We can spend a lifetime pondering the depths of our existence, bogged down by the crippling weight of the human condition, repeatedly asking what c use with the point to all of this, but we could also just get on with our lives. We can move spotify, I'm cool krishna and mrs dissect one for musical analysis broken into short digestible episodes. Today we continue our sea or lies examination of back miller swimming with. What's the use track, that shows us that sometimes the best way out of a funk is with a little fish.

the this episode is brought to you by at last year, when we work together impossible things are so impossible. In fact they become possible. That's why seventy five percent of fortune five hundred companies work together using at last in team collaboration software like jira Science and shrill up the attack of their biggest challenges with a little imagination, a whole lot of collaboration. The possibilities really do become endless at last year for projects impossible alone, learn more at last. Seen that come. That's eighty l s s eye

a and dhaka of all the songs on swimming. What's the use features the most eclectic assembly musicians, including producers, como dame funk and mac himself, a baseline of vocals by thundercats, an additional vocals by sid from the internet and hip hop legends. Doc. According to back, the song began with a few words on keyboard and drumbeat produced by promo. Papa is the He came over future. Jim legal channels and things on the keys he's doing drums makes my cords better whatever I have, and then we actually put it to the side and then Thundercat came over that night and I was like wait. Could you try a baseline? swear to god. That was first thing he played like not even checking the notes, but he bitterly picked up the base, and that was the like. This is the first thing he naturally did.

The impeccable on its fluid syncopation thundercats bay, Wine is almost symphonic in its wide, ranging melodic contours notice. How begins with it. You simple, loners, then unfolds with more complexity as it reaches higher and higher The baseline is so catching and complete on its own that, when mac interests with the hook, his vocals are going to, actually just mere the base with the additional thundercats baseline, it seems mac and his team decide to lean fully into the enlisting producer dame funk to lay down some sent lines. The fund is a legendary g front producer, a hip up

subject honour that emerged in the nineteen nineties, its clear that was to use is at in part in homage to the sound, a hallmark of g fungus, prominent bouncing baselines like we hear and snoop dogs. Ninety ninety three hit who am I what's? My name is also common and g fungus use of saw way, synthesizers with heavy, were brought out and go sancho which we can hear and snoop and doktor drains night Ninety two hit nothing, but a g like that, and it's like this- something like that and like this one on the west coast, g funk or gangster funk sound, grew out of a sound called p, funk an abbreviation for parliament

fidel like a revolutionary and highly influential music collective headed by george Clinton chief and beat, were often me from sample. Or interpretations of peace on size, on, what's the use mac. Even those two parliament directly with his imitation of the group's unmistakable basinger rate Davis, here's max and turn it up before the second version, the cable and now here's parliament's ray Davis full circle to the full max imitation of re davis as more evidence of what c use being a musical homage to gnp funk, as is his inclusion of snoop dog and dame funk on the track to artists who actually did a collaboration album together called seven days a funk polemics? What They use truly unique as max lyrics, which are quite serious when compared to the tracks up each group

when discussing the juxtaposition between the songs, music and lyrics mac responded with a joke sort, The page is courageous happens. I guess is enormous. Funky german life, if you, mac was amused with its use of the word funky here, as a cleverly describes, both the music, a funky groove and the lyrics which describe being in a funk with this contrast in mine, dive into the songs hook. You say first backing in due course singing. You can love it. You can leave it. The similar more choice between love or leave seems to imply a thin line between the path. This opening, MIKE he needs the motif of dichotomy that runs throughout swimming

yet swimming verses, drowning and stress, verses, relief on come back to earth and pride. This humility and honesty, vs lies on her feelings. While on the current track, we dont yet know what it is that we can live or leave focus turns to perception and outside voices as it continues. They say, you're, nothing without it, whatever it is, it's important, as our entire identity is threatened by not having it. But MR continues as mac sings. What, if I don't need it, there's something about it? The just freaks me out first question test: the waters does mac rely too much on this vague. It is something he absolutely. needs is growing weary of it, noting that there's something about it, that's troubling, though he can't quite put his finger on it. Yet, as a hook continues max just cadences to a tropical, more rhythmic delivery, accepting the upbeat- and we get a few more clues about what this

Cryptic it could be a winner mac wraps, I just one another. Minute with it fuck a little. What's the use, despite being freaked out the previous line back still once more, the vague it going the line from hurt. Feelings always said I want at all, but it's not enough speaks to an inherent insatiable desire and dissatisfaction when you have at all and it's not enough, then, was to use this. Of course the title of the song, and this question is massive and its vague implications, the natural relationship between use and tools, offers open interpretations of the it in question to any number of things: the internet, social media, love, music or drugs. What's the use of these two

Then, given the nature of tools as a significant divide between human beings in most other animals, the question expand and scope to the existential. Why? What do we do with our human condition or human ability? The existential quality permeates the hook, replace it with life and mac is pondering the reason why we're here? What's the use of living. but the specific word use also chiesa sent on a likely primary layer. The mac is questioning his addiction, his use of drugs or alcohol. He love or leave them and doing either freaks amount for different reasons, loving them too much as dangerous, while leaving them altogether is daunting, because what, if he's nothing without them? What if he meets him for creativity for his happiness? For respite from the stress of life in light of addiction wanting another minute with it feels like internal bargaining, a plea to keep using even while, knowing the potentially dangerous consequences, while the question

let's see use, appears grand and its connection to both existential ism, an addiction. The phrase also functions as a medium, a figure of speech. What's use is often a negative rhetorical question away to imply. That not be useful to do something that is pointless thus mac asking the massive existential question while simultaneously dismissing the very need to ask questions at all. It's this tension, that is the primary thematic foundation of the track, will come to see this reflected in the conceptual structure of each verse, adverse one. How positive that we have no answers to these questions. So what's the use inverse to heal imply not bothering to even asked two questions because was to use as if doubling down on the multiple implication that the hook Matt continue singing, never superficial, you gotta know it when it hit. You get a little sentimental when I'm off the Jews, the never, superficial reminds us to look deeper into all the possible interpretations, especially as the funky groove of the song might have us overlooked max existential lyrics.

and in tune with the blurred lines of interpretation max party, and get a little sentimental when I'm off the juice seems to offer to Paz mac could be saying: he's gone off the juice, as in he's indulge in alcohol to the point of an altered perspective, putting him in his feelings or mac could be off the juice as in sober, after use of alcohol, making him more in touch with his organic emotions, either way were in motion off the hook and into the future. first, when a month- and you have already been praised but breeze anko and I mean it's not to show in house team what it is, what it truly might be, you know of you, don't need a holiday, though mac begins with a bit of braggadocio wrapping. Okay, we're colder than the breeze, but the breeze ain't flowing like me hold up. You don't need to hold up the side of a clever,

light hearted bars as instructs us to hold up and then immediately jokes. I we actually dont need to mac is fully in control and having fun with his reference to the flow of the breed Mac begins priming, us in a sense of movement and fluidity that will dominate the track. He continues. I could show you how I seem where it is. What it truly might be, nothing that you know I love you. Dont need to hold up talking to his audience directly. Mac offers a description of what he could do on this track. Show us who he is offering its art, as no into his life, but the use of intentionally vague descriptors gets at the idea that, regardless of whatever he attempts to show or express to us, we're all going to see something different anyway. Maybe what we get from acts? Music is reality or maybe it's. The fantasy afforded by celebrity or maybe it's something that will never know it's impossible to pin down something that flows just like the breeze, when explaining a similar lyric? I'm just an idea, I'm nothing concrete from his two thousand thirteen song sd s max. I quote a judge,

I believe, I'm an actual person, I'm actually just an idea to everybody. We don't actually exist as people to anybody. We exist through the ideas we give to the world unquote This line of thinking seems to be the reason he again ends the line you dont need to hold up. You don't have to get bogged down by the infinite possibilities of everyone and everything just keep it moving beyond you. Take drugs make it up way up where we are specialty long time we don't waste much, but when we wake up and have her saying just like catch me, if you can but you'll never catch me, the damn coat nodded. Yes came all the way and whatnot except plan already left and get back. Cleverly claims elevated status, rapping, I'm so able and beyond you take drugs to make it weigh up where we on space shuttle ilan, accentuating the alphabet, with above and beyond, max's

so necessary for others to make it as high as he is again there's two interpretations here. He could claiming himself naturally fly unsuccessful and others would have to use substances to reach his height we're mcafee, intoxicated himself, claiming others need to catch up to his high machnik in paris, a success and heights to the space flights of elon musk in a space ex company. He then continues claiming time. We don't much fuck when we wake up then have our seeing just iceland D on, in addition to his high mac, paints a scene of life without idle time where the pleasures of sex of music or enjoyed from the start of the day. The slim d on reference seems like a direct nod to his ex area grundy, who, at that point famously performed impressions of celine, dns, nl and other talk shows the no you do in presentations idea. I've heard you do us lindy and let you know together the so sad

might seem odd. That mac would implicate this part of its real life, but remember he just called into question our ability to know things in music are true, not beyond and Grundy. Mac is almost teasing us with his life playing around with a conception of what we know of him. What we know to be true what we think we know about the music were listening to This seems to be white, follows with the lines catch me if you can, but you'll, never catch me damn here, mac begins. It extended reference to the two thousand to film catch me if you can, with stars leonardo dicaprio and a story based on the real life, a frank abigail junior, a con man impersonated a pilot, physician and attorney allowing him make money and lava lavish fantasy of life max connection this idea makes a lot of sense, as he himself adopted quite a few alternate monikers for different creative output. whether producing under the alias larry lifestyle wrapping as alter you go delusional, thomas or embodying larry fishermen. Mac tried on

for an identities and attempt to get a handle on his own? But I mean, I think I think did at a time and a place for every different kind of identity, a music. You know, I think, there's that that ok for artists to to jump around in and not always be so consistently. The identity they carry in their music because humans, are way more complexity is like s so like four me. It's like like ours, make sure I cover all the other all the different identities that come with being a human. And what's the use the line? You'll never catch me fits in with the breezy concept of identity, as in your ever wrangle or pinned down who mac is public per se immediate scrutiny as something mac has dealt with throughout his career, especially around the time of swimming release and overtime. He was becoming at peace with it all quote. You know it's funny. I feel like the public perception of me varies on who you ask, but I think there is a bit of freedom and knowing that people are going to think all

types of shit, no matter what it actually makes me less stressed about how my actions are perceived it out of my control, I mean to a degree I could control it. I could live this squeaky, clean life and everything I could try to control the media, but I've, been finding a freedom and just living in letting people say whatever the fuck they want. Unquote. Mac continues a verse working with the pilot symbolism from catch me. If you can falling in line with the theme of flight and plain throughout the album, Europe's all the way and with no exit plan already left and the jet land beyond foreshadowing, the alps eleventh track jet fuel. There's an implication of danger here, as mac continues to convey does the constant oscillation or simultaneity between highs and lows that what goes up must come down and if the jet as land. The insinuation might be that it's bound to crash, which calls to mind the alps cover image where the plane seat is also a coffin cleverly, after the reference to being in the proverbial jet max peter.

the pace of his flow as the first contain away and were now have simply been already lebanon's Jed down in terms to conquer rag satisfactorily. Different, I'm talkin flag would get on my way to make the japan to close them stay away. Most aware of inevitable en masse kicks it up. A notch in invites us on the ride he wraps. The time is ticking, come take a ride. Get inside. This is highly different. I'm talking fly got a pilot with him for some fun word play with the highly different referring to the altitude of flight drugs or success, while the taking of time is a reminder of mortality and the flights inevitable end that the jet will eventually run out of fuel. This metaphor bond between flight, an existential ism is something mac is mount to before.

Like with the extended metaphor of birds throughout the two thousand thirteen thirteen album watching movies, with the sound of scope here on the track, avian mac sings. Does a bird in the sky? Look at him fly? Why why? It's an existential wonder and extended metaphor of the album connects mac to this bird wondering why he stays high, whether that be drugs, fame or wealth as mac wraps immediately after this question, but the money paid I'll be running wild life said mother fucking joke, so we fuck around its decision to enjoy what we can to pursue pleasure in the shadow of life's grand joke on us on. What's use having just invited us on the ride, mac turns on us a bit wrapping. Can I mind my business, why you trip it aside from the business class wordplay

it seems these lines might be directed towards those who disapprove or tripping over max trips. His drug use mac then pledges to give us something that our eyes can witness, which is generally the purpose of going on a trip to see something with our own eyes. Magnon continues rapping, oh you're too close. I don't understand why you're doing the most. This continues the push and pull heard throughout the verse. He tells us to hold up then says, don't hold up. He asked us to take a ride and come inside then asked why we're tripping and says we're to close this conflict is underscored with the question of what's the use. Is it worthwhile to try and figure out who mac really is? Is that even possible, and does he want us to know he gets out the complicated relationship between artist and audience It is like mac expresses himself so transparently and his music that we feel like we know em, but it's not a complete picture as mac tweeted back in two thousand twelve quote: I'm not even a real person to most of you. I am nothing but a name that is attached to something that you love. Most of you will never meet me.

well, there's a loneliness to the statement and no one will ever know me type sadness, but even extended to the idea that there is not a concrete self that even exists. How can we possibly figure out who we are when they are infinite versions and we only exist in relation to each other. I mean: what's the use one in each must get a similar mental went upon as mac turns again to wanting another minute. What the deuce gillis snoop dog for background vocals for this amending the songs chief on flavouring, while nodding to snoop

early hit gin and juice. The back actually got to perform ginger juice, with snoop on his birthday at the big day out music festival in two thousand and fourteen mac, told pitchfork quote so, was hanging out on stage and all of a sudden snoop is like it's the homie MAC miller's birthday and he dedicated gin and juice to me, and I came on stage killing it unquote, snoop's vocalization on what's the use as a kind of carefree appeal and simply enjoying the juice enjoying the ride and, as we pointed out earlier at the end of the second chorus mac imitates the low voice of parliament's ray Davis to say turn it up, which is exactly what mac does in the second verse. That's right after the break. This episode is brought to you by at last in when we work together impossible things are so impossible. In fact they become possible. That's why seventy five percent of ford,

in five hundred companies, work together using at last in team collaboration, software like jira, confluence and trello, the tackle their biggest challenges with a little imagination, a whole lot of collaboration. The possibilities really do become endless at last, in four projects, impossible alone learn more at at lassie and dotcom. That's a t, L, a s s, I a n dhaka. Welcome back to dissect, before the break, we heard a repetition of the hook or matches by none other than snoop dog, as was seized, continues, mac turns it up and unfurled burst. Full of both the shit should work too hard avapro, who you are set the bar so far, but we could parlay all day long range, but the yard was probably praying more, but you got a lump because I say to spend money when I had nothing. She wasn't so funny made a promise to nobody. Go hungry. Look out for week begins a sec,

first tried to make a concrete decision about an identity to perform for us. He wraps well Gonna give you I came for shit. I work too hard to have a clue who you are and appears what we came for was a flex as mac falls into the identity of the stereotypical wrapper when we live vicariously through max play to famous and has a mass to become an audience to know any one person individually envision the setting of a cancer or festival performance of the individual mac miller, standing in front of a sea of faces We can see that mac could not possibly know everyone must instead flexes status about the crowd, and that just makes me happy because I think, like people like war z, me flags a little bit like there's, like, I think it's his collar. I do like we get your top. We human beings, now like come out and shoot on. Everyone is now, and I ran out. I just just just you know: you're good yeah you're,

we don't have to worry about like what the world means all the time you know. Sometimes we just want to turn up Interestingly, back here says turn up as a description of his flexing mindset, which is exact, what he says before flexing on his verse. He also note the dichotomy between talking shit and worrying about whether world means ever changing ever growing ex found a way to do both. You know you see yourself would moments of like damn. I was foolish self doubt there, and indeed emma was really feel myself right there and and there's a for all that you know, and you don't have to to hide any part of yourself, and I think in a music a lot of times people get caught up in in the in the the wrestling aspect of it. You know like the theme, music and walk in aid. In wisdom, I care during an arm this guy and is like norman you. There's no way you're that every day your life as compared, there's no way back continues

embarking on this stunting treatise wrapping said the bar so far above par, we can parlay all day, crib long range, with the yard the central metaphor here, as golfing, with par being the term for the number of strokes expected to complete a hole and long range with the yard being a that. His house is big enough for driving rage max enjoyment, a call for a hobby. These references fall in line with mac playing up the luxurious aspects of his life by setting the bar above par he's, making a game easier for himself ass he can take. Or strokes to get the ball in the whole. This in turn allows him to parlay all day, since two parlay is turn an initial amount of gambling winnings into more by continuing to gamble, which is easy now that macros par above par also means above average, so outside of gulf mac is again boasting about his elevated status, then, as if recognising his blessings mac admits. I know I should probably pray more, but you got

love me cause. I save the day. Spend money here max both seem to have gone to the level of the most high as the intensely evokes classic shrubs of Jesus, namely status as loving savior. This continues into the next lines. When I had nothing, shit wasn't so funny made a promise to the homepage. Nobody go hungry your max seems to be evoking the well known biblical passage, John six, thirty five that reads quotes Jesus said to them. I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me, shall not hunger and whoever believes in me shall never thirst on one level. This string of religious theme line seems to be a continuation, This boasts that he's reached a kind of savior status who takes care of those around him from day one. On the other hand, given his admission of failing to pray and spending money, perhaps recklessly mac may be expressing the way of responsibility that comes with his elevated status. Perhaps he should actually be a humble charitable dieter more like Jesus either way. Mac keeps it moving as it continues averse go

look how far we can still be done, colonel mun name, but it never worry. My brain has suddenly got our case. Parliament get must shape. Could then, prime among cutting down ass blue, hang on a mountain them out and it is what it is today. Still thinking about the pass MAC wraps look how far we came still they throwing dirt on my name, but it never worry my brain throwing dirt on one's name. My continued the Jesus references at the previous lines as Jesus face continual slander against him leading to his death, but the line is also purse as Matt claims. He doesn't like criticism affect him. Crucially, the dirt is thrown on max name extending the song's emphasis on identity. The throne dirt evokes both reputational damage and a literal burial, an attempt to add max ability to be himself mactan wraps heads. Turning like a hurricane swerving either he's referring to other people's heads. Turning to watch his every action desired, buys continued movement orthe max head, that's turning

as is mine, is thrown into chaos by the words of others has been doing, But stunting on this first or inclination is a former mac. Then and the weather language saying till the sun get Out of my shade continuing elevation and flight theme at the track. Mac is apparently shining so bright that he doesn't need the sun shady also ties into throwing dirt or shade on his name. So mac is once again flexing that is too hot to be cool down by the words of others, back then tosses aside, those who might not understand him wrapping if they dont get the picture, cut them out of that frame. Well, This is a brag about his ability to toss haters aside and also runs hypocritical to the central question of the track. That is. Can we ever get the picture we don't know who mac is we don't know what the use of any thing is for sure, so how can we ever hope to really truly get the picture? This is the foul ability which underscores mac. Second verse stunting is fun, but on its own it is unbalanced. Finally, met concludes the verse

Thirty thousand miles plus change- it's been a while, but I'm down till I am out, and it is what it is till it ain't the bose ses piled up having flying high from take off in the first verse until now. this line seems to refer to max elevated reputation in the music industry, which was approaching a decade when he really swimming. He said he's down till he's out. We're seems to mean he's dedicated to continuing at a high level as long as it can until the right is inevitably over the use of the word. Specifically here seems calculated continuing the motif of simultaneous highs and lows. Voice flown flown high through this, for for us also also going to be down or sad until he's out to all. This comes with a reminder of eddie back as promised to fly for us until he's gone, because it is what it is until a day, even as he's flown high max lyrics have conveyed an understanding that he must come down. Eventually this, as a mean, we can't have fun rather

we have to soar when we can. We have to experience flight fully, which includes both an appreciation of the moment in the moment and an understanding of its eventual end. In other words, when we get a chance to fly, we need to be able to look down and still where the flight as we covered on her last episode. It is when it is till I ain't was a perspective that mac and thundercats shared as a guiding principle. Thundercats would end up naming his album released after max passing. It is what it is, and he told, and pr quote, I always bring this up, but mean MAC miller used to have this saying we had on a piece of paper on the studio wall. It said sit down and let it happen we always knew it was terrible advice, but the joke was that there is not a lot you can do about it. We want for things to be more than they are, but a lot of the time it just is what it is you wind up coming to that, and it's almost comforting it is what it is, it's. What is supposed to be unquote.

you're on. What's the use back as brood this understanding into the intoxicating bubbles of the funky dance, bull, groove and soaring lyricism sure we must come down some time, but the flight makes us happy than we owe it to ourselves to be present and revel. In the times of joy, it's been a while, but I'm down until I'm out, and it is what it is today, the on the song's bridge, the drums cut out. We get it if modulation to a new key from sea, sharp to see natural transporting us into what feels like the elevated altitude, mac has been describing himself living in on the track. Thundercats takes over the vocal singing up above the clouds

I just want to fly fittingly. He sings is and a high full set of voice becoming one with the atmosphere of airy drifting. Since This is a musical portrait of being present in the moment of flight fully indulging in the high and if this high, that carries into the final repetition of the hut, which endless snoop dog highlighting the duality of substances of the high love it. Just freaks me out the stuff snoop sent me was so amazing and, like he, talks like a bunch of dna, an end of keeping but like I have to listen to this beautiful, just poetic it talking, and so I have that, and also like dude aegis. He floats here.

Sense of max reasoning to include snoop beyond his prominence in chief among it snoops floating poetic shit talking which, as we now know, fits perfectly into the songs theme. This is how the song ends freaked out, loving it all at once conclusions. What's the use as both a central question to our understanding of purpose as well, Dismissal of our questions themselves throughout the track. Mac explores the idea flight from the high of expressing extreme confidence the high of drugs, the hive creating music in the literal height of air. flying. Interestingly, given the already established motif of water on the other, we recognise the parallel between flying in swimming there, each in their own way. The experience a fly in one high in the sky, the other below the surface underwater

This dual symbolism falls in line with max attempts to capture highs and lows simultaneously, conveying the idea that peace balance and presents as possible in each region learn to adjust our perspective. tragically, a music video for what's the use was the next thing on MAC miller schedule at the time of his passing according to rolling stone quote thundercat and miller, had big plans for the the year he and Miller were set to hit the road. This fall on a joint tour behind the rapper's new album swimming and more urgently, they had plans to issue a bold music video in mid september for the collaborative track. What's the use, A wide, ranging cast of celebrities and friends of miller's were set to make cameos dancing along to the song. He just wanted people to know how hard he been working. Thundercats says up until the last words we spoke to each other is nothing short of pure excitement, unquote So what are we to do with this harsh reality or mac? Crafted this beautiful? to enjoying the highs of our lives, we know all too the dangers involved, we know how it ended for man

is mac knew. It would add to that. Clear on. What's the use they didn't, let that keep him down rather peace, wars appreciating the moment in the moment, knowing that it is what it is until it ain't So while we spent time thinking about this on pondering each line. Dissecting each moment we have to ask now was to use maybe the most important. Take away from this track is to simply relish the feel good saratoga boost the four minutes. Forty nine seconds we ve been gifted, that is to say but allow ourselves to enjoy happiness when it comes to us coax every potential moment from an bothered by our questions respite far away from our existential concerns, fighter fucks, with funk

This episode of day secretary, my came in a stranger and me enjoy today's episode still friend about the new season for sharing social media intact at dissect, podcast really helps the music by bureaucratic. Tremendous recreations by Andrew atwood, audio editing by Eric passes.

limited birth, for this season is available at dissect podcast dot com, which is linked to the show notes, are thanks. Everyone talk to you next week.