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Mac Miller Excelsior Meaning and Review 

Updated: Jan 19


Track Overview: A Mellow Vibe

Excelsior from Mac Miller’s posthumous album Balloonerism is a tranquil, introspective track that masterfully captures the essence of Mac's signature style. The song’s minimalist instrumentation, featuring a laid-back drum beat and sparse production, creates an atmosphere of relaxation. Mac Miller's delivery is soft and chilled, effortlessly blending into the dreamy soundscape as he reflects on the innocence of childhood and the inevitable encroachment of adulthood. The track feels like a slow, contemplative walk through memory, where each lyric evokes a sense of nostalgia and longing for simpler times.


Storytelling and Childhood Reflections

In the verse, Mac’s vivid storytelling takes center stage. He paints a picture of a childhood playground where social dynamics begin to form, and children, in their innocence, navigate life’s early lessons. The mention of characters like Timmy, Johnny, Max, and Claire is a subtle commentary on how early experiences shape us, especially in terms of social hierarchies and societal pressures. Mac highlights the beauty of childhood imagination and freedom, questioning when life became so serious. His delivery of the line "Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels?" underscores this longing for the untainted joy of youth, where life was nothing but playful fantasy and simple pleasures.



The Loss of Innocence

The contrast between the carefree days of childhood and the harsh realities of adulthood is central to the song's thematic core. Mac's reference to the “brainwash” and how children are slowly shaped by the expectations and limitations of the adult world adds a layer of melancholy. The track becomes an exploration of loss—not just of innocence but also of the world where imagination and whimsy reigned. There’s a palpable sense of grief as he asks when life became so serious and reflects on what was left behind.


The Surrealism of Delusional Thomas

Delusional Thomas, a recurring character in Mac’s music, makes a brief yet intriguing appearance in the track, adding a touch of surrealism to the already dreamy atmosphere. His presence in the song serves as a reminder of Mac’s creative versatility and his ability to blend different personas within his musical universe. The inclusion of this character, along with the playful “Abracadabra” outro, further emphasizes the sense of magic and fantasy that runs throughout the track. The repetition of “Excelsior” in the outro serves as both a declaration and a mantra—an uplifting word that suggests rising above and reaching for something greater, even amidst the complexities of life.


Excelsior: A Poignant Meditation on Growing Up

Excelsior stands as a poignant testament to Mac Miller’s ability to convey profound emotions with simplicity. The track feels like a meditation on growing up, the loss of innocence, and the longing to return to a time of pure joy. It showcases Mac’s lyrical depth and his uncanny ability to capture the bittersweetness of life in a way that is both reflective and soothing. As the last notes fade, the listener is left with a lingering sense of nostalgia, a reminder of how fleeting those carefree moments of childhood truly are.



Listen to Mac Miller Excelsior 




Mac Miller Excelsior Lyrics Meaning Explained

The meaning of Excelsior by Mac Miller is a poignant exploration of the transition from childhood innocence to the complexities of adulthood. Through reflective lyrics, Mac delves into the nostalgia of a simpler time, where life was driven by imagination and playful experiences, such as wanting to be a wizard or enjoying the innocence of apple juice and cartwheels. The song contrasts this carefree world with the realities of growing up, where childhood wonder is often replaced by the burdens of responsibility and societal pressures. Ultimately, Excelsior is about holding onto that inner child and resisting the forces that attempt to strip away the magic and creativity that define our early years.



Lyric Analysis: “Johnny's dad got a nicer car than all the other kids”

This line plays on the concept of a child's understanding of wealth and status. Mac introduces a sense of inequality within a group of children—one of whom is privileged with a “nicer car.” The phrase is especially impactful because it hints at a lie or misconception. If the children are indeed orphans, Johnny’s claim about his father owning a nicer car is a falsehood. This serves as a subtle commentary on how children begin to form social hierarchies based on material possessions, even before they fully understand the complexities of life. It also ties into the central theme of Excelsior, highlighting the gap between the idealistic world of childhood and the harsh reality they eventually face. Imagination and innocence mask these truths, as children live in a world before reality sets in.


Lyric Analysis: “Life is fantasy and somersaults then / Before the world tear apart imagination”

Here, Mac reflects on the magical nature of childhood, where life is purely imaginative and filled with play, symbolized by “fantasy and somersaults.” He contrasts this innocence with the intrusion of adult reality, which is represented as something that “tears apart imagination.” This line is a reminder of Mac’s recurring theme of growing up and the inevitable loss of childhood wonder. Similar to his line in I Can See (“Life is a fantasy until you wake up in shock”), Mac suggests that life’s innocence is disrupted when the complexities and struggles of adulthood surface. The playful, carefree energy of childhood, where imagination reigns, is eventually replaced by the sobering responsibilities and limitations of being an adult. Mac captures this shift as a painful awakening, emphasizing the importance of holding onto one’s inner child even as life becomes more complex.


Lyric Analysis: “Your only enemies were (Want some Brussels sprouts and spinach?)”

This playful line humorously reflects a child’s simple worldview, where enemies aren’t people or forces but mundane struggles like eating vegetables. The question about Brussels sprouts and spinach is a typical child’s reaction to foods they dislike. Mac is illustrating how, in childhood, life’s conflicts are trivial and almost comical in comparison to the serious challenges one faces as an adult. The phrase also evokes nostalgia for simpler, less stressful times, reinforcing the song's central theme of holding onto that sense of innocent perspective. In a way, Mac is suggesting that adulthood comes with an accumulation of more “serious” enemies—real problems—but that childhood’s “enemies” were much more innocent and fleeting, such as a distaste for vegetables.



Lyric Analysis: “Me, I used to want to be a wizard, when did life get so serious? / Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels? / Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels?”

In these lines, Mac mourns the loss of the whimsical and imaginative thoughts that fill childhood. “I used to want to be a wizard” reflects the boundless creativity that children possess—when anything feels possible, even becoming a magical figure. The question “When did life get so serious?” echoes a deep sense of nostalgia for the time when life was carefree, simple, and full of wonder. The repetition of “Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels?” underscores the innocence and joy that comes with childhood—activities like drinking juice or running around doing cartwheels are symbolic of a time before adult pressures take over. Mac’s reflection here invites the listener to consider the importance of nurturing the next generation and ensuring they have a fulfilling childhood, untouched by the harshness of reality. The sentiment could also be a plea to recapture that feeling of freedom and wonder before it fades completely.


Lyric Analysis: “Abracadabra / Abracadabra / Abra-cadabra (Hahaha) / Abracadabra / Vadacadous / Excelsior”

The outro of Excelsior is playful, whimsical, and intentionally loose. The repeated “Abracadabra” calls upon the magic and fantasy of childhood, an attempt to recapture the sense of wonder that characterized youth. The use of “Abracadabra” evokes the image of a child performing magic tricks or pretending to cast spells. It’s an invitation to let go, to embrace the irrational joy and freedom that comes with being a child. However, Mac’s laughter and the abrupt shift to “Vadacadous” and “Excelsior” add a layer of irony—he's aware that this is a fleeting, euphoric moment. Much like the high of youth, this joy will eventually subside, leaving him back in the reality of adulthood. “Excelsior,” which means “ever upward,” offers a hint of hope and resilience, suggesting that, despite the inevitable loss of innocence, there is still room for growth and progress. Mac reminds us that we can still reach for something higher even after the carefree days of childhood are gone.


In Excelsior, Mac Miller captures the universal journey from the innocence of childhood to the complexity of adulthood. Through reflective and nostalgic lyrics, he urges listeners to hold on to their inner child, even in the face of life’s challenges. His clever use of playful imagery and sound, combined with deeper reflections on reality and imagination, makes this track a poignant exploration of growing up while still clinging to the magic of youth.


Mac Miller Excelsior Lyrics 

[Intro: Mac Miller]

Yeah, yah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Yeah (Yeah), um


[Verse: Mac Miller & Delusional Thomas]

On Fourth Street, the orphan children play on the jungle gym

Little Timmy broke his arm again on the monkey bars

Johnny's dad got a nicer car than all the other kids

He becomes the alpha and picks on everybody else

Max protects Claire from all the bullies

Claire always wish she was as pretty as Julie

The boys always chase Julie around the sandbox

Claire just waits 'til she gets picked up by her grandpa

All of this before the brainwash starts

Before they get polluted, start thinkin' like adults

Life is fantasy and somersaults then

Before the world tear apart imagination

Before there were rules, before there were limits

Your only enemies were (Want some Brussels sprouts and spinach?)

Me, I used to want to be a wizard, when did life get so serious?

Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels?

Whatever happened to apple juice and cartwheels?


[Outro: Mac Miller]

Abracadabra

Abracadabra

Abra-cadabra (Hahaha)

Abracadabra

Vadacadous

Excelsior


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