Throughout history, across cultures and religions, a ladder has been chosen as the symbol that bridges, the spiritual realm and our terrestrial plain a link between Heaven and earth. Often. There are seven steps on this symbolic ladder. Each step representing us. age, on the ascending path towards spiritual awakening or divine union, the most well western tail utilizing. The latter symbolism is the biblical story known as jacobs ladder from the book of genesis. It's you that Jacob has a vivid dream which he sees a ladder on earth that scales up to heaven with aids was descending and ascending upon it fast forward to the new testament and Jesus Christ fulfils Jacob stream, proclaiming quote hereafter, you shall see, have an open and the angels of god, ascending and descending upon the son of man, thus its Jesus. That is a symbolic ladder through which christians assented Heaven on today's episode. We're going to hear back Miller's, take on the symbolic ladder and, while he'll maintain its use as a tool for ascension mac will offer a different interpretation of what the latter is. It's not Jesus.

But rather the only thing. We know for sure that we have right here right now, each other, from spotify uncle krishna. This is dissect one for musical analysis, broken into short digestible episodes. today. We continue our sea relies examination of mac miller swimming with its seventh track ladder.

the this episode is brought to you by at last year, when we were 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.

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 for projects impossible alone, learn more at at lassie and dotcom, that's a t, L, a s s! I a n dhaka, the Ladders was produced by polo and John Brian and begin somewhat ominously with a looping sample and an arpeggiated guitar. The sample sounds like it might be: a piece of a voice, singing a low g. Hmm over those, the guitar, plays a pattern around and g minor at six gore contributing to the dark overtones of the introduction, the

it for me, this musical texture feels tense, there's not much harmonic motion or just kind of immersed in the somewhat gloomy droning environment. Fittingly mac enters the song singing about finding a way out. Perhaps out of the darkness amount. Mass a name mac begin singing. Somehow we gotta find a way, no matter how many miles it take recalled it. Ass. Few songs found mac driving using

the road as a metaphor for lice continuous journey on self care. It seems substances had control of the wheel while on wings, mac took back control, finding beauty and feeling the breeze and enjoying the sunset here on ladders. The journey continues, as does the optimism established on wings, a belief and perseverance that somehow no matter what we have to find a way to keep moving forward. This opening mine also feels like a call back to the opening track. Come back to earth was their max saying. I just need a way out of my head or do anything for a way out of my head halfway through the album mac is still looking for the way, but there's a new found, patience and understanding to these lines in matters which seem bolstered by some present joy matches, feeling he sings. I know I feel so good right now, but

Welcome falling down with a night beat the light turned to day appreciating the moment of happiness back as the wisdom to be apprehensive of the inevitable end, something that should come as no surprise to us by this point at the album in nearly every track on swimming mac showcases. This balance perspective that any feeling of a high is temporary and inherently carries with it. A come down. A high cannot exist without a low, after all, this cyclical regularity, as compared to the transition from night today from one day to the next, the cycle of time is reinforced by the final line ending in day completing arrived with the first lines way wrapping this chorus into a circle. Back to something interesting with his verb tenses. Here he talks from the first person I but uses the plural tens of his verbs by mixing the singular and plural he conflates his individual experience with the universal, the zoo, the hallmarks of the entire album. The way mac is able to convey universal sentiment, the oppressed

nor subjective experience back is showing us the shit he's gone through, so that we can to its in this way that we show each other the way, when you I now extending the songs mounting, introduction, mac sings, can't stop. Then you won't stop. I know just how that feel. There is a sense of tension to this inertia as mac evokes a restless uncontrollable motion. That's felt throughout swimming and

titled with act, a fluid movement. This line also works at the description of time, marching forever forward with or without us. You can feel like we ve got a race to stay in place, and mac is right beside us. Having run this length before assuming the advisory position, mac warns when you're on top till the ball drop, you ve never seen it be so real. The exhilarating feeling of being high is not permanent. There will come an end and max use of till the ball drop as a description of this end in play a few interesting symbolic threats. The most iconic adoration of a ball dropping is the new year's eve celebration. In times square new york were mac even perform the way with area on a grand day in two thousand fourteen relating to the night, turning into line. This isn't nod to one year turning into the next again accepting the notion of time forever marching forward,

dropping the ball also evokes games or sports, and its use to mean that you fumbled some responsibility that was assigned to you, which mac uses to convey the fall from the high. Interestingly mac describes the fall from the top, bringing the feeling of real, which seems to portray a high or success as a fantasy. Being quote unquote on top is simply roger that, while road with time as ladders continues, mac drastically switches, vocal styles wrapping the beginning of his first and short sporadic bursts, but curiously, the production remains droning and somewhat ominous, drawing out the two a little better than that of women, a baby development that keep on my head put shoulders Henderson some shit, I'm the box this

never mind right now. If it ever was gone, maybe the web of a strong whether recital gone common, not knowing how does act opens averse feel a little feel a lot of swimming a bit but deeper and thought keeping my head on top of my shoulders. as we know by now swimming, is to thrive among the waters as opposed to sinking or drowning a metaphor for being able to live freely and with control. Interestingly, mac is only swimming a bit. where little as is also still stuck in his own head. Another motif that expresses max times paralyzing anxiety, the deeper and thought plays off the depth of water wise out there in the water is only able to keep his head at the surface, which is why he describes it as swimming a bit. It's more like he's. Treading water mac then continue saying into some shit, I'm out of the box there's a chance. This is describing manageable drug use macs into some shit, as in into some drugs and out of the box, are free as a result playing off this potential. Hi MAC wraps this the level.

Want meeting at all right now, when forever is gone, the insatiable notion of needing everything right now is overwhelming a response to finite time in an existential sense. This reflects the lessons of presence found in wings of truly experiencing each moment as everything we have since the past is gone and the future is not promised feeling this pressure mack pushes forward proclaiming baby. The weather is strong, whether it's hot or cold, I'm coming knocking at your door. One of the main motifs of swimming, we know the strength that the weather represents strong emotions, and here mac shows a rare confidence to endure the weather. No matter, it's extremes, rain or shine, happy or sad. He,

Showing up at someone's door which might allude to a romantic interest given the address of baby and the sexual innuendo of I'm coming, but because the song mostly addresses a universal we. We suspect that, in this case, mac is most likely referring to showing up at someone's door to mean he's ready to connect with others ready to interact with the world. Is this optimistic tone that sets the song and emotion as max says, I'm coming knocking at your door? The music matches the

be kicks in beginning with three knox of a snare draw, come knocking knowing how the lambs are, because MR dell, alba that those three old man he noted when a compromise. That is where we need a bigger picture of what has been a vision of how the when you wake up this sudden musical transformation of the song should be overlooked. The intro the first hook and the first part of the verse, were all scored by a somewhat ominous musical texture, with a low droning sample and adele

minor court, while most of us by now are familiar with the song and expecting the switch that occurs. We shouldn't take it for granted, but does not exactly the most obvious placed the song ago. Given the tone of the introduction, we get a thumping drum pattern. With a foreign, the floor kicked rum and sinking painted high hat flourishes, providing an extremely damsel groove. The speed is paired with an incredibly funky baseline added to that makes the punchy brassy synthesizer What I love about this

musical transformation for the darker introduction that, if the magically lines with the message of the lyrics, that is, as we ve heard, all album long, the darker underbelly of existence is ever present, but there are times in which we can transcend that darkness and experienced true flight and are currently witnessing mac. Cultivating this. Track and to this point is no coincidence that as soon as the song ascends into its euphoric grew max days to track symbolic, centerpiece wrapping well, I'm a main tain. How I'm staying so high, but the latter all the way up till we touching the sky as we know for mac, the high and sky represent either happiness, fame or intoxication, though

the universality of this track, it seems like happiness or contentment as the central meaning here, while we ve just been warned that these feelings were ended, the hook the latter is offered as a tool to keep to climb going on and on. Interestingly, mac chooses a ladder and not something like an elevator or escalator, both mechanically driven tools in which the passenger exerts, no energy a ladder offers a road into the sky, so to speak, but is one that requires effort and energy. A fitting analogy for the effort required for self care. The ongoing pursuit of happiness back its express throughout swimming, as we mention at the top of the episode leaders, have been used throughout multiple religions of the connection between the earthly and spiritual worlds, or each step of the latter represents a stage and progression towards reaching god or enlightenment. some even interpret the wrongs on either side of the latter as representing duality which would allow nicely with max world view expressed throughout swimming, but I find it Is that on this particular track? The impression is that the music is acting as max ladder into the sky as we feel

a literal lift from dark to light from the song's intro into it's main musical material, aligning perfectly with max feelings that music was something he used to get out of his own head. He continues the verse, rapping and I know you're dead wrong. Your love with a lie. All I want to do is free your mind. It's not quite clear who the you is here, but they seem to be constricted in some fundamental way, as mac only wants to liberate them from the constraints they place on themselves, something that mac spoke of and interviews how he wants to be an inspiration for freedom of thought as nice to see kids, who who appreciate it and want something deeper and in want and want to want to push their mind. You know, and that's another part of revolution we're just trying to Tell these kids to expand your mind. You know, don't don't believe anything, don't even believe what I'm saying right now. Don't just don't believe anything. I contradict myself all the time. I always say something, and I completely just go back at the end of the sentence. If you notice

I say about stuff like yeah: Amanda did eleven, I'm like, but don't believe any of that matt continues. This theme of freedom in the verse rapping we don't see no lines. We dont color inside alluding to a coloring book, and thus the options open to a child mac promotes imagination, freely, exploring every part of who we are, which mac seem to personally. late to his art. That's what inspires me now. It's just like lack of a type of wine or any table. Like you know, it's music, we don't have rules this is. Why were here like music? coming based on what you think is cool sucks you like being worried about being cool the time. Is it there's a lot of people. I don't do things because ass like ass, not cool like it would be. When I was one of those people s You know there was a time when I was like I'm just never going to show my face cause that way I'll be cooler

I mean like that. It just doesn't matter like I kind of put myself out there and I'm either cooler lame or whatever, as Matt continues

First, he foreshadows the next song on the tracklist rapping, it's a very small world. We don't fuck with the size. Yeah see the bigger picture when it's beneficial, loving how I fit you max sort of points out his own foreshadowing, since he seeing the bigger picture by looking ahead at the next song small world. Here he continues the threat of wanting to free our minds from limited thinking and believes in our ability to realize this, since we don't fuck with the size and mac loves how he fits us, meaning that we're a match. However, mac could also be saying we don't fuck with the size as in we don't try and change the world. We just see the bigger picture and accept our reality as humans, with limited lifespans on this tiny earth floating in infinite space. We also recognize that max delivery is a homonym with loving how I fit. You also sounding like loving how official, which leads directly into the next line blow the whistle when you run out of time. This seems to tie to the previous line, as well as the passage of time on the hook running out of time being, when the night meets the light able to see the

bigger picture and feeling more free mac feels ready for those ships. Also, if you listen closely, you ll notice, tat after mac wraps blow the whistle when you run out of time does a pause in his flow, and we ve been here a high cynthia. You know like a whistle when, if waken cabal been asthma and if a young man, maybe dorothy why that is just so we were not observed. Somehow we gotta, as if Georgia, by that whistle tone mac, wraps waking up. I opened my eyes. Do you mind? If I blow your mind

considering that the whistle was blown when we ran out of time and now mac wakes up, it seems he's demonstrating the feeling of when the night turns to day. Mac opens his eyes a sign that he's aware ready for the new day, inviting mac then wraps a little closer baby. Don't be shy, why you worried that it's going to be fine here, Matt continues to simultaneously address us, a romantic partner and himself. He offers a simple breath of fresh air from the storms of anxiety that might take over our minds. Sometimes we worry that things won't go great, but really this means it could be just fine, which is what most things in life are. Neither great or terrible and as this middle state of find, that mac has been striving to find contentment with all album long. The most important thing maxing to be conveying that we can't let our worries prohibit us from going out there in the world. Something back was coming to terms with at the time of swimming, I feel a grace vase eat. I mean like that, the more stuff I get out in like do like you mean I was all worried

should have video and shouted video eyes had a great time, as you know, driven about doing it. I didn't realize: that's not that bad matt closes out the verse with some simple wisdom wrapping. I guess it's that kind of day. It's really all I'm trying to say you don't have a lot of time to waste. Somehow we gotta find a way his ability to still believe in finding a way shows that is able to handle when the night meets the light. When the high is over and normalcy, resumes max, hesitant wording of guess, kinder, really and somehow conveys at this advice isn't being offered as some commandment from

hi it's more of a conversation, while he's assuming a leadership role in this track. Mac is absolutely including himself and the universal we reminding us all of impermanence the advice as not to squander our limited time here, which is reinforced by the slant rhyme of waste, not quite fitting in with de se, and way max desire to find a way is uniting one. We gotta find a way. Imac seems to have found the will to go for it with us, as this call to community that unites the track, as it goes into the hook this time, backed by the energy of drums and bass, rather than the droning sense of the intro. We also get an additional post course, all of which will examine right after the break. This episode is brought to you by at last in when we were together impossible things aren't 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, 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, I come back to dissect before the break we heard max unifying call to somehow find a way which leads us into the second iteration of the hook. Yeah, Many of us, but in reality by the verses. Ending mac maintains focus on finding a way.

Time here is limited and the way evoke symbolism of the path of life. Our collective journey, as we said before mac has been looking for a way since come back to earth and the word comes up quite often throughout swimming given the diverse religious illusions throughout his work, we might understand mac the use of way as a nod to doubt or taoism, especially We consider one of dallas central symbols: the union was used in the art and merchandise for swimming. Thou ism as a philosophical or religious mindset of seeking harmony with dal, which translates to the way a description of the naturally fluid universe. Often, this can be represented by water that all of this, our existence in the world around us is water and are striving for a light meant and peace are striving to be water, the unions, bill represents the balance and harmony of our inherent tunis, the yen and yang or complimentary dependent on one another containing the s.

Of one another within themselves. The active and the receptive day and night encapsulated in a circle reflecting unending cycles We have observed back, highlight simultaneous dichotomy throughout swimming, be wings. The rose flight and others were getting a sense that each of these, as our own kind of gm Yang. Undeniably, this liquid concept of the way is tied to the alps central motif of swimming, which topics mac moving through and with the currents of our nebulous universe. Nothing is fixed Nothing lasts forever. Change as the only constant to swim in the universe is to act with the universe, to peggy are watery existence with effortless action. This is what mac is searching for: the swim through stressful waters, to relief The

pushing himself too to mac sings. I won't wait forever, just shoot your shot, you dont need no more, no extras. We all we got. This truth is the foundation for which we can act All we have is ourselves and each other. Thus we are all we need the impending end of time and are potential to miss our shots cannot and mobilise us. We don't need all the time in the world to live right now, we don't need perfection to act. The almost as if the punctuate max breakthrough of embracing the moment, an instrumental passage sores with the introduction of a horn section, adding celebratory fanfare to max call to action.

Interestingly, the horns play just too knows a g and an f but it's the rhythm on which these notes are played. That really makes a section impact for one: that's nearly impossible not to move to the rhythm misinterpreted, which is the placement of rhythmic, stresses or accents where they would normally occur. In other words, instead of playing precisely on the strong beats, the kind of bob and weave around them, adding complexity to the tracks rhythmic fabric, here's the horns would sound if there are played straight on the strong meat and now, as they appear in matters notice, how they just miss falling on the strong beats makes a big difference right,

Allegory in the rice, which is random, isn't the bible shin? Had a plan to change, can't stand the rain little delay, but I came when you call would flip or lose my grip now, but I do know this. You know me better now set up a nemesis to smell mac, dashes into the second verse, with the tent's interior, rime, wrapping all the lights flickering, hitting the right switches, I'm living this life different and missing the flight, for shedding, given that hitting the right switch, is a slang for being good in bed. It seems mac here is once again vaguely referring to a sexual partner missing his flight due to bullshit in a word mac, as used previously to mean, Bulging later in the outline, the song dunno hilda, a similar situation when he wraps, we was fucking almost miss my flight. I wasn't even tripping. I said it's all right: the flicker

lights could also be a reference to a lighter used to smoke. Hence he's living his life different and bullshit, and by imbibing in substances he knows, won't sustain him. This leads to the next lines. I had a plan to change. You can't stand the rain little delayed, but I came and you cool with it. We could easily extend the sexual innuendoes here with max indulgence, causing him to have trouble reaching orgasm, hence the line little delayed, but I came and you cool with it. This might be the reason he missed his flight, but given that rain has been a motif throughout the album symbolic of sadness or depression seems more likely. Mac here describing is ongoing struggle with making the right choices and his inability to stop bullshitting, who mac is speaking about, which seems to be a romantic partner. Wants him to change to experience sunlight unlikely, ditch the drugs mac is moving slowly towards that ties it all together by citing his delay, is caused by the rain, just as flights are often rain delayed? But despite these setbacks, maquisards, I don't trip flip

lose my grip, I dont know at all, but I do know this before you know me. Better, no self was a sense of boastful posturing here we know that mac has trip flipped and lost his grip at times. He's been very honest about that throughout the album, but this optimistic spirit about his ability to keep pushing finding a way is refreshing, and it feels more like MCA saying he's not going to trip over his trips, meaning he's learning to accept them, rather than prolonging them through work, we continue to possible romantic partner references. The phrase before you know me: better, no self might be a subtle nod to his long time. Girlfriend know me leisure, whose twitter handle is literally no me lee much of what mac says on matters can be interpreted as a conversation between him and a lover, and if this reference is intentional, it appears on and off again relationship reflects the ups and downs, max advice and actions but there is also a sense here that mac is continuing his universal address, offering a piece of wisdom about his audience, knowing themselves before attempting to know some one else.

something that a lot of us learn is a prerequisite for a healthy, long term. Relationship mac continues, playfully wrapping in this shit, so long that it don't smell the fuel cycle lyrical call back to the first first, when he wrapped that he was into some shit and out of the box. That line was delivered fifty four seconds into the sea and when he says I've been in this shit so long that it does smell. We are exactly two minutes and fifty four seconds into the song thus matches declaring that scientifically. It takes precisely two minutes for his nose to become accustomed to the smell of shit, to the point where it no longer registered as foul. This is crucial proof wisdom. Okay, so actually he's continued to point out is familiarity with the tumultuous highs and lows of life should smells, but also phrases like this is the shit to deem something great. So the word play reflects the message, and finally, herself up in her sister S. Now

down to the castle to enact cable grant s castle. Maybe this might have been too. Maybe we assign max you gotta makin, tedious, averse wrapping. I turned the hotel to a castle living like a king for a grand continuing the travelling images. Max hotels evoke the countless rooms he stayed enduring tours around the world. Turning each of these revolving rooms into a castle is likely a nod to drug use and parting in the room, thus feeling like a king. There is even a two thousand levin video by complex titled back miller, trashes hotel room the details how, in his younger days, mac tended to leave hotel rooms thrashed

it has been amazing because most people are just like man made and they come in ours and it's like obviously been smoked out and liquor spilled everywhere and on his throne. Mack continues his verse. I don't do nothing, that's a hassle. Besides, even at castle made of sand just might slip into the sea, every high or hotel room turned castle. Bender is going to end eroded by the tides and falling back into the sea. Symbolically, everything we attempt to build will fade with time our identities, our creations or societies. It's possible mac is also referencing. One of his favorite musicians

me hendricks and his song castles made a sand as medicine slips into lives throughout the song. Hendricks details, personal tragedies, but always ending with the refrain, and so castles made a sand slip into the sea. Eventually, it's a dirge for the lives. We try to construct ultimately falling to the passage of time, the indifferent nature of the universe. This actually isn't the first time mac pay homage to this Hendricks classic. On his two thousand nine mix tape the high life there's a song titled castles made a sad. It's you that mac expresses a different perspective on humans. Creating these

Annabelle facades. Now let me get a lot more, maybe even yoda website, I'm taking with the greatest thing, is major weapon. We limit the ban. You take him away in an outlook of pride, the eighteen year old, back wraps. If you sitting down, please stand because I'm on the rise and reside in this castle made of sand here, the castles made of sand, because mac is young and building with whatever is at hand like a child at the beach, these proud of it, even if it's just stand as he wrapped shortly after he swimming in the deepen you bitches, taking lessons this young passionate care, free version of back is going for it and despite the fact that the council or successes creating with his music by end one day, he's not letting that affect his outlook in the least,

his folly indulging in a moment if a youthful line of thinking in line with his reference departing in hotel rooms, but on ladders, mac is nearly a decade older and, with more experience and wisdom, he's clearly able to look at this more holistically understanding we're fully the duality of the sand castle. Symbol receives why he says just might slip into the sea playing into the swimming and water motifs of the album. He reminds us while water is the life giver, but also the life taker and everything we build. While we're here will one day perish. Machnik concludes the verse. Responding to this existential worry wrapping fuck at all. If it only me baby, we inside the maize, somehow we gotta, find away mac, uses amaze, a puzzling path that incites anxiety and cost her phobia for the symbol for the human condition, we're all going to die or planet is going.

and and in the meantime, we're all caught up in the maze of worries, anxieties, habits and addictions unable to live the lives we have. While we have them. However, once we realize that we're in the maze there's only one thing to do find a way move, swim. searching for the way is, let's get away Well done. The matter night after this repetition of the hook. We once again here that you for corn section it's a magnificent triumph our true a moving celebration of each other and the life we ve been gifted the only things we have for sure. While we're here we rise and we fall, we give advice to ourselves,

and we failed to heed it, we should our shot. Knowing we might miss, we build castles, knowing they will slip into the sea While these realities have the potential to paralyse us, ladders offers the flip side of this coin, reminding us that we To celebrate the shots that we do make and cherish the castle was still stands the the

conclusions sitting at the centre of the alps. Thirteen tracks ladder seems to reflect the clarity and listen mac learn through creating swimming, which is the longest amount of time he'd ever spent making an album. But this time it took me a while, figure out like what I wanted to say what kind of music I wanted to make, and it was just a lot of experimenting. So we finally landed on some type of a path and took my time by taking the time to search for that path. Mac found it, and that is the store swimming of searching for the way forward. The central symbol of the song ladder presents a tool for the climb. This vertical apparatus sits in the middle of swimming, as the album itself is constantly focused on altitude, whether it be the depth of the ocean or the skies above racine mac constantly oscillate between highs and lows, and we ve worried about inevitable

falls from the purchase of a ladder. Those fall still happen, but one stand back up. The ladder will still be there, but we also have to ask beyond ambiguous symbolism, what exactly is the latter while much like we learned in the previous track wings. It could be anything it's in whatever we find meaningful max or each other and the connections between us as one such ladder. That much is clear on this track, but we also sperience mac using music as his personal ladder, evident in the way he directly interacts with the song when he calls for whistle to be blown a high since plays. We knocks on our door. The drums kick in when he put the ladder to the sky. The music rises lay, while interacting with the song mac, also interacts directly with the listener talking to and with us? He encourages us not to wait forever, but instead to act in the music. Quite literally forces us to move to dance to feel the energy required for motion and just as mac was lifted by the music

so? Are we speak so the universal shared experience that music offers us that unifies us around rhythm, a literal pulse. We all share putting us in sing into the songs, call to recognise all we have, as each other. Indeed, music, at least for me has always been sacred, has always felt like a bridge between the earthly, in the divine when reaching its highest potential. When that perfect song plays at just the right time, and it feels like it was written precisely for you for that specific moment in your life, music connects us to something something beyond us beyond earth. Beyond words, some ineffable realm we get but rare glimpses of some call, this god or the divine or spiritual whatever. It is it's absolutely stunning, and if these rare but transcendent moments at macro just us to cherish, as are precisely the ones that make the often arduous, climb entirely worth it.

The long as music sacred lose me those were my lifelong learning area. These voices, the most sacred I would like, as long as that is the fundamental foundation of modern philosophy. Every single thing I do you get it How did you lose

the.