Ascension by Mac Miller Lyrics Meaning – The Lyrical Journey from Struggle to Revelation
Lyrics
Heaven smelled like Nag Champas
Come here darling, ash my blunt (Smoke)
Waiting on hallucination, ain’t a single fact I trust (No)
Dear family, my sanity go down when my cash go up
Rap too much, how the fuck get through the verse
I came from house parties, find a bitch and go through her purse
All I need is a little good pussy and whole lot universe
I met God before I ever stepped into a church and that motherfucker still owe me money
I need a religion to follow
I swear to God that I got more problems than there is bitches in Carlo
Lord have Murciélago, yeah
And I don’t know how the fuck I’m supposed
To look into my parents eyes when I’m scared to die
My eyes same color as a cherry pie
Woah, see I’m terrified
Crucifix heavy, who gon’ carry mine?
Yeah, what’s with all this talk about Hell and Satan
And sleep deprevation
If this is planet Earth, than my hell’s a basement
Ascension
A brand new me
Yeah, yeah
Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?
Between heaven and hell
What’s between heaven and hell
A brand new me, oh it’s the brand new me
Okay, fucking tell these kids one thing, just make sure handle your business
A criminal leave no witness, and don’t ever trust these bitches
What happened to your life when your house become a home
Where your children at? Where your children at?
You got two sons, all they do is fight
You up through the night like gimme-gimme-gimme dat
Yeah, nice titties, got a pic, go and send me that
Send that books can you give her that?
Fuck rap, make a million off a shitty app
Yeah, smoke trees in the cab
Pittsburgh, show you where the city at
And don’t forget that H, get you smacked in your face
Got so many sons, I was young, now they half my age
90K out in Portugal, smile on my face, backlit stage
My shit bad, shit crazy and that shit fascinates me
On my tongue where the tab is and it burn like battery acid
I was in the backs of my classes by the kids having asthma attacks
Cause he panicked every single time he sat on his glasses
Every Wonderland have a Alice
But I’m a king God can I have a chalice
I’m demanding the truth, put your hands to the roof
Be a man, that’s a challenge
Ascension
(Challenge, are you up for that challenge)
A brand new me
(Yeah, everybody got to have balance)
Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?
Between heaven and hell
(Salvation, and the underworld [?] gotta keep that bitch waiting
(Fascinating)
A brand new me, oh it’s the brand new me
(And that’s fascinating, please be a little patient)
I ain’t a doctor, could be a little patient
Yeah, be a little patient
Everything will be okay then, be a little patient
One world, one nation, done waiting
Yeah, yeah
Now I’m still sipping moonshine
We discovered a new high, me and Jerm done this a few times
Yeah, but who’s high now
Talk a lot of shit but will you die now
What you gonna do when everybody just go die out
Let’s ride out
Mac Miller’s ‘Ascension’ from his 2016 album ‘GO:OD AM’ stands as a bittersweet symphony of growth and introspection. This track taps into Miller’s profound narrative as he grapples with fame, existentialism, and the polarizing pull between hedonism and enlightenment—a recurring dichotomy in his body of work.
Digging deeper, ‘Ascension’ is a cathartic display of Miller’s struggles with substance abuse, the pressures of celebrity, and the search for a higher purpose. The hauntingly honest lyrics offer a stark look into the rapper’s soul, painting a vivid portrait of a man teetering between self-destruction and self-discovery.
A Cosmic Opening: The Blunt and the Divine
Right off the bat, the song’s opening remarks showcase Miller’s humorous approach to his art, quickly juxtaposing it with spiritual imagery. The reference to Nag Champa—an incense traditionally used in meditation—signals the beginning of a spiritual session, while his lighthearted mention of blunt ashes sets a down-to-earth tone.
This cosmic opening draws a parallel between earthly vices and celestial experiences, implying that Miller’s personal ascendance doesn’t negate his enjoyment of life’s simple pleasures. It suggests a balance that Mac seeks—a blend of the carnal and the cosmic.
Between Heaven and Hell: The Hidden Meaning
At the core of ‘Ascension,’ there is an eternal struggle: the balancing act between good and bad, high and low, sanity and lunacy. Mac maneuvers through this dichotomy, at times embracing a hedonistic lifestyle while also contemplating the divine and his place within it.
The hidden meaning here ties back to the human condition and our incessant search for meaning in chaos. Through his lyrics, Miller reveals his own tug-of-war with morality versus desire, reality versus illusion, effectively making ‘Ascension’ a microcosm of the human experience.
Parables of Fame: The Spotlight’s Price
Miller sharpens his focus on the trappings of fame and the consequential loss of normalcy. ‘What happened to your life when your house become a home’ provokes thought about the transition from an anonymous existence to one under constant scrutiny, where familial responsibilities and the public eye collide.
He muses about the paradoxes within fame and success—the adoration and isolation it brings, the generational divide it creates. Miller understands the irony of his position, trading verbal bars for a glimpse into the reality of what it’s like when every home comfort is tinted with the cost of celebrity.
Memorable Lines: A Reflection of Dualities
‘Why you wanna do me like that, Miss Conception?’ Mac riddles through personification, likely addressing the misinterpretations people have of him, which lead to a distorted self-image. Tackling such misconceptions, he weaves through the verses, revealing his struggles with identity.
The memorable lines serve as a mirror to the dichotomies he wrestles with. ‘Between heaven and hell, what’s between heaven and hell?’ Miller echoes the central theme, looking for a middle ground in a binary world.
Elixir of Life: The Melancholic Optimism
Even as he details his trials, Miller’s ‘Ascension’ carries an undercurrent of hope. ‘One world, one nation, done waiting’ speaks to a collective consciousness and a resonant plea for unity and understanding. The repeated calls to be ‘a little patient’ serves both as a self-reminder and advice to listeners.
‘Ascension’ thus unfurls as an emblem of Miller’s internal strife yet ends on an optimistic note. Despite laying bare the tumult of his existence, Mac pens a hymn to perseverance, acknowledging the pain while anticipating the healing—a universal sentiment in the throes of existence.
