MIRAGE

[Intro: Quelle Chris]

Mira— (Uh)

[Verse 1: Quelle Chris & Earl Sweatshirt]

Stepped out like Scooby-Doo and the gang

With a sack of treats as the case completes, the villains knew the name

We was stuffin' chillums with that lame

Back when dime sacks was the thing

Now we glide 'cross skies like Liu Kang, no shame

We carried the state on our back like new quarter change

Rats was at 'em like Elmira to Maximillian

I was focused on the craft, I knew racks was in the cards (I knew it)

Sort of mutant, I seemed to see through the ceilings

Some homies hid under tables, my head was up in the stars (Up in the stars, nigga)

That's real large

I know niggas that caved in, but still gods

Some said it's pre-programmed, some state it's up to Allah

You ask me, it's all part the mirage, ah-ha-ha

[Refrain: Merrill Garbus & Quelle Chris]

(Don't think he was—)

Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh (Who's that? No mir—)

(It's Chris and Q in the Subaru)

Ooh, ooh, yay (Don't think it was and when it was— woah, no mirage)

Yeah, yeah, yay (Mirage)

Yeah, yeah, oh

[Verse 2: Earl Sweatshirt, Merrill Garbus & Quelle Chris]

I thought I saw a fountain

I thought I saw me on the other side of the see-saw mounted

Bouncing, on the up-and-up, countin' downers (Ooh, yay)

The rate flounder-flat to bring you 'round the bend and back

But now what? (Yeah, yeah, yay)

The hour's not a alibi, doesn't add up

You out of time, fried like halibut with two sides (Yeah, yeah, ah)

Smizing for the camera, I surmise

The lie what did the damage

Had to leave you where the treatise was signed

And switched the plan up, boundaries get redefined (Ooh, yay)

I read the vines, it's a madness, we hacking limes, sink my teeth

Way past the meat into the rind when I grab it (Yeah, yeah, yay)

The bittersweetness of times I wished to capture (Yeah, yeah, oh)

Abandon reason for the slime of greener pastures

They tried to leave me, couldn't find me when I finally answered

Tiny dancer, hold me closer, don't be sliding backwards

Forward further like AKAI told me on ATOHAE

The soil's planted, the hands scrape the sky (Yeah, yeah, oh)

When the chances that the medevacs left was hella high

We hit the tavern for some gin and rye

Whiskey gingerly applied

The image shifted side to side in the distance

You tripping over lines (Ooh, yay)

Slipping, we been to— (Yeah, yeah, yay)

[Refrain: Earl Sweatshirt, Merrill Garbus & Quelle Chris]

Yeah (Don't think it wasn't when it was— no mirage)

Lost friends in the darkness (Yeah-yeah, oh)

[Verse 3: Denmark Vessey & Merrill Garbus]

Oh yeah, hit me in the heart one day, it's just words

A string of letters I smashed together

Some random sequence calls to cast the weather

Insha'Allah, could last forever

I don't have to be here, but I made it through

Through a maelstrom

The director's cut might not even make the album cut

That's where the melanated, melancholy style's from

Fly, birdie, fly, be as wise as the owl

Keep the eye of the falcon that's eyein' the sparrow

I know my daughter's watching, I know you watch me

I know the times rocky, I know it's hard to remember, it blurred

December was brr

My ten toes dig in the dirt, feeling the earth

I'm willing to merch, fourth quarter, final, moxie (Ooh-ooh, yay)

It was dark, like the light forgot me (Yeah, yeah, yay)

Oh Lord, then a spark (Yeah, yeah, oh)

Innocent of sins, rosemary

When reality bit, it pierced my heart but lifted hardships

My soul carried a voice close near me

Said, "Don't be so scary, enjoy your thirties"

Listen, I'm still looking for father figures

Around me, in even niggas who clowned me

The last laugh is a nectar

But the sweetest get-back is being completely free (Facts)

Completely me

The smell of burnt sage, let the seasons reap

Don't overthink it, breathe deep frequently

[Refrain: Merrill Garbus & Quelle Chris]

Ooh, yay (Don't think it was and when it was— no mirage)

Yeah, yeah, yay (No mirage)

Yeah, yeah, oh (No mirage)

[Bridge: Merrill Garbus]

Do-do-do, do-do-do

Ooh, ooh, yay

Yeah, yeah, yay

Yeah, yeah, oh

Do-do-do-do, do-do-do

Ooh, ooh, yay

Yeah, yeah, yay

Yeah, yeah, oh

[Outro: Big Sen & Merrill Garbus]

Yeah, feels good to be back

I spend most of my days now

In my garden, growin' food and medicinal plants (Ooh, yay)

And shit that we smoking on now type-of-thing (Yeah, yeah, yay)

And pondering the next moves, you know what I'm saying? (Yeah, yeah, oh)

Like, what the fuck is going on out here?

We all know something is, you know, around the corner

And we feel it in our souls, it's manifesting itself (Ooh, yay)

In our art, even (Yeah, yeah, yay)

The movies we make are largely dystopian, post-apocalyptic (Yeah, yeah, oh)

I think we all just trying to make sense of it somehow and that's cool

Sometimes, it just be them seasons (Ooh, yay)

Predatory capitalism and all the 'isms, you know what I'm saying? (Yeah, yeah, yay)

And everybody's fed up (Yeah, yeah, oh)

And people don't know what to do, so we make our art and art is beautiful

But art is also the truth (Ooh, yay)

So we know you know, come on, you know

You know you know you know (Yeah, yeah, yay)

So what are you doing about it? (Yeah, yeah, oh)

Most people just waiting for something to happen without even preparing for anything, you know what I'm saying?

Right now, Ukraine, power off

Venezuela, they shut the power off (Ooh, yay)

Just this week, fourty-four million people, South America, power off (Yeah, yeah, yay)

That's how we start modern warfare nowadays (Yeah, yeah, oh)

We just cut your power and your internet off

Give that one week without your lil' faucet running and your lil' water coming out

And your refrigerator not being on and shit (Ooh, yay)

And your diabetes medication not being cold (Yeah, yeah, yay)

And you assed out

Make your actions match your ambitions to survive (Yeah, yeah, oh)

You need to get ready like we are

That means being in shape

That means being in touch with your ancestors and your spirituality (Ooh, yay)

You feel me?

What's gon' come to pass is what's gon' come to pass (Yeah, yeah, yay)

All that voting and all that shit, you can do that, that's cool (Yeah, yeah, oh)

But that ain't gon' stop it

It's, it's already on the way, you know what I'm saying?

So, just buckle up, have a good time, you know (Ooh, yay)

Security is largely a superstition, it does not exist in nature (Yeah, yeah, yay)

Life is either a grand adventure or nothing, baby (Yeah, yeah, oh)

Go have your adventure, 'cause I'm having mine

Big Sen, peace out, one love

Ooh, yay

Yeah, yeah, yay

Yeah, yeah, oh