The song is a satirical look at the commercialism of both Hollywood and the music business,
Macklemore makes a terrific point: $50 for a T-shirt is a swindle. This is particularly true when equally good shirts at the thrift shop can be had for $0.99. Although the song came out in 2012, Macklemore says that he began writing it in 2008 when he was 25 years old. He says that he’d been a thrift shopper his whole life and that he enjoyed the creativity it nurtured in him. Macklemore sasy, too, that it’s a joy to figure out an outfit that no one else could put together and to do so with just, as the song’s famous tagline says, “… $20 in my pocket.” As many many popular songs that become megahits, “Thrift Shop” was “just a fun song” to Macklemore and Ryan, his DJ partner. They didn’t think it would amount to much and released it “just for fun.” What happened next is now, 10 years on, old news.
Wanz’s Contribution
Michael Wansley, better known as “Wanz,” joined the duo to record the song’s instantly recognizable hook. Wanz says that he never looked or sounded so good on video as he did in “Thrift Shop.” Perhaps, it was his contribution that caused the song’s meteoric rise. More likely, however, it was a combination of the talent of all three men and Macklemore’s 2008 vision for the song. Wanz also says that he almost didn’t join the group or go on tour with Macklemore and Ryan. His “day job” was as a stockbroker, and if he went on the tour, then he’d have to give up the steady, good paycheck. He agonized over the decision until he flashed back to being a boy who listened to concerts on AM radio. It was then that he decided to leave the day job, telling his boss that he didn’t think that he would ever get another chance at such an opportunity. The rest, as they say, is history, and as Wanz says, “I’ve got the statues to prove it,” indicating the Grammy awards the song enabled the three men to earn.
Chart Performance
“Thrift Shop” didn’t just hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was No. 1 for the entire year of 2013. It was No. 1 for four weeks during the entire month of February. Then, it was No. 1 again for two weeks in April. In the United States, the song also achieved No. 1 status on the hip hop chart, the indie chart, and the mainstream Top 40. Around the world, it was No. 1 in 18 countries.
Other Media
The song hasn’t featured in many television programs or movies, which actually fits with the song’s themes that include sending up product placement in modern music videos. Perhaps the song’s most biting commentary is the shot of a vintage DeLorean sports car, which has come to symbolize the boondoggles of modern capitalism.
Lyrics
[Intro]
Hey, Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping?
What-what, what, what?
What-what, what, what?
What-what, what, what?
What-what, what, what? (Da)
What-what, what, what? (Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da)
What-what, what, what? (Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da)
What-what, what, what? (Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da)
What-what, what, what? (Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da)
Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da
Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da
Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da
Da-dum, ba-dum, ba-da-do-da
[Chorus: Wanz & Macklemore]
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is fucking awesome (Now)
[Verse 1: Macklemore]
Walk into the club like, “What up? I got a big cock”
Nah, I’m just pumped, I bought some shit from a thrift shop
Ice on the fringe is so damn frosty
The people like, “Damn, that’s a cold-ass honkey”
Rollin’ in hella deep, headed to the mezzanine
Dressed in all pink ‘cept my gator shoes, those are green
Draped in a leopard mink, girl standin’ next to me
Probably should’ve washed this, smells like R. Kelly sheets
Piss
But shit, it was ninety-nine cents (Bag it)
Coppin’ it, washin’ it, ’bout to go and get some compliments
Passin’ up on those moccasins someone else has been walkin’ in
Bummy and grungy, fuck it, man, I am stunting and flossin’
And saving my money and I’m hella happy, that’s a bargain, bitch
I’ma take your grandpa’s style, I’ma take your grandpa’s style
No, for real, ask your grandpa, can I have his hand-me-downs? (Thank you)
Velour jumpsuit and some house slippers
Dookie-brown leather jacket that I found diggin’
They had a broken keyboard, I bought a broken keyboard
I bought a skeet blanket, then I bought a knee board
Hello, hello, my ace man, my mellow
John Wayne ain’t got nothing on my fringe game, hell no
I could take some Pro Wings, make ’em cool, sell those
The sneaker heads would be like, “Ah, he got the Velcros”
[Chorus: Wanz]
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is fucking awesome
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is fucking awesome
[Verse 2: Macklemore]
What you know about rockin’ a wolf on your noggin?
What you knowin’ about wearin’ a fur fox skin?
I’m diggin’, I’m diggin’, I’m searchin’ right through that luggage
One man’s trash, that’s another man’s come up
Thank your granddad for donatin’ that plaid button-
Up shirt ’cause right now, I’m up in here stuntin’
I’m at the Goodwill, you can find me in the bins
I’m not, I’m not stuck on searchin’ in that section (Men’s)
Your grammy, your auntie, your mama, your mammy
I’ll take those flannel zebra jammies second hand and rock that, motherfucker
The built-in onesie with the socks on the motherfucker
I hit the party and they stop in that motherfucker
They be like, “Oh, that Gucci? That’s hella tight”
I’m like, “Yo, that’s fifty dollars for a T-shirt”
Limited edition, let’s do some simple addition
Fifty dollars for a T-shirt, that’s just some ignorant bitch shit
I call that getting-swindled-and-pimped shit
I call that getting tricked by business
That shirt’s hella dope
And having the same one as six other people in this club is a hella don’t
Peep game, come take a look through my telescope
Tryna get girls from a brand? Man, you hella won’t
Man, you hella won’t
Goodwill
Poppin’ tags, yeah
[Chorus: Wanz]
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is fucking awesome
[Bridge: Wanz]
I’ll wear your granddad’s clothes
I look incredible
I’m in this big-ass coat
From that thrift shop down the road
I’ll wear your granddad’s clothes (Damn right)
I look incredible (Now come on, man)
I’m in this big-ass coat (Big-ass coat)
From that thrift shop down the road (Let’s go, come on)
[Chorus: Wanz]
I’m gonna pop some tags
Only got twenty dollars in my pocket
I’m, I’m, I’m huntin’, lookin’ for a come up
This is fucking awesome
[Outro]
Hahaha
Is that your grandma’s coat?
Written by: Ben Haggerty, Ryan Scott Lewis
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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