What's the Use? – English Lyrics

• By: Mac Miller
• Album: Swimming

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

Yeah (ooh)

You can love it, you can leave it

They say you're nothin' without it

Don't let them keep you down (ooh)

What if I don't need it?

There's somethin' about it

That just freaks me out (ooh)

I just want another minute wit' it, fuck a little

What's the use? (Ooh)

Never superficial, you gon' know it when it hit you

Get a little sentimental when I'm off the juice (ooh), yeah

Yeah, okay, we're colder than the breeze

But the breeze ain't flowin' like me, motherfucker, hold up

You don't need to hold up

Yeah, and I can show you how I seem, what it is

What it truly might be, nothin' that you know of

You don't need to hold up

I'm so above and beyond, you take drugs to make it up

Way up where we on, space shuttle, Elon

Time, we don't waste much, fuck when we wake up

Then I have her sing just like Céline Dion

Catch me if you can, but you'll never catch me

Damn, whole lot a, "Yes, I am"

All the way in with no exit plan, already left

And the jet don't land

Yeah, the time is tickin', come take a ride, get inside

This is highly different, I'm talkin' fly, got a pilot wit' 'em, uh

Can I mind my business?

Why you trippin'? Give you somethin' that your eyes could witness

Ooh, you too close

I don't understand why you doin' the most (ooh-ah, ooh)

You can love it, you can leave it

They say you're nothin' without it

Don't let them keep you down (ooh)

What if I don't need it?

There's somethin' about it

That just freaks me out (ooh)

And I just (I just) want (want) another ('nother) minute (minute) wit' it

Fuck a little (little), what's the use? (What's the use? Ooh)

Never (never) super- (super-) 'ficial ('ficial)

You gon' (you gon') know it (know it) when it (when it) hit you (hit you)

Get a (get a) little (little) senti- (senti-) 'mental ('mental)

When I'm off the juice (turn it up)

Well, I'ma give you what you came for, yeah

Shit, I've worked too hard to have a clue who you are

Set the bar so far above par, we could parlay all day

Crib long range with the yard

I know I should probably pray more, but you gotta love me

'Cause I save the day, spend money

When I had nothin', shit, it wasn't so funny

Made a promise to the homies, nobody go hungry

Look how far we came, still they throwin' dirt on my name

But it never worry my brain

Heads turnin' like a hurricane swervin'

Tell the sun, "Get up outta my shade"

If they don't get the picture, cut 'em outta that frame, shit

I'm up 30 thou' miles plus change

It's been a while, but I'm down 'til I'm out

And it is what it is 'til it ain't, yeah

Ooh-ah, up above the clouds

I just wanna fly

Ah-ha

You can love it, you can leave it

They say you're nothin' without it

Don't let them keep you down (ooh)

What if I don't need it?

There's somethin' about it

That just freaks me out (ooh)

And I just (I just) want (want) another ('nother) minute (minute) wit' it

Fuck a little (little), what's the use? (What's the use? Ooh)

Never (never) super- (super-) 'ficial ('ficial)

You gon' (you gon') know it (know it) when it (when it) hit you (hit you)

Get a (get a) little (little) senti- (senti-) 'mental ('mental)

When I'm off the juice (juice, ooh)

...

You can love it

It just freaks me out

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to have a strong affection for someone or something
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something because it is essential or very important
down /daʊn/ A1	adverb - toward a lower place or position
minute /ˈmɪnət/ A2	noun - a unit of time equal to 60 seconds
freak /friːk/ B1	verb - to cause someone to become very anxious, afraid, or excited
show /ʃoʊ/ A2	verb - to let someone see something
witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ B2	noun - someone who sees an event happen, typically a crime or accident
space /speɪs/ B1	noun - an empty area or expanse; a physical or metaphorical distance
catch /kæʧ/ A2	verb - to capture or seize; to intercept
hard /hɑrd/ B1	adjective - solid, firm, and resistant to pressure; requiring a lot of effort
hurricane /ˈhɜːrəkeɪn/ C1	noun - a tropical cyclone with winds of 74 mph or faster
promise /ˈprɒmɪs/ B2	noun - a declaration or assurance that one will do something
different /ˈdɪf(ə)rənt/ B1	adjective - not the same as another or each other
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - a medium of exchange; currency

Key Grammar Structures

• You can love it, you can leave it

  ➔ Modal verbs + infinitive

  ➔ The use of "can" expresses possibility or permission. It's a common structure for offering choices or stating abilities. "You **can** love it" means it's permissible to love it, or you have the ability to.

• What if I don't need it?

  ➔ Conditional sentence (Type 2)

  ➔ This is a hypothetical situation. The structure is "What + if + past simple, would + infinitive". It explores a possibility that is unlikely to be true. The **'if'** clause sets up the condition, and the main clause expresses the consequence.

• Get a little sentimental when I'm off the juice

  ➔ Present Simple with adverbial clause of time

  ➔ The present simple describes a habitual action or a general truth. "When I'm off the juice" is an adverbial clause of time, telling **when** the sentimentality happens. "Juice" is slang for alcohol/drugs.

• I'm so above and beyond, you take drugs to make it up

  ➔ Adjective phrase + comma + clause

  ➔ "Above and beyond" is an idiomatic expression meaning exceeding expectations. The comma separates the descriptive phrase from the main clause. The second clause uses "to make it up" which means to compensate for something, implying the other person feels inadequate. **'You take drugs'** is the action.

• Can I mind my business?

  ➔ Question tag with infinitive

  ➔ This is a rhetorical question, often used to express annoyance or a desire to be left alone. The structure is a question formed by adding "Can I..." before a verb phrase. "Mind my business" means to not interfere in someone else's affairs. **'Can I'** is the question tag.