Tick Tick
MF Doom;MF Grimm Lyrics

Walk the path of Jesus, witness if Hell freezes
Experience the impossible, a play on words to highlight the problematic nature of theological dogma

The mind teases reality, crack the pieces
The mind creates illusions that challenge objective reality

Nothing eases, being chastise with blood baptize
Salvation isn't found in ritualistic bloodshed and hence doesn't genuinely ease pain

Guys revise, acknowledge past lives
People tend to frequently reflect on their life journey and make peace with their past selves

Statements will be made, acknowledge me
An invitation for the listener to pay attention as the artist shares an important message

My mind is Heaven's gate so enter me
The artist positions himself as the gatekeeper to Heaven, inviting listeners to enter his mind

My mind is the gate to Hell, so try to flee
The same gatekeeper perspective as line 6, but in this case the artist offers a warning to those who wish to access his darker thoughts

Both gates look the same, which will it be?
Pondering the key question underlying free will and morality

Demons scream from thought process
The thought-process can be the source of immense psychological turmoil

Enter semen, child born, stress
An allusion to the psychological complexities of childbirth and its impact on both parents and the child

Body want to sleep but the mind can't rest
The psychological struggle of insomnia and how it can be a result of anxiety and depression

Measure pleasure through financial progress
The materialistic drive that permeates modern society

When it come to currency, love is nonexistent
Love cannot be reduced to monetary value and hence lacks meaning in a capitalistic society

Foes multiply, friends become so distant
The ever-changing nature of human relationships; friends can turn foes and vice versa

Some hope you die, backstab in an instant
Human malice and betrayal; some people derive pleasure from others' misfortunes

Foes I despise, disguised as allies
The artist highlights the danger of false friendships that can be motivated by ulterior motives

To sabotage, camouflage
People may use disguise to hide their true intentions and cause harm to others

Loyalty is lies
The idea of loyalty and friendship is problematic as it can be a tool for manipulation and betrayal

To see God, look into my eyes
The artist suggests that the listener can come closer to experiencing spirituality by understanding his worldview

To see the Devil, then you look into my eyes
The same eye contact is used to suggest that evil and goodness are intertwined and cannot be separated

(As I rise from Hell's equator)
An allusion to the artist's battle with mortality and how he fights against the wider societal tendency towards death

Cause I'mma slow it up, speed it up, slow it up, speed it up
An acknowledgment of the rapid pace of modern life and its effect on individual psychology

Metal Fingers feed beats, Grimm Reaper eat 'em up
A reference to the musical partnership between MF Doom and MF Grimm

Take air, compress it, bless it
The artist imagines compressing air and imbuing it with spiritual significance

Mix loops like Ku Klux
An ironic reference to the music production technique of looping and its association with the racist Ku Klux Klan

MF don't give two fucks
A statement of defiance and an assertion of the artist's non-conformist personality

Nigga, quarterback blitz, popped, quickly fumble
A sports analogy that suggests the artist's superior skills in his field and the ease with which he can cause rivals to fail

Leave game with concussion, seeing stars and mumbles
An allusion to the impact of head injuries in sports and their after-effects on players' cognition

This happens to any emcee that wants to rumble
A warning to other rappers that speak out against MF Grimm

Dynasties destroyed like Carringtons and Colbys
An allusion to the popular TV show Dynasty and how even the most powerful dynasties can fall

Noise, reduced, MF thinks in Dolby
An ironic statement that compares the artist's complex thinking to the uncomplicated sound of Dolby

Chop that ass in half like Obi-Wan Kenobi
A Star Wars reference that indicates the artist's violent impulses and superior lyrical abilities

Greatest of all time, God straight up told me
The artist claims being anointed as the greatest rapper of all time by God himself

Greatest of all time, the Devil even told me
A satirical statement that mocks the concept of the Christian God and devil

Icicles on surfaces of sun, we livin' coldly
An exaggerated metaphor that suggests how extreme modern life is and its effect on human emotions

Prophets be phony
A critique of religious figures and how they can mislead their followers

And we attack, we switch like the Wu Tang symbol
A reference to the Wu-Tang Clan's logo and how the artist switches personas quickly

Still kill Jack even though quick and nimble, plain and simple
A statement of the artist's superior skills and how he can take down even the best opponents effortlessly

Pick niggas off while they ballin'
An ironical statement that suggests how the artist's critics can be silenced even when they are at their best

And die old like Stalin
An allusion to the controversial historical figure Joseph Stalin and his legacy

Yes, Death, I hear you callin', I accept collect
An exaggeration of the artist's disregard for death and his adherence to his values

Human sacrifice, must pay respect
A statement on how societal norms and traditions can require sacrifice

We catch reck, nigga, we catch reck
The artist's declaration of his readiness for any challenge, and his desire to constantly prove himself against any opposition.

Boom
A powerful statement indicating the artist's presence and dominance in the rap world