The Man Upstairs
Mac Mall Lyrics

Another thousand years of mystery
The future remains unknown and unclear

Unresolved history
The past is not completely understood or resolved

And don't blink
One must pay close attention or they might miss something important

Oops, it's 2000 A.D.
The current year has already passed

That's 'After the Death of us'
The year 2000 was previously feared as the end of the world

But we don't have to die
One doesn't have to wait for death to make positive changes

Or live like ghetto zombies
One shouldn't settle for an unsatisfying or dangerous lifestyle

In the house of the Lord
Church can be a place of refuge and connection with a higher power

I make relationships with Allah and pray hard
I connect with God through my Muslim faith and prayer

Even though I'm at odds
Despite some disagreements or contradictions

With what I know and what you call 'God'
There may be differences in how different people perceive or refer to God

Holy Bible to the Holy Quran
Different religious texts can offer guidance or answers about God

Everybody seekin' salvation
Everyone wants to find meaning, purpose, or a sense of peace in their lives

Some try to get it by smokin' dumb-dums
Some use drugs to escape or numb themselves

Some only feel it when they get sexed up
Some feel a sense of affirmation through sex

Victims of their own lust
Some succumb to their desires without control or regard for consequences

Others find it with a poke in their veins
Some use drugs intravenously to feel a sense of euphoria or escape

Some try to get it with material gain
Some believe money or possessions will give them happiness or fulfillment

Anything to kill the pain
People often turn to destructive habits or vices to lessen emotional or physical pain

The people from Heaven Gate
Referring to the Heaven's Gate cult who committed mass suicide

Took they own life, they tried to get away
The cult believed they were transcending to a higher level of existence

Rather be in outer space
The cult believed they were joining aliens on an interstellar spacecraft

And the cold thing about it: what if they was right?
There is always a possibility that unconventional beliefs may have some truth to them

And we was too blind to see the light?
Perhaps we are too close-minded or dismissive of unconventional beliefs

Huh, I doubt it, but that just goes to show
The singer acknowledges doubt, but the cult's actions still make an impression

How far people'll take it just to feel hope
People are often driven by hope for something better

Some fools can't even find they soul, let alone save it
Some people are lost and unsure of their own spiritual wellbeing

That's why we got these cross-burnin' racists
Some use religion to justify acts of hatred and discrimination

Evil hawks in the most holiest places
Even holy places can harbor unscrupulous or corrupt individuals

I'll try to steer you wrong with temptation
The singer acknowledges temptation can lead others astray

Don't matter if you're black, white, Latin or Asian
People of all races/ethnicities may need guidance or feel lost

We all must have communication
Everyone can benefit from connection and dialogue with a higher power or each other

With the Man upstairs
Connection with God is important for spiritual wellbeing

May the Father, the Son and the Holiest Ghost
A reference to the Christian trinity

Give me some guidance on these streets so cold
The singer seeks guidance or comfort during tough times

Shed some light down on me and my folks, you know?
The artist asks for guidance and protection for their loved ones

'Cause the Pope never toured the ghetto
The singer implies that even religious leaders may not visit marginalized communities

But anyway I pray for you to understand that it's hard out here
The singer acknowledges the difficulties faced by people in their community

So I fear no man and keep a semi-auto near
The singer carries a gun for self-protection but is not afraid

Is it in your plan to let live plus kill?
The artist questions why some can live and others are killed

Is it true when you destroyed you must build?
The artist wonders if destruction must sometimes precede renewal or progress

I wonder 'bout a lot of thangs, like when I go
The singer has many questions and uncertainties about their eventual death

Will I be judged for what I did, or what I lived fo'
The singer wonders whether their actions or beliefs will be the basis of judgment after death

It's all in your hands, yeah, I suppose
The artist acknowledges that the answers to these questions are ultimately unknown and controlled by a higher power

The thought of never bein' alone
The artist finds comfort in the idea of always having a guiding presence in their life

Keep believers' hearts strong
Religion can bring strength and resilience to believers' lives

On the news they say we years from the clone
The singer refers to the idea of cloning, which was a popular topic in the year the song was released

You know the words, mayn, '2000 triple zero, party over, we gone'
The artist makes a reference to the popular Prince song '1999' and suggests that the year 2000 is not the end of the world as some had feared

As the choir sings songs of redemption
Religious music can offer hope and a sense of upliftment

In the U.S. we dyin' for religion
Religion can be a source of conflict and violence in the United States

Out in Europe they dyin' for religion
Religious conflict and violence are not limited to the United States

I say this and hope the Holy Father's listenin'
The artist addresses God, hoping to be heard

Livin' in this New Age Babylon, preachers havin' telethons
The artist suggests that modern society is characterized by excess and extravagance

Justice playin war games, waitin' on the red don
The singer implies that the justice system is unnecessarily harsh and violent

And then they wonder why the kids do drugs
Adults are sometimes oblivious to the problems faced by youth

'Cause Uncle Sam don't show no love
The government is often accused of not doing enough to support and care for its citizens

We need the Man Upstairs
Connection with God is needed for spiritual sustenance and guidance

Now I release myself to these streets
The artist is resigned to facing the challenges of life on the streets

Pray to God to keep me strong in the world of the weak
The singer relies on God for strength in a difficult world

And if I should die before a million I make
The artist hopes to leave a positive legacy before their eventual death

Bless my kinfolk with big dough and keep em all safe
The singer hopes for financial success for their loved ones and prays for their protection

I can hear my grandmother singin' gospel songs
The singer recalls the comfort and guidance of their grandmother's religious beliefs

Sayin' to me 'Jesus love ya if you don't live wrong'
The singer recalls their grandmother's message of love and guidance

Also said it was the devil that made us act wild
The artist recalls their grandmother's warnings about temptation and evil

Didn't listen back then, but I'm feelin' her now
The artist regrets not heeding their grandmother's advice sooner

Heaven or hell, I'm livin' through em day to day
The singer acknowledges the possibility of an afterlife but focuses on living in the present

And God shall return, that's what the preacher say
The singer has faith in the eventual return of God

Partner, if he is, I wish he hurry up
The artist is impatient for the return of God

'Cause the government tryin' to bury us
The artist implies that the government is not doing enough to support marginalized communities

Know what I mean?
The artist emphasizes the significance of their message

In Afghanistan Muslims dyin' over holy land
Religious conflict and violence are occurring in other parts of the world

In Tibet it's the same madness
The artist references the ongoing conflict between China and Tibet

On my block you can die for lookin' the next man in his eye
Violence and danger are ever-present on the singer's street

Mama's child grown way before his time
The singer suggests that young people in their community are forced to grow up too quickly

It's a cold world, but still it's God will
The singer acknowledges the harsh realities of the world but has faith in a higher power's plan

But why we gotta die tryin' to chase the dollar bill
The artist questions why some must resort to dangerous or criminal behavior for financial success

We don't have to die or live like ghetto zombies
People can make positive changes to their lives

And we don't need a 'New Millennium' to change
Change can happen at any time, not just at the turn of a new century

'Cause we got today, right now, to wake up
People should seize the present moment to make change

Rise up, shine up and climb, upstairs
The artist encourages people to strive for spiritual and personal growth