"Rick's Piano," a posthumous track from Mac Miller's Balloonerism, offers a hauntingly beautiful introspection on the artist's life, struggles, and philosophical musings. The song begins with a soft, minimalist instrumental, featuring a mellow piano that perfectly complements Mac's reflective lyrics. This gentle production, paired with the slow-paced rapping, creates an intimate atmosphere that feels both personal and vulnerable. It's a piece that resonates with listeners, particularly those familiar with Mac's battles with mental health and substance abuse, as it encapsulates his search for meaning in the face of personal turmoil.
The Story Behind the Song
The backstory behind the song adds another layer of depth, as revealed in The Book of Mac: Remembering Mac Miller. Originally titled "Rick Rubin's Piano," the track's name references a field recording of Mac playing piano during a trip to Rick Rubin's iconic Shangri-La studio. The playful exchange between Mac and producer Josh Berg at the beginning of the track—where they joke about the piano's origins—adds a sense of warmth, grounding the song in a more light-hearted moment before it shifts into a deeper, more reflective tone.
Lyrical Exploration of Death and Purpose
Lyrically, "Rick's Piano" is rife with introspection and philosophical questions, particularly surrounding death, purpose, and human connection. Mac's lyrics—such as "What does death feel like?" and "Why does death steal life?"—reveal his ongoing grappling with existential themes. These reflections are not merely academic musings but an emotional exploration of Mac’s own struggles. Lines like "The best is yet to come" suggest a glimmer of hope amid the darkness, a message that contrasts with the song's overall somber tone. The track's recurring themes of time, healing, and self-awareness feel like a continuation of Mac’s journey from the raw vulnerability of Faces to the more self-aware reflections found in Swimming.
Simple yet Powerful Production
The production on "Rick's Piano" is understated yet incredibly effective. The song's simplicity—driven primarily by a calm, repeating piano melody—creates a meditative space for Mac's vocals to take center stage. This minimalist approach contrasts sharply with some of Mac’s more complex, layered productions from earlier works, showing his growth as an artist in the final years of his life. The song’s slow, almost hypnotic rhythm enhances its reflective quality, allowing the listener to fully absorb the emotional weight of the lyrics without distraction.
Ricks Piano Review: A Tribute to Growth and Struggle
"Rick's Piano" is a testament to Mac Miller’s ability to blend vulnerability with intellectual curiosity. The song captures a moment in time where Mac was navigating his personal demons while also seeking clarity and understanding. In the context of Balloonerism, it serves as both a tribute to his friendship with Rick Rubin and a poignant reminder of the struggles Mac faced. It’s a track that lingers long after the final notes fade, offering listeners both comfort and contemplation in equal measure.
Listen to Mac Miller Ricks Piano
Mac Miller Ricks Piano Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of Rick's Piano by Mac Miller is a poignant exploration of the complexities of fame, self-doubt, and existential questioning. Through the lens of introspective lyricism, Mac reflects on his journey as an artist, grappling with the pressures of success and the uncertainty of life. The song blends playful elements with dark, contemplative themes, with Mac confronting deep, personal struggles, including his thoughts on death and the fear of losing himself in the face of growing fame. The presence of his Delusional Thomas persona and recurring references to hope amidst chaos offer a duality of vulnerability and self-assurance, hinting at the evolution that would define his future work.
Introduction: Playful Tone and Foreshadowing
The song opens with a playful interaction between Mac Miller and Josh Berg, introducing Rick Rubin’s piano. The repeated line “The best is yet to come” is emphasized, possibly foreshadowing Mac’s artistic evolution, as the song blends whimsicality with darker introspection.
E.T.'s Not Dead: A Metaphor for Addiction
The line “E.T.'s not dead, he's just a little bit faded” is a reference to the 1982 film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In the movie, E.T. appears to die but is later revived. The line suggests a metaphor for drug addiction, implying that E.T.’s "death" in the film mirrors the state of being "faded" or lost to addiction. This ties into Mac's reflections on his own struggles with fame and substance use, which is a recurring theme in his work.
Fear of Success and Becoming “Jaded”
Mac also expresses a sense of discomfort with the growing recognition he's receiving in the lines, “Please don't give me any credit, that's how people get jaded / Please don't nod your head, and please don't tell me I made it.” At this stage in his career, Mac was still climbing to fame, particularly post-Watching Movies with the Sound Off. Although he was gaining more recognition, he was cautious about embracing it fully. He feared that acknowledging his success would distance him from the artist he was when he started. He didn’t want to fall into the trap of becoming “jaded” or disconnected from his roots. Mac didn’t want his success to corrupt him or turn him into someone he wasn't, and this vulnerability is key to understanding his fears about fame.
Delusional Thomas: Hope Amidst Chaos
The repeated phrase “The best is yet to come” is spoken by Delusional Thomas, a persona Mac created that wrestles with self-doubt, confusion, and existential crises. By having this character deliver the line, it takes on a heavy emotional significance. Despite the chaos and turmoil the character represents, the line embodies a moment of hope and self-affirmation. Mac’s life and career did, in fact, evolve into something more substantial in the years following the song, validating the idea that the best was still ahead of him. This notion carries an additional weight when considering the trajectory of albums like Faces (2014), GO:OD AM (2015), The Divine Feminine (2016), Swimming (2018), and Circles (2020).
Regret and Fame's Pressures
In “I had to go to California, she wished that I never moved,” Mac explores the regret he might feel about his fame, particularly the lifestyle shift that comes with relocating to Los Angeles. The line hints that fame’s pressure and the chaotic nature of California weren’t what he expected. He may have yearned for a quieter, simpler life, away from the constant spotlight.
Struggling with Mental Health and Suicidal Thoughts
The dark line “I shot myself on my birthday, fell into the ocean / Listened to their voices, I was lost in the commotion” alludes to Mac’s emotional turmoil and his struggle with mental health. This connects to earlier work in Faces, where Mac grapples with suicidal thoughts and feelings of isolation, vividly recalling a conversation with a captain at sea. The ocean imagery reflects a desire to escape or “slip away” from the emotional noise around him. The line is jarring and deeply personal, offering a glimpse into Mac’s internal battle.
Hope and Existential Questions
The repeated declaration “The best is yet to come” serves as both a reminder of hope and a mantra amidst chaos. It contrasts sharply with the introspective, heavy thoughts surrounding death and existential questions throughout the song. These questions, such as “What does death feel like?” are central to Mac’s exploration of life and mortality. Death is a topic that consistently appears in his music, revealing his ongoing curiosity and fear of the unknown. The repeated questioning of what death feels like and why death “steals light” underscores Mac’s search for meaning and understanding. It expresses a sense of helplessness and confusion regarding the inevitability of death and its impact on life.
Emotional Weight and Final Reflection
In the outro, the repeated cries of “Oh my God” express a mix of disbelief, anguish, and introspection, encapsulating the raw emotional weight of the song. This final expression amplifies the uncertainty and complexity of Mac's inner world, as he grapples with existential questions, the weight of fame, and the meaning of his own struggles.
Tomorrow Will Never Know Meaning: Artistic Evolution and Personal Struggles
Ultimately, the song encapsulates Mac Miller's exploration of fame, existentialism, and his constant internal struggle, all while hinting at the personal growth and eventual artistic evolution that would come in his future works.
Mac Miller Ricks Piano Lyrics
[Intro: Mac Miller & Josh Berg]
Uh, Josh (Yes?)
Knock, knock (Who's there?)
Rick Rubin (Rick Rubin who?)
Rick Rubin's piano (Ayy), alright (Yes)
Enough fuckin' around (Okay)
Yeah
Yeah (Yeah, yeah), wake up (Wake up)
Open up your eyes, I told you wake up (Wake up)
All of y'all are still bitches, but
A smile just in place of your make up (Your make up)
The best is yet to come (Yeah)
(What?) Yeah (What?)
[Verse: Mac Miller & Delusional Thomas]
E.T.'s not dead, he's just a little bit faded
Please don't give me any credit, that's how people get jaded
Please don't nod your head, and please don't tell me I made it
'Cause people start to get worse once they think they the greatest (The greatest; Be patient)
The best is yet to come (The best is yet to come), yeah (Yeah)
I told her, "It get better soon"
I probably shoulda told her when she was in a better mood
She lookin' at me like, "Anyone, except for you"
I had to go to California, she wished that I never moved
Said, "Baby, the best is yet to come," yeah (The best is yet to come)
I wonder if the blind mice even wanna see
I wonder if a deaf father ever hear his daughter scream (Scream)
Is there a heaven? Can you see the god in me? I don't know, probably
But for now we'll keep waitin' (Waitin')
'Cause the best is yet to come, yeah (The best is yet to come)
And, I wonder if the truth come with a song
And if it do, will we ever get to sing along?
Spend her paycheck on that lingerie, she scared to put it on
She never let her boyfriend see her in a thong, but
The best is yet to come (The best is yet to come)
I shot myself on my birthday, fell into the ocean
Listened to their voices, I was lost in the commotion
None of us are chosen, I forgive 'em for their ignorance, but
What's a man gotta do for a little bliss? (Fuck the future)
The best is yet to come (The best is yet to come)
[Chorus: Mac Miller]
What does death feel like?
What does, what does death feel like? Oh, oh my God
What does death feel like?
I wonder, what does death feel like? Oh my, my God
What does death feel like?
What does, what does death feel like? (Oh) Yeah
Why does death steal life?
Why does, why does death steal life? Oh, oh my God
Why does death steal life?
Why does, why does death steal life? Oh my, my God
Why does death steal light?
Why does, why does death steal light? Oh my God
[Outro: Mac Miller]
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God
Oh my God, oh my God, oh, oh, my, my
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God
Oh, oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah
Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God
My, my, my, my, my