By: Nataly Clark
Nataly Clark
English 102
Prof. Miller
Review a text: Jet Fuel by Mac Miller
The song “Jet Fuel” by Mac Miller is a song he wrote about his struggles with addiction. The title is a direct metaphor for the drugs and alcohol he uses. Miller, who died of a drug overdose in September of 2018, is trying to warn listeners the dangers he was going through and the outcomes of what could happen if they got addicted to drugs. His song seemed to have 4 main themes he mentions: water, the sky, self-appreciation/awareness, and loneliness.
In the first verse, Miller mentions theme one, water. He says, “Now my head underwater but I ain’t in the shower and I ain’t getting baptized” (Miller). The mentions of the water are talking about how he’s “underwater” for positive outcomes. The shower represents becoming clean of addiction, while being baptized would be a forgiveness of his sins. Instead, he is being dragged under from his addiction. He then goes on to talk about other things, such as his rap skills. Mac says, “All I wanna do is the most/ Backflip off the rope, sky hook when I’m in the post” (Miller). He’s going to great lengths to use his drug usage and his ambitions to become the greatest artist, hence doing the most. Sky hook is a basketball move that is very difficult and almost unguardable and uses this to compare his rap skills. He is saying his rap skills are untouchable and no one can compare to them.
In the pre-chorus he says, “Woke up this morning with a bright idea (smoke)” (Miller). He is explaining that he smokes to escape his daily realities. He’d rather be in a high state than a sober state. This is because he feels more like himself high. He then goes on to say, “Maybe I can exist forever right here” (Miller). He is saying he would rather exist and live in this moment of his high, than to go on living a full life sober.
The chorus brings up another theme; the sky. Mac talks about being in the clouds, which represents his high. In the sky he is floating and flying, bringing him to a sense of peacefulness. He says that he will return to earth when he runs out of “jet fuel” (his drugs/alcohol), but unfortunately due to the amounts of money he has, his source of drugs is never ending.
In his second verse, his final two themes are mentioned. In this verse he talks about how he’s brutally honest, and how he doesn’t limit himself to what he can succeed. “Everybody wanna jump in but I’m old school, lone wolf, take em off solo/Yeah, I don’t need nobody (I don’t need nobody!) I don’t need to be nobody (I don’t need to be nobody) I’m just doing my thing” (Miller). In these lines, he is appreciative of himself and he feels as if he doesn’t need anybody but himself (rather go solo). However, he is isolated from everyone around as a result of his addiction, therefore making him lonely. He also talks about how he doesn’t need anyone else’s negativity in his life. “So over there with that bullsh*t/We don’t need it on this side” (Miller)
Finally, in his outro he vocalizes, “Fate in your hands/While you’re waiting for me/I’m already there/Falling in deep/ Now is only now/Head back to the ground, dear” (Miller). This means that the drugs are always there waiting for him during his brief periods of sobriety. His fate is in the drug’s “hands” and the outcomes for his life are now determined by his addiction. He only plans on using the drugs for the moment being, and he will head back to the ground (sober up) when he is finished.
This song is very influential and does a good job of showing the singer’s emotions throughout. Mac Miller does well overall presenting his themes. Listeners can learn from the song, because it gives a very meaningful message. Drug and alcohol abuse can be very dangerous and, in some cases, deadly (such as in Mac Miller’s case).
Works Cited
“Jet Fuel by Mac Miller.” Genius, genius.com/Mac-miller-jet-fuel-lyrics. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020.
Creative Minds 