Released: 2018
“Small Worlds” by Mac Miller is a deeply introspective and melancholic track, iteratively exploring the rapper’s personal struggles, gilded existence, and the profound isolation that shadows success. In Miller’s universe, it’s clear that fame doesn’t always equate to happiness, and emotional strife can be amplified, not assuaged, by material wealth.
The track’s chorus, “The world is so small ’til it ain’t, I’m building up a wall ’til it break,” is a vivid depiction of Miller’s restrictive fame. The world may seem small when you’re under the microscope, but it does get big – and lonely – when you’ve built emotional walls to protect yourself from it. The repeated line “I don’t want to keep you waiting” may suggest anxiety about maintaining relevance in the music industry, even as he struggles with his inner demons.
The first verse opens with Miller acknowledging his lack of omniscience: “I think I know it all but I don’t,” followed by a veiled critique on consumerism: “Why you always at the mall when you broke?” The mention of wanting to “ball” and “dunk” could be a clever wordplay on his ambition to succeed in music, even though he feels he may not have the inherent advantages (“height”) that other artists might possess. When he says, “I might trip, I never fall,” he’s addressing his resilience in the face of challenges.
Further into the verse, Miller exposes the irony of riches with “You never told me being rich was so lonely.” This line is as resonant as it is bleak, illustrating the scarcity of true companionship when you’re at the pinnacle. The contrast continues with “Hard to complain from this five-star hotel,” effectively balancing his lamentation with the recognition of his privileged position.
The repetitive verse “Today (day), today (day),” could be an allusion to mindfulness, urging us to stay in the present moment instead of worrying about the future or dwelling on the past.
The second verse shows Miller’s lyrical mastery with lines like “got a bad attitude, playin’ ’til I’m out of moves.” His prowess also extends to his use of metaphorical language. He refers to his cold, unfeeling nature as “it’s cold in my veins, I’m below freezing,” and “snow season”, tying it with his need for personal space.
The introspective tone continues, “Don’t wanna grow old, so I smoke just in case,” showing his fear of aging and the impermanence of his fame while the line, “stroke is just so PGA,” uses golf as a metaphor for sexual prowess. His introspection is juxtaposed with moments of self-preserving humor, demonstrating his ability to find levity in the midst of struggle.
The song’s final verse, “nine times out of ten, I get it wrong,” provides a raw confession of imperfection and vulnerability. “That’s why I wrote this song, told myself to hold on,” he states, signalling the therapeutic nature of his lyrical expression. When Mac declares, “I can feel my fingers slippin’ / In a motherfuckin’ instant, I’ll be gone,” he foreshadows his imminent loss of control, tragically prophetic given the circumstances of his untimely death.
“Small Worlds” stands as a moving exemplar of Mac Miller’s talent for raw and introspective lyricism. It provides a sober reminder of the human beneath the stardom and the struggles that fame can often mask. As listeners, we witness Miller grappling with the realities of his world—a world that, while small in the scope of fame, grew increasingly vast and isolating on a personal level. Forever confined to the amber of this track, Mac’s pleas for understanding echo long after the final beat drops.
