De La Soul — The Magic Number

[Intro: De La Soul, Fiorella La Guardia] (Got to have soul) Three, that's the magic number Yes, it is, (Three) it's the magic number (Three) 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?) [Verse 1: Posdnuos & Fiorella La Guardia] Difficult preaching is Posdnuos' pleasure Pleasure and preaching starts in the heart Something that stimulates the music in my measure Measure in my 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 Fred Astaires 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 Da.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 sure 'nough a function (What does it all mean?) [Bridge: De La Soul] Everybody wants to be a DJ Everybody wants to be an Em Cee 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) [Verse 2: Trugoy the Dove & Fiorella La Guardia] 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 cavity 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?) [Verse 3: Maseo] Focus is formed by flaunts to the soul Souls who flaunt styles gain praises by pounds Common are speakers who honor the scroll Scrolls 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 rise like my lumber Advance to the tune but don't do the hustle Shake, rattle, roll to my magic number (Three) [Bridge: De La Soul & James Brown] 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 [Outro] [Skinny Boys] Yo, what's up? [RUN-DMC] One, two, three [Fiorella La Guardia] (I say, children, what does it all mean?) [Run-DMC] (Woah-woah-woah, one, two, three) [?] (I wouldn't lie to you) [Bob Dorough] (No more no less, that's a magic number (Three)) (No more no less) [? & Bob Dorough] (What it is) (No more no less) [The Fatback Band & Bob Dorough] Is this the future? (No more no less) [Syl Johnson & Bob Dorough] Do the shang-a-lang (No more no less) [? & Bob Dorough] Lord, tomboy tryna talk to me (No more no less) [Eddie Murphy & Bob Dorough] Anybody in the audience ever get hit by a car? (No more no less) [Johnny Cash & Bob Dorough] 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) [Bob Dorough] Three, that's a magic number