If you’ve ever found yourself driving late at night with the windows down, there’s a high chance you’ve let that Thundercat bassline just wash over you. You know the one. It’s thick, it’s groovy, and it feels like a warm hug from a friend who’s seen some things. We're talking about what's the use mac miller lyrics, a track that somehow manages to be the funkiest song about a mental breakdown you’ve ever heard.
It’s been years since Swimming dropped in 2018, but the weight of this song hasn’t lightened. If anything, it’s heavier.
The "Juice" and the Tightrope Walk
Most people hear "What’s the Use?" and think it’s just a breezy summer anthem. On the surface, sure. It makes you want to move. But if you actually sit with the lyrics, Mac is basically narrating a tug-of-war with his own shadow.
When he says, "Get a little sentimental when I’m off the juice," he’s not talking about Tropicana. He’s talking about sobriety. Or the lack of it. It’s that raw, shaky honesty that defined the latter half of his career. He’s questioning whether he even needs the substances that "they" say he’s nothing without.
The brilliance of Mac Miller was his ability to hide a crisis inside a bop. He’s "so above and beyond," comparing his trajectory to Elon Musk’s space shuttles, yet he’s also admitting he’s "down 'til I'm out." It’s a paradox. You’re flying 30,000 miles in the air, but you’re also kind of terrified of the landing.
That Thundercat Magic (and a Snoop Cameo)
We can’t talk about the lyrics without talking about how they feel. Mac actually told Zane Lowe back in the day that the bassline was a total accident. Thundercat just walked in, picked up the instrument, and played that iconic riff on the first try. No warm-up. No "checking the notes." Just pure instinct.
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Then you’ve got Snoop Dogg and Syd from The Internet floating in the background. It’s a literal dream team. Snoop apparently recorded a bunch of "beautiful poetic shit-talking" for the outro that Mac ended up cutting, though he kept the tapes just to listen to them for fun.
The music is what makes the what's the use mac miller lyrics digestible. If this song were a slow, depressing ballad, it might be too hard to swallow. Instead, it’s a celebration of the struggle. It’s Mac saying, "Yeah, I’m going through it, but look how good this sounds."
Why the lyrics still matter right now
Honestly? Because we’re all still "swimming." The metaphor Mac built for the entire album—the idea of keeping your head above water just to survive—is universal.
In the first verse, he raps:
"I'm so above and beyond, you take drugs to make it up / Way up where we on, space shuttle, Elon"
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It sounds like a flex. But is it? Or is it a commentary on the isolation of being that high up? He mentions having no "exit plan." That’s a scary thought for a guy who was so open about his battles with addiction.
Breaking down the "Meatballs" sample
Have you ever noticed that weird speech at the beginning of the live versions or mentioned in the lore of the song? It’s Bill Murray from the 1979 movie Meatballs. He’s giving this ridiculous, nihilistic pep talk to a bunch of campers: "It just doesn't matter! It just doesn't matter!"
Mac loved that movie. But more than that, he loved the sentiment. It’s a way of dealing with the pressure of the world. If nothing matters, then the failure doesn't matter either. It’s a weirdly comforting form of nihilism that runs through a lot of Mac’s work. He felt like the world would always see him as "just another white rapper" or focus on his personal life (like the Ariana Grande breakup) rather than the art.
So, "What’s the use?" becomes a rhetorical question about effort versus outcome.
The Technical Brilliance of the Flow
Mac’s pocket on this track is insane. He’s not fighting the beat; he’s dancing with it.
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- Internal Rhymes: He stacks words like "witness," "trippin'," and "business" with a lazy, confident precision.
- The Tempo: It’s mid-tempo, which gives the words room to breathe. You don't miss the "Céline Dion" or "Elon" references because he’s not rushing.
- The Ad-libs: The "oohs" and "ah-has" add a layer of playfulness that masks the underlying tension.
He tells the sun to "Get up outta my shade." It’s such a clever, arrogant, beautiful line. He’s reclaiming his space.
What most people get wrong about this song
A lot of casual listeners think this is a "party song." I’ve seen it on "Good Vibes Only" playlists. And hey, the vibe is good. But if you’re only listening to the bass, you’re missing the man.
The song is actually a meditation on habit.
"What if I don't need it? There's something about it that just freaks me out."
That’s the core. The fear of who you are without your vices. Whether that vice is a drug, a person, or a public image. Mac was at a crossroads. He was 26, wealthy, famous, and deeply lonely in a way that only people who have everything can be.
How to actually apply the "Mac Miller mindset"
If you're vibing with these lyrics today, there's a practical takeaway here. Mac wasn't just complaining; he was processing.
- Acknowledge the funk: He literally said he was in a "funky time" in his life. Don't pretend you're fine when the bass is heavy.
- Find your "Thundercat": Surround yourself with people who can help you turn your "accidents" into something beautiful.
- Keep swimming: Even if you’re "off the juice" and feeling sentimental, you’re still moving.
Next Steps for the Mac Fan:
If you haven't seen it yet, go watch the NPR Tiny Desk version of this song. It’s arguably better than the studio version. You can see the genuine joy on Mac’s face when Thundercat hits those notes. It’s a reminder that even when the lyrics are heavy, the process of making something can be light. Also, take a second to listen to Circles right after—it’s the "shore" to Swimming’s "ocean."