What’s the Use? by Mac Miller Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Mac’s Groovy Existentialism
Lyrics
They say you’re nothing without it
Don’t let them keep you down
What if I don’t need it? There’s something about it
That just freaks me out
I just want another minute with it, fuck a little, what’s the use?
Never superficial you gon’ know it when it hit you
Get a little sentimental when I’m off the juice
Yeah, okay we colder than the breeze
But the breeze ain’t flowin’ like me, motherfucker, hol’ up
You don’t need to hol’ up, yeah
And I can show you how it seem, what it is, what it truly might be
Nothing that you know of, you don’t need to hol’ up
I’m so above and beyond you, take drugs to make it up
Way up where we on, space shuttle, Elon
Time we don’t waste much, fuck and we wake up
Then I have her sing just like Céline Dion
Catch me if you can but, you’ll never catch me, damn
Whole lotta, “yes, I am”
All the way in with no exit plan
Already left and the jet don’t land
Yeah, the time is ticking
Come take a ride, get inside, this is highly different
I’m talking fly, got the pilot with me
Can I mind my business? Why you trippin’?
Give you somethin’ that your eyes can witness
Ooh, too close
I don’t understand why you doing the most (ooh)
You can love it, you can leave it
They’ll say you’re nothing without it
Don’t let them keep you down
What if I don’t need it? There’s something about it
That just freaks me out
I just want another minute with it, fuck a little
What’s the use? (what’s the use?)
Never superficial, you gon’ know it when it hit you
Get a little sentimental when I’m off the juice (turn it up)
Well, I’ma give you what you came for, yeah
Shit, I’ve worked too hard to have a clue who you are
Set the bar so far above par, we can parlay all day
Crib long range with the yard
I know I should probably pray more, but you gotta love me
‘Cause I save the day, spend money
When I had nothing, shit, it wasn’t so funny
Made a promise to the homies, nobody’d go hungry
Look how far we came, still they throwin’ dirt on my name
But it never worried my brain
Heads turnin’ like a hurricane swervin’
Tell the sun, get up outta my shade
They don’t get the picture, cut ’em out of my frame, shit
I’m up 30 thou miles plus change
It’s been a while but I’m down ’til I’m out
And it is what it is ’til it ain’t
Ooh, oh, oh
I just wanna fly, ah
You can love it, you can leave it
And say you’re nothing without it
Don’t let them keep you down
What if I don’t need it? There’s something about it
That just freaks me out
I just want another minute with it, fuck a little
What’s the use? (what’s the use?)
Never superficial, you don’t know it when it hit you
Get a little sentimental when I’m off the juice (ooh)
You can love it
It just freaks me out
Every so often, a song comes along that not only captivates the ears with an infectious groove but also encapsulates a profound narrative within its beating heart. ‘What’s the Use?’ by the late Mac Miller is one such auditory gem, a track that slinks through the speakers with a funky bass line while carrying the weight of existential musings on its shoulders.
Released on the critically acclaimed album ‘Swimming’, this particular piece sticks out for its breezy, laid-back vibe juxtaposed against introspective lyrics that delve into themes of necessity, substance use, and finding meaning in the ephemeral nature of life. We take a dive into the deeper implications behind the lyrics of ‘What’s the Use?’ and explore the immortal legacy Mac Miller left through his music.
The Beat that Bounces Beneath the Existential Weight
The hallmark of ‘What’s the Use?’ is undoubtedly its funky, soul-infused instrumentation, illustrating Miller’s range and dexterity as an artist. The track opens up an auditory playground where the slap bass and twinkling keys create a light-hearted entryway into a poignant dialogue on self-searching.
Taking a nod from the vibe-heavy kings of ’70s funk, Mac moulds a modern classic that doubles as a vehicle for self-reflection. It’s a musical concoction that beckons listeners to groove, but to groove mindfully, contemplating our own relationship with the things we think we need to get by.
The Lyrical Paradox of Attachment and Freedom
Woven into the fabric of ‘What’s the Use?’ are lyrics that tackle the dichotomy of desire versus necessity. Mac toys with the idea of attachment—’You can love it, you can leave it’—alluding to our human propensity to latch onto crutches, be they substances, relationships, or ambitions.
The rhetorical ‘What’s the use?’ is a gentle nudge towards questioning our reliance on externalities for fulfillment. It becomes a mantra for reevaluation, a chorus that resonates with anyone who has ever wondered about their place in the grand scheme and what truly holds value in their lives.
Peeking Into the Hidden Meanings
At its core, ‘What’s the Use?’ shines a light on the struggle for authenticity amid societal and internal pressures. The song’s repeated questioning encourages listeners to peel back the veneer of superficiality and celebrate genuine emotion and experiences.
The fact that Mac admits to a change in perspective when he’s ‘off the juice’ suggests a critique of how mind-altering substances can alternately veil and unveil truths, bringing the listener into a personal cavern of Miller’s own reckonings with sobriety and rawness of life.
A Homage to Perseverance Amidst the ‘Noise’
There’s an undeniably personal touch to the track, where Miller lays bare his determination and the trials he’s faced. Through verses like ‘Look how far we came, still they throwin’ dirt on my name,’ Mac confronts the struggles with fame and success head-on, exuding both vulnerability and tenacity.
The track swells into an anthem for pushing through the noise of critics and personal demons. It celebrates personal growth and hard-won success without eschewing the hunger that drove him—from his friends never going hungry to soaring ’30 thou miles plus change’—painting a portrait of an artist in motion, relentless, upfront, yet introspective.
Memorable Lines that Echo Beyond Music
Throughout ‘What’s the Use?’, Miller drops quotable gems that burrow deep into the psyche. A line like ‘I’m so above and beyond you, take drugs to make it up’ twitches with a double entendre—both a nod to altitudes of success and the altered states we pursue to reach perceived heights.
The potency of his words lies not in their face value but in the echoes they leave—ringing like bells of truth that challenge the listener to consider their own life’s soundtrack. In a twist, they immortalize Mac’s spirit in the process, every line a testimony to his complex emotional spectrum and the human condition at large.
