The Ballad of MC Adam
As the one-time mayor of New York City, Abe Beame would like everyone to take a moment of silence.
As a kid, Paul’s Boutique was my favorite record to zone out to. Even more so than the Wu-Tang Multiverse, B.I.G. or Nas and Jay’s debuts, it's an ALBUM in the classic sense. It remains one of the most unique and distinct experiences in the canon. And of all its fun and innovative moments, my favorite was always “Year and a Day,” the MCA showcase mid-way through “B-Boy Bouillabaisse” -- the incredible 9 song suite that closes the album and constitutes an EP in and of itself.
It’s a two and a half-minute distortion-heavy flow exhibition for Yauch. While several lines always stuck out to me: the Black and Tan, the Old Schoolist nut grabbing, the quasi-religious reflection, I’ve always allowed the song to pleasantly wash over me. It took his tragic passing for me to actually go and look up the lyrics.
Built around an Isley Brothers’ guitar lick, "A Year and a Day" is a B-Boy’s “Tomorrow Never Knows.” It mixes the poetry, philosophy, winter sports and spiritual exploration that would define the rest of MCA’s life. The term “A Year and a Day” has significance in several realms that may have had bearing on the song’s title. It's a standard prison term, the statute of limitations on the amount of time that can be attributed to an act that causes a death, a Haitian voodoo period of grieving, and an initiation period in the Wicca Craft. It’s hard to say what aspects of the term have bearing on the song.
In the context of the verse, Yauch first outlines an ascetic, spiritually driven existence: “Preaching his word in the B-Boy sing/I AM one with myself as I turn to The/I prefer the dreams to reality/I prefer my life don't need no other man's wife/ Don't need no crazy lifestyle with stress and strife.”
Followed by: “But it's good to have turn to be a king for a day/Or for a week or for a year or for a year in a day/Come what may.”
What MCA seems to suggest is the need for brief respite from discipline and spirituality to revel in the riches of earthly pleasure. To take a moment from the burdens and sorrows of the world and questions of the universe, and simply celebrate the joys of life.
Here's Adam performing the song at a concert in Miami in 1992, followed by the lyrics.
M.C. for what I AM and do The A is for Adam and the lyrics; true So as pray and hope and the message is sent And I AM living in the dreams that I have dreamt Because I'm down with the three the unstoppable three Me and Adam and D. were born to M.C. And my body and soul and mind are pure Not polluted or diluted or damaged beyond cure Just lyrics from I to you recited Arrested, bailed but cuffed and indicted Enter the arena as I take center stage The lights set low and the night has come of age Take the microphone in hand as that I am a professional Speak my knowledge to the crowd and the ed. is special For I AM a bard but not the last one I'm my own king and this is my castle Dwell in realms of now but vidi those of the past Seen a glimpse from ahead and I don't think it's gonna last And you can bet your ass
I drop the L. when I'm skiing I'm smoking and peaking I put the skis on the roof almost every single weekend Can't stop the mindfuck when it's rolling along Can't stop the smooth runnin's when the shit's running strong Broke my bindings the lion with wings Preaching his word in the B-Boy sing I AM one with myself as I turn to The I prefer the dreams to reality I prefer my life don't need no other man's wife Don't need no crazy lifestyle with stress and strife But it's good to have turn to be a king for a day Or for a week or for a year or for a year in a day Come what may I'm fishing with my boat and I'm fishing for trout Mix the Bass Ale with the Guiness Stout Fishing for a line inside my brain And looking out at the world through my window pane Every day has many colors cuz the glass is stained Everything has changed but remains the same So once again the mirror raised and I see myself as clear as day And I AM going to the limits of my ultimate destiny Feeling as though Somebody were testing me He who sees the end from the beginning of time Looking forward through all the ages is, was and always shall be Check the prophetic sections of the pages Download: MP3: The Beastie Boys - "Year & A Day"