"The track felt very visual to me—like it had its own world. This atmospheric nighttime place that was sometimes dangerous, sometimes comforting, then I saw a picture of [Mac Miller’s dog] Ralph and a story emerged. To build it out I asked Malcolm’s family to send me bits and pieces from his childhood, scenes from the town where he grew up, objects, toys from his room—little pieces of his life that I extrapolated outwards and used to inspire the story. In the abstract, it’s meant to be a video about childhood—growing up as an artist and the highs and lows of that experience. It’s sort of a look at the emotional and difficult and perilous but noble path of an artist."
— Sam Mason via Pitchfork
Colors and Shapes
Mac Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it were colors and shapes we imagine every
Instead of all of this weight that we have to carry
Would you be able to breathe?
And if you could just find where that comfort resides
No distraction or movement that fucks with your mind
Would you let them see?
While beneath the ocean I met with the captain
All of his passengers escaped to safety
But he was not done with his trip
He looked up and smiled, asked me ''how do you do? ''
I told him I'm losing my grip
He told me ''son, if you want to hold onto yourself
Then let yourself slip''
Fall
Ooh
Fall
Oh
Fall
Oh, it feels good to fall
[Verse 2:]
These puzzles are so hard to make into pictures
Of something that'll they understand
They could open their eyes, still be blind to the beauty
But march on the heart of this land
Oh oh, why don't you turn around and go home?
They invade your minds and then fill them with nonsense
These things that a man doesn't need
Take out the love and the passion and hope
And they fill it with nothing but greed
While floating to galaxies they said I could
And I noticed how sad one can get
Cause the ignorant mind is so peaceful I find
I can't understand nothing no more
If I jump let me fall
If I jump let me fall
Fall
Ooh
Fall
Oh
Fall
Oh, it feels good to fall
Mac Miller's song "Colors and Shapes" is a reflective piece that contemplates the burden of modern life and the possibility of finding comfort and peace amidst its pressures. The lyrics present an alternative universe where life is simplified and reduced to colors and shapes, suggesting that this world may be easier to navigate compared to the complex and heavy reality that we face. The opening verse asks a series of rhetorical questions that speak to the difficulty of living in the real world, "Would you be able to breathe? And if you could just find where that comfort resides. No distraction or movement that f***s with your mind. Would you let them see?".
The second verse incorporates a dream-like experience where the singer meets with a captain who has sunk to the ocean floor after his passengers escaped to safety. In their conversation, the captain provides advice to the singer on how to hold onto oneself and let oneself slip. This can be interpreted as a message of accepting oneself as they are and allowing oneself to be vulnerable in order to find inner peace.
Overall, "Colors and Shapes" is a thought-provoking and introspective song about the challenges of modern life and the human pursuit of happiness and inner peace. Through its imagery and reflective lyricism, the song encourages listeners to embrace their vulnerabilities and to seek comfort in simplicity.
Line by Line Meaning
If it were colors and shapes we imagine every
If we imagined the world as colors and shapes instead of the weight we carry
Instead of all of this weight that we have to carry
The burdens and problems we all face
Would you be able to breathe?
Would it be easier for you to cope?
And if you could just find where that comfort resides
If you could find comfort in your life
No distraction or movement that fucks with your mind
Without any distractions or things hindering your thoughts
Would you let them see?
Would you allow yourself to be vulnerable?
While beneath the ocean I met with the captain
Reflecting on the power of the ocean and its dangers
Who sank to the floor on his ship
The captain lost his footing and fell
All of his passengers escaped to safety
Everyone else was rescued except for him
But he was not done with his trip
Despite everything that happened, he had more to do
He looked up and smiled, asked me ''how do you do? ''
The captain was still kind and polite despite his hardship
I told him I'm losing my grip
Admitting to struggling with life and feeling lost
He told me ''son, if you want to hold onto yourself
Encouragement to maintain your identity and stay true to yourself
Then let yourself slip''
Allow yourself to fall and experience life without fear
These puzzles are so hard to make into pictures
Life's complexities are difficult to understand and convey
Of something that'll they understand
People often struggle to comprehend the beauty of life
They could open their eyes, still be blind to the beauty
One can have the ability to see but still miss the greatness of things
But march on the heart of this land
Keep on living and seeking a meaningful life
Oh oh, why don't you turn around and go home?
Questioning the motives of others who don't appreciate life's offerings
They invade your minds and then fill them with nonsense
Other people can influence and manipulate our thinking
These things that a man doesn't need
Unnecessary possessions and desires
Take out the love and the passion and hope
We often lose love, passion, and hope while striving for materialistic things
And they fill it with nothing but greed
Greed takes over and leads to an unfulfilling life
While floating to galaxies they said I could
Having high ambitions but also feeling lost in the vast expanse of the universe
And I noticed how sad one can get
Reflecting on the sadness and loneliness that can accompany great aspirations
Cause the ignorant mind is so peaceful I find
Not knowing much can often be a peaceful state of mind
I can't understand nothing no more
Struggling to comprehend the complexities of life
If I jump let me fall
Accepting fate and experiencing life without fear
Contributed by Henry J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@luckypotatoman1422
LYRICS -
Have I answered the question, "Who am I?"
(Mhm)
Well, I confront it all the time
We're teaching people how to use their head
The, uh, point is, that in order to use your h-head
You have to go out of your mind
You have to go out of all of the, uh
Static symbolic ways in which you think
If it was colors and shapes, the imaginary
'Stead of all of this weight that we have to carry
Would you be able to breathe?
And if you could just find where that comfort resides
No distraction or movement that fucks wit' your mind
Would you let them see?
While beneath the ocean, I met with the captain
Who sank to the floor on his ship
All of his passengers escaped to safety
But he was not done with his trip
He looked up and smiled, asked me, "How do you do?"
I told him, "I'm losin' my grip"
He told me, "Son, if you want to hold onto yourself
Then let yourself slip"
Fall, ooh-ooh-ooh
Fall, oh
Fall
Oh, it feels good to fall
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
These puzzles are so hard to make into pictures
Of something that they'll understand
They could open their eyes, still be blind to the beauty
But march on the heart of this land, oh-oh
Why don't you turn around and go home?
They invade your minds and then fill them with nonsense
These things that a man doesn't need
Take out the love and the passion and hope
And they fill it with nothing but greed
While floating through galaxies, they said I couldn't
I noticed how sad one can get
'Cause the ignorant mind is so peaceful, I find
I can't understand nothin' no more
If I jump, let me fall (yeah), ooh-ooh-ooh
If I jump, let me fall, oh
Fall
Oh, it feels good to fall
Ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh
@JAMARISPEAKS
One of my favorite mac songs of all time. Would love to see the faces mixtape get some more music videos ❤️
@hichamelmbarrae6889
My boy jamari love your content 💓
@Obarkc
ID labs said October 15th it's getting released
@juanzamarripa3133
Tan Superman!
@michaelhebert1221
@Ad Sag it’s off his mixtape Faces, came out in 2014
@travelunderground574
That and sour hour
@jordanfaykosh6341
Little did we know that we were the passengers on his ship, and he the captain teaching us to let go and live a courageous life. Damn this shit just makes me cry
@heron-aaronbrito3179
🥲
@jesusconstantino4516
Word 🤌
@jimart1992
Pretty sure this song is about an acid/shroom trip. But I like your point of view as well👍🏾