Lyrics The Magic Number - De La Soul

(Got to have soul)
Three
That's the magic number
Yes, it is
It's the magic number
Somewhere in this hip-hop soul community
Was born three: Mase, Dove, and me
And that's the magic number

(What does it all mean?)

Difficult preaching is Posdnuos' pleasure
Pleasure and preaching starts in the heart
Something that stimulates the music in the measure
Measure in the music, raised in three parts
Casually see but don't do like the Soul
'Cause seein' and doin' are actions for monkeys
Doin' hip hop hustle, no rock and roll
Unless your name's Brewster, cause Brewster's a Punk (three)

Parents let go cause there's magic in the air
Criticizing rap shows you're out of order
Stop look and listen to the phrase ya Fred Astaire's
And don't get offended while Mase do-si-do's your daughter
A tri-camera rolls since our music's now set
Fly rhymes are stored on a D.A.I.S.Y. production
It stands for "Da Inner Sound, Y'all" and y'all can bet
That the action's not a trick, but showing the function

Everybody wants to be a deejay
Everybody wants to be an emcee
But being speakers are the best
And you don't have to guess
De La Soul posse consists of three
And that's the magic number

(Three)

This here piece of the pie
Is not dessert but the course that we dine
And three out of every darn time
The effect is "Mmm" when a daisy grows in your mind
Showing true position, this here piece is
Kissin' the part of the pie that's missin'
When that negative number fills up the casualty

Maybe you can subtract it
You can call it your lucky partner
Maybe you can call it your adjective
But odd as it may be
Without my one and two where would there be
My three
Mase Pos and Me
And that's the magic number

(What does it all mean?)

Focus is formed by flaunts to the soul
Souls who flaunt styles gain praises by pounds
Common are speakers who honor the scroll
Scroll written daily creates a new sound
Listeners listen 'cause this here is wisdom
Wisdom of a Speaker, a Dove and a Plug
Set aside a legal substance to feed 'em
For now get 'em high off this dialect drug (Three)

Time is a factor, so it's time that counts
Count not the negative actions of one
Speakers of soul say it's time to shout
Three forms the soul to a positive sum
Dance to this fix and flex every muscle
Space can be filled if you ride like my lumber
Advance to the tune, but don't do the hustle
Shake, rattle, roll to my magic number (Three)

Now you may try to subtract it
But it just won't go away
Three times one?
(What is it?)
(One, two, three)
And that's a magic number

(Yo, what's up?)
(One, two, three)
(I say, children, what does it all mean?)
(Whoa-whoa-wo, one, two, three)
(I wouldn't lie to you)
(No more, no less, that's a magic number)
(No more, no less)
(What is?)
(No more, no less)
(No more, no less)
(Do the shing-a-ling)
(No more, no less)

(Anybody in the audience ever get hit by a car?)
(No more, no less)
(How high's the water, mama?)
(No more, no less)
(How high's the water, mama?)
(No more, no less)
(Three feet high and rising)
(No more, no less)
(Three)
(That's a magic number)