make sure you add it to your playlist. It is an anthem of hope, perseverance, and chasing dreams, and it reminds us all that we have the power to succeed if we put our minds to it.

• Release Date: October 28, 2002
• Artist: Eminem