Quick Analysis of Lauryn Hill's "Lost Ones"

“Lost Ones” by Lauryn Hill has always been one of my favorite tracks. It is track #2 on her 8 time platinum selling solo album “The MisEducation of Lauryn Hill” and the song starts the album off in a raw street type way that people might not have expected from an artist known for her soulful vocals. I remember buying the album in the 3^rd grade and when “Lost Ones” first came on I was instantly drawn to it. The repetitive drum beat in the background became something I learned to drum along to on my chest while clapping and even though I didn’t quite know what she was talking about, I instantly wanted to learn the entire song by heart. “Lost Ones” inspired me to not only be a rapper but a writer as well.

The more I listened to “Lost Ones” over the years, the more I began to understand the lyrics and the background behind the song. The track begins with the line “It’s funny how money change a situation”. In the 3^rd grade that was just a clever way to begin the verse but growing up has turned that line into something I can relate to. The rest of the verse turns into somewhat of a brutally honest message to a certain someone. In this verse, she is saying that money and miscommunication messed up a friendship. She wanted to do things differently while in the music business but what she wanted did not matter to the person that this track was written about. She felt threatened and refused to be treated any type of way and as a result “the person” “tarnished” her image and spoke bad about her to the public. Lauryn Hill replies by basically saying “You might think that you will always win but after people hear this you basically just LOST!” 

In the second verse, Lauryn says that “the person”’s comments about her have turned “cold” and that “the person” has sold their soul for the benefits of the world but she believes that “wisdom is better than silver and gold”. She goes on to say that he needs to repent for his actions and that his “serpent” ways and “slick talk” won’t matter on Judgement Day. She then uses the line “Tried to play straight, how your whole style bent? Consequence is no coincidence”. It hit me today that she is most likely saying that the person she is talking about not only does things in a crooked way but might also be a homosexual attempting to “play straight”. Her saying “Consequence is no coincidence” just confirms my assumptions and anyone elses who might have thought the same thing. The rest of the verse and verse 3 just sum up her feelings about “the person” and how she feels that they should change their ways because karma is bound to catch up with them. If they don’t change they are bound to lose over and over again.

Now that I am older and can understand the lyrics a lot better I have made the assumption that this track is about Wyclef Jean, Lauryn’s former Fugees group member. I remember seeing interviews with Wyclef Jean talking about the split of The Fugees and blaming it on Lauryn Hill. This song makes sense now and I feel like Lauryn Hill is just telling what she considers the truth regarding the situation. Honestly, I think this is one of the best “diss” tracks in Hip-hop history and the lyrics are just a display of Lauryn Hill’s true feelings. “Lost Ones” is the best display of emotions I have ever heard. 

Lauryn Hill – Lost Ones (Lyrics)

It's funny how money change a situation

Miscommunication leads to complication

My emancipation don't fit your equation

I was on the humble, you - on every station

Some wan' play young Lauryn like she dumb

But remember not a game new under the sun

Everything you did has already been done

I know all the tricks from Bricks to Kingston

My ting done made your kingdom wan' run

Now understand L. Boogie non violent

But if a thing test me, run for mi gun

Can't take a threat to mi newborn son

L's been this way since creation

A groupie call, you fall from temptation

Now you wanna bawl over separation

Tarnish my image in your conversation

Who you gon' scrimmage, like you the champion

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

Now, now how come your talk turn cold

Gained the whole world for the price of your soul

Tryin' to grab hold of what you can't control

Now you're all floss, what a sight to behold

Wisdom is better than silver and gold

I was hopeless now I'm all hopeful

Every man want to act like he's exempt

When him need to get down on his knees and repent

Can't slick talk on the day of judgment

Your movement's similar to a serpent

Tried to play straight, how your whole style bent?

Consequence is no coincidence

Hypocrites always want to play innocent

Always want to take it to the full out extent

Always want to make it seem like good intent

Never want to face it when it's time for punishment

I know that you don't wanna hear my opinion

But there come many paths and you must choose one

And if you don't change then the rain soon come

See you might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you really lost one

You just lost one, it's so silly how come

When it's all done did you really gain from

What you done done, it's so silly how come

You just lost one

Now don't you understand man universal law

What you throw out comes back to you, star

Never underestimate those who you scar

Cause karma, karma, karma comes back to you hard

You can't hold God's people back that long

The chain of Shatan wasn't made that strong

Trying to pretend like your word is your bond

But until you do right, all you do will go wrong

Now some might mistake this for just a simple song

And some don't know what they have 'til it's gone

Now even when you're gone you can still be reborn

And, from the night can arise the sweet dawn

Now, some might listen and some might shun

And some may think that they've reached perfection

If you look closely you'll see what you've become

Cause you might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you just lost one

You might win some but you really lost one

You just lost one, it's so silly how come

When it's all done did you really gain from

What you done done, it so silly how come