"A Time Like This" Lyrical Analysis

Micah has been posting a lyrical analysis for each of the tracks on his new album, "A Time Like This." For each one, over some undetermined and inconsistent amount of time, I will post the link and the particular portion of the track that stands out to me. I would encourage you all to listen to the album if you haven't already, and to dive into the individual analyses.

Visit Micah's "A Time Like This" Lyrical Analysis for more insight.

1- A Time Like This

Lyric:
"I been through enough and I’m ready to quit
I don’t wanna explain my pain to no prick
No mic no stage I’m ready to stay hid
But when I go to run away the fire gets lit
Deep within my skeleton"

Micah's analysis:
"The conviction in (Jeremiah) was too strong and would not tolerate his attempt to stop speaking the truth of God. 'If I say, I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot'” (Jeremiah 20:9).

My thoughts:
We all have things we are passionate about. Certain beliefs we hold dear, topics that we have strong opinions about, etc. When it comes to political/societal/moral issues, it's very easy for us to get bogged down by all that is present, and to individually want to pull back and remove ourselves from the conversations. When we do that, the passion does not wither and die. It still exists. When you know what is in your heart is right and needs to be heard, don't let that fire be extinguished. Maybe not to the point of raging, but that fire needs to burn bright for others to see and hear you. Progress is not attained on the strength of silence. Persevere, knowing the battle is worth fighting, no matter the cost.



2- Too Much?

Lyric:
"Done lost my way if I rise to the top of an exploitive
system unjust and corrupt
I seen what American Dreamin’ do to ya soul
Don’t let me be sedated by the power and the gold
Too many revolutionaries make a little dough
Then forget all of the people they was advocatin’ fo’"

Micah's Analysis:
"Many entrepreneurs and creatives of color start out with a mind to uplift their community, but are seduced by the american dream of incredible wealth available to those willing to compromise. Of course this is tempting to those who have known poverty for so long, but it is never worth it."

My thoughts:
In the most tangential moment of the track, Micah acknowledges that the pursuit of the "American Dream" is flawed. Essentially, I have been allotted a station in life, but I can change it and earn my way to the top if I so choose. However, this path often leaves others stuck in the situation I was originally in. We see this narrative play out all the time in media. The story of a lowly individual rising to power, along the way forgetting or harming those they were close to, only to realize their mistake and make amends in the end. The redemption side of things is usually left out of the real world. One need only have seen "The Greatest Showman" to have an example. The greatest conflict in the movie was not Barnum's original rise, but instead his abandonment of his friends and family once he achieved the success he so painstakingly sought. It is only once he realized his errors that he decided to focus on the important people in his life that he acquires true peace and happiness. This is not so easily played out in real life.



3- Fan Mail (ft. Propaganda)

Lyric:
"Gotta remember who you answer to
Who you write the anthems to
Who you raise ya hands to
Who dat Propaganda dude
Who be curing cancer
Who carry the answers
Who can unlock the dancers
Who be givin’ stanzas"

Micah's Analysis:
"When we fix our minds on the authority of God, the love of God, when we remember who we raise our hands and sing our songs for, when we remember the power of God to perform miracles, when we consider that God created us and knows us by name, we are no longer intimidated by those who might scorn us for being faithful to the call of God on our lives. Obviously, those who benefit from injustice will be critical of prophetic voices that call for the dismantling of unjust systems."

My thoughts:
This portion comes from Propaganda's verse on the track. As Micah says earlier in his analysis, "The tone of this song and album thus far is  aggressive. This however is not coming from a place of bitterness or hate. It is coming from a place of righteous anger and love." Society has a tendency to jump to conclusions and overreact about every opinion that is shared. Myself included. To move forward together we have to take a second to think about where the opinion is coming from and why it's being shared. This album is full of "controversial" thoughts and opinions, and it would be easy to come away from it thinking there is a lot of hate, blame, and disrespect going on, as if those things are the purpose. However, the source of those things is more than likely our own beliefs being challenged and us not knowing what to do about it. The album's focus, start to finish, is to glorify God and call attention to the unjust things that are happening in the world. Let us not be so quick to dismiss each other, but instead listen and ask questions.