Cooking Up Something Good

Mac DeMarco's 'Cooking Up Something Good' presents a seemingly mundane slice of domestic life with an undercurrent of complexity and unease. The song opens with a cozy image of a mother in the kitchen, which is juxtaposed with the father's less wholesome activity in the basement. DeMarco's lyrics paint a picture of a family that, on the surface, adheres to the idyllic suburban dream, but upon closer inspection, reveals cracks in the facade.

The chorus, with its repeated lines 'Ooh when life moves this slowly / Ooh just try and let it go,' suggests a sense of resignation or an attempt to cope with the slow pace and potential monotony of everyday life. It's as if DeMarco is advising listeners to release their grip on the things they cannot change and to find peace in the stillness. This message resonates with the laid-back, lo-fi indie sound that is characteristic of DeMarco's music, which often explores themes of youth, nostalgia, and introspection.

The song's title, 'Cooking Up Something Good,' initially evokes warmth and comfort, but as the lyrics unfold, it becomes clear that 'something good' might be laced with irony. The father's activities in the basement and the brother's seemingly perfect ballet career contrast with the narrator's own late-night habits, hinting at personal struggles and the pressure to meet familial expectations. DeMarco's storytelling through music invites listeners to ponder the complexities of family dynamics and the individual's place within them.