“Hand Me Downs” is “more about genes rather than actual jeans”, and about the “shame” people may feel about where they come from, or what their background is, whether that be their family, or where they grew up.
However, the song focuses on how to move past that, and even embrace some of these “sha...
[Verse 1]
You went through five schools, before you were 17
I can only guess what those brown eyes have seen
If we're just a blank slate mixed with a little bit of DNA
And those weekend visits when he'd show up late
When I feel helpless, I see you smiling back at me
Like every little thing is gonna be okay
Ya you're a tough kid, way tougher than me
I'll put a bet on you any day
[Chorus]
Oooh, when your head gets dizzy and you can't get right
Oooh, but ya push on through, don't be denied
Shake off those ghosts in every corner of this town
From the clothes on your back, to the colour of your eyes
Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
[Verse 2]
No, It never made sense, but it's the only thing that you know
That resentment; well it comes and goes
In your daddy's defence, he never really stood a change
You should see where he came from
And how his brothers ended up
We get all stuck, but babe
[Verse 3]
You've been acting reckless, to deal with the pain
I just hope you don't get carried away
You wear this necklace, from graduation day
You said "I'll wear this chain, cause I'm breaking it
Yeah, I'll wear this chain, cause I'm breaking it"
[Chorus]
Oooh, when your head gets dizzy and you can't get right
Oooh, but ya push on through, don't be denied
Shake off those ghosts in every corner of this town
From the clothes on your back, to the colour of your eyes
Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
[Bridge]
First of the month, gets you stressed out
And moving trucks, bring you right back
Deep in the cut, there's a voice that's calling out, saying:
"It's out of reach but I gotta keep chasing
It's out of reach but I gotta keep chasing
It's out of reach but I gotta keep chasing
It's out of reach but I gotta keep chasing"
[Chorus]
Oooh, when your head gets dizzy and you can't get right
Oooh, but ya push on through, don't be denied
Shake off those ghosts in every corner of this town
From the clothes on your back, to the colour of your eyes
From the clothes on your back, to the colour of your eyes
From the clothes on your back, to the colour of your eyes
Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Ooh, Ain't no shame in some hand me downs
Hand Me Downs was written by Arkells.
Hand Me Downs was produced by Eric Ratz.
Arkells released Hand Me Downs on Fri Oct 19 2018.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Arkells released the cords to numerous of their songs in what they called the “Flatten The Curve: Music Class” where fans were encouraged to learn their music and join in a live stream found on their Instagram daily. The official cords can be found here: