On the Level Lyrics
Boy, this could be your year
Make an old man proud of you, forget about the tears
On the level, see me eye-to-eye
Stand up like a man even from the other side
[Chorus]
On the level
On the level
[Verse 2]
Man, I never had a choice
Never had a chance, never had a voice
On the level, carrying a name
Fall until my final day, now, who's there left to blame?
[Chorus]
On the level
On the level
On the level
On the level
On the level
On the level
On the level
About
It feels as though Mac is echoing similar themes from ‘My Old Man’ in this track, namely the realisation of getting older and the passing of the torch from father to son.
The first verse is from the perspective of the father, speaking to the son (Mac) about his success and wanting to forget the past. The second verse could be from either perspective; Mac’s relationship with his father, and his father’s recognition of his platform are equally fitting.
The pre-chorus carries a cyclical nature – each following the footsteps of their fathers until they are the last ones left with nobody else to blame for the way their lives have gone. This ties in with the chorus ‘On the level, on the level’ to signify a shared feeling, an equality between the two.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
Mac told Pitchfork:
It fits on the album, but it’s a little bit different —kind of a sister song to “Chamber of Reflection”.
- 1.My Old Man
- 2.This Old Dog
- 5.One Another
- 7.Sister
- 11.On the Level
