3 Feet High and Rising is the debut studio album from the American hip hop trio De La Soul, released March 14, 1989. It marked the first of three full-length collaborations with producer Prince Paul, which would become the critical and commercial peak of both parties. It is consistently placed on 'greatest albums' lists by noted music critics and publications.Robert Christgau called the record "unlike any rap album you or anybody else has ever heard." In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.
A critical, as well as commercial, success, the album contains the singles, "Me Myself and I", "The Magic Number", "Buddy", and "Eye Know". In 2001, the album was re-issued along with an extra disc of B-side tracks, and alternative versions. The album title came from the Johnny Cash song "Five Feet High and Rising". It was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.
Need to gather all the pieces and to center my thoughts
Visualize you close to me
Cos you know baby I can't see you through a dark night
Such a fine line that you walk
Rain keeps pouring acid on my skin
And my soul turns into metal
She has turned this bed into a tomb
And brought death right through to me
I have stayed in your solar lights
Stayed so long that I'm too blind
Way too blind to see myself
Way too weak that I could tell
I have never felt a rain like this before
Never thought that I could drown in you
Stayed too long in your solar lights
Such a beautiful shade in a beautiful lie
All the city lights and answers in the halos they form
Such a sad sad sight to see
I have seen her in a portrait of a dark light
Such a fine line that she walks
I have shattered pages but remembered
Thanks to her I'm made of metal
She has took this soul for a ride
But it's way too late for me
Drops of pain rain down
Don't let me drown
I have stayed in your solar lights
Stayed so long that I'm too blind
Way too blind to see myself
Way too weak that I could tell
I have never felt a rain like this before
Never thought that I could drown in you
Stayed too long in your solar lights
Such a beautiful shade in a beautiful
Why don't you kill me?
Take a little more
Why don't you scream when I drown in you?
(Oh God I've) stayed too long in your solar lights