---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only…"
description: "\"Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying That rush, that drug, that dope Those pills, that crumb, that roach Th..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg"
---

#  Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what…

![“Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying That rush, that drug, that dope Those pills, that crumb, that roach Thinkin' I would never do that, not that drug and growing up nobody ever does Until your stuck, lookin' in the mirror like I can't believe what I've…” quote by Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg)

> “Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying That rush, that drug, that dope Those pills, that crumb, that roach Thinkin' I would never do that, not that drug and growing up nobody ever does Until your stuck, lookin' in the mirror like I can't believe what I've become Swore I was goin' to be someone And growing up everyone always does We sell our dreams and our potential To escape through that buzz”

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

He describes the cycle of addiction, using vivid imagery of drugs as a false escape from hopelessness.

**In simple terms:** Addiction feels like a desperate escape that traps you.

Key Takeaway

Seek help before the cycle deepens.

Themes

addiction hopelessness selfdestruction

Mood

somber urgent

Type

poetic cautionary

When to use this quote

- recovering from substance abuse
- seeking therapy
- support groups
- community outreach
- personal reflection

Key Concepts

psychology social pressure mental health

Questions to Reflect On

- What drives people to self‑destructive coping?
- How can society better support those in addiction?

A Different Perspective

Music may romanticize struggle.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Drug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drug/) [Growing up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growing-up/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Our dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our-dreams/)

## Related quotes

> [Anything to fix the pieces inside broken, hopeless, and headed nowhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james/anything-to-fix-the-pieces-inside-broken-hopeless-and-headed-nowhere/)

[James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james/)

> [We sell our dreams and our potential to escape through that buzz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/we-sell-our-dreams-and-our-potential-to-escape-through-that-buzz/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [If you rush to take a drug, do so with the full knowledge that you are being a Guinea Pig. The longer a drug…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-s-mendelsohn/if-you-rush-to-take-a-drug-do-so-with-the-full-knowledge-that-you-are/)

[Robert S. Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-s-mendelsohn/)

> [People will knife you in the back for a stinking crumb and then go on with their lives as if you’re nothing but a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/people-will-knife-you-in-the-back-for-a-stinking-crumb-and-then-go-on/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Weird. I rang it three times.” – Nekoda “There might be something with out condo.” ‘Other than the fact that it lived under a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/weird-i-rang-it-three-times-nekoda-there-might-be-something-with-out/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [ I went up to his \[Hank Jones'\] house and there were four guys there: Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and Max Roach. Not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-brown/i-went-up-to-his-hank-jones-house-and-there-were-four-guys-there/)

[Ray Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-brown/)

> [ For one, \[ Freddie Roach\] is wasting his time because I don't even read those reports. So that's the first thing. Secondly, I hear… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/for-one-freddie-roach-is-wasting-his-time-because-i-don-t-even-read/)

[Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/)

> [I am a product of a rat and roach infested black ghetto. It is easy for me to rationalize my dealings as a numbers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/i-am-a-product-of-a-rat-and-roach-infested-black-ghetto-it-is-easy/)

[Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/)

> [Nobody puts Roach in the corner.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-roach/nobody-puts-roach-in-the-corner/)

[Alexandra Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-roach/)

> [Papa Roach is actually a band that's great at playing arenas. Not every band is suited for that environment. But besides the huge energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/papa-roach-is-actually-a-band-that-s-great-at-playing-arenas-not/)

[Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/)

> [“We crawled through time like roaches through the linings of walls, the neglected spaces and hours, foolishly happy that we were still alive even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/we-crawled-through-time-like-roaches-through-the-linings-of-walls-the/)

[Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/)

> [“She'll need to see another goddamn place, then, because the roaches have unionized and put a stop to further negotiations regarding new tenants. Also,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-park/she-ll-need-to-see-another-goddamn-place-then-because-the-roaches/)

[Jessica Park](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-park/)

> [I was devastated. I'm still devastated to this day. When talent like that disappears in a flash, you can't believe it. You deny it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-merrill/i-was-devastated-i-m-still-devastated-to-this-day-when-talent-like/)

Helen Merrill

> [ We're striving to stay in the arenas. We \[Papa Roach\] had just little things that just took our show a step up and were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/we-re-striving-to-stay-in-the-arenas-we-papa-roach-had-just-little/)

[Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/)

> [I filled in for Papa Roach because we weren't doing much. Unwritten Law had a few more shows booked, but I got the call…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-palermo/i-filled-in-for-papa-roach-because-we-weren-t-doing-much-unwritten/)

[Tony Palermo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-palermo/)

## More by Macklemore

> [Don't forget where you come from Don't die holding on to your words Cause you know you got a whole world to change But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/don-t-forget-where-you-come-from-don-t-die-holding-on-to-your-words/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [The spirits there to knock you down.But if you make that the end, you'll never know the beauty of being able to stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-spirits-there-to-knock-you-down-but-if-you-make-that-the-end-you/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [I got my city right behind me, if I fall, they got me. Learn from that failure gain humility and then we keep marching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-got-my-city-right-behind-me-if-i-fall-they-got-me-learn-from-that/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [I don't control life, but I can control how i react to it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-don-t-control-life-but-i-can-control-how-i-react-to-it/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [They be like 'Oh that Gucci, thats hella tight.' Im like 'Yo, thats fifty dollars for a t-shirt.' Limited edition, lets do some simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/they-be-like-oh-that-gucci-thats-hella-tight-im-like-yo-thats-fifty/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [Live tonight, cuz you can't take it with ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/live-tonight-cuz-you-can-t-take-it-with-ya/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [Sampling is kind of prehistoric, given the technology and the textures you can create.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/sampling-is-kind-of-prehistoric-given-the-technology-and-the-textures/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [This moon man right here stands for a lot more. This is the most important record out of all of them. Gay rights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/this-moon-man-right-here-stands-for-a-lot-more-this-is-the-most/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [Hold your head up, there's a light in the sky I know your fed up but you must try to survive Each moment's precious,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/hold-your-head-up-there-s-a-light-in-the-sky-i-know-your-fed-up-but/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [The greatest trick the devil ever pulled is commiting that women look better in their makeup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-greatest-trick-the-devil-ever-pulled-is-commiting-that-women-look/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> ['The more expensive the better' is kind of the American way, and if you spent $600 for a sweatshirt, then that makes it better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/the-more-expensive-the-better-is-kind-of-the-american-way-and-if-you/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [It's been so long since I've really truly felt what it's like to live life without substances to help. Massive struggle that's natural to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/it-s-been-so-long-since-i-ve-really-truly-felt-what-it-s-like-to-live/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [Bullying is a national epidemic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/bullying-is-a-national-epidemic/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [We are what we wear, we wear what we are](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/we-are-what-we-wear-we-wear-what-we-are/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

> [I've never been a religious person. I've been a spiritual person since I was about 15, 16, when I was first introduced to Psilocybin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/i-ve-never-been-a-religious-person-i-ve-been-a-spiritual-person-since/)

[Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

[Explore all 118 Macklemore quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/)

## More Believe quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/)

[Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/)

> [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/)

> [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/)

[Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/)

> [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/)

[Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/)

> [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/)

[Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/)

> [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/)

[Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/)

> [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/)

[Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/)

> [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/)

[Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/)

> [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/)

[Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/)

> [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/)

[James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/)

> [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/)

[Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/)

Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying That rush, that drug, that dope Those pills, that crumb, that roach Thinkin' I would never do that, not that drug and growing up nobody ever does Until your stuck, lookin' in the mirror like I can't believe what I've become Swore I was goin' to be someone And growing up everyone always does We sell our dreams and our potential To escape through that buzz",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Macklemore"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-motivation-for-what-the-dealer-s/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Believe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-motivation-for-what-the-dealer-s/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f5e/macklemore-3964_believe_broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-moti_3140370.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation for what the dealer's supplying That rush, that drug, that…” — Macklemore",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Macklemore",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Broken, hopeless, headed nowhere Only motivation...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-motivation-for-what-the-dealer-s/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/broken-hopeless-headed-nowhere-only-motivation-for-what-the-dealer-s/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
