The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

To Zion

Lauryn Hill

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

175

Internal

120

Multi

154

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Chorus]

That the joy (Joy)

Of my world (World)

Is in Zion (Is in Zion)

Now the joy (Joy)

Of my world (World)

Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)

Now the joy (Joy)

Of my world (World)

Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)

Now the joy (Joy)

Of my world (World)

Is in Zion (Is in Zion, is in Zion)

[Outro]

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (Marching)^✦

To Zion, marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (We gon' march)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦

To Zion, marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful,^✦ Zion

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦

To Zion, marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦

To Zion, marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful,^✦ Zion

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (My joy, my joy)

To Zion, marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (My joy, my joy)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (My joy, my joy)

To Zion, marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful,^✦ Zion (My joy, my joy)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (My joy, my joy)

To Zion, marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (My joy, my joy)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (You're the joy)

To Zion, marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful,^✦ Zion (Of my life)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (It is in Zion)

To Zion, marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (Zion)

Marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching,^✦ marching^✦ (You're the joy)

To Zion, marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful,^✦ Zion (You're the joy of my life)

Marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful^✦ Zion (Is in Zion, Zion)

Marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful^✦ Zion (It is in Zion)

Marching,^✦ beautiful,^✦ beautiful^✦ Zion

Marching^✦

[Skit]

[Teacher]

Okay,^✦ how many^✦ people here have ever^✦ been in love? I know none of the guys are gonna^✦ raise their hand. How many^✦ of y'all ever^✦ been in love?

[Class]

(Mumbling)

[Teacher]

I know none of the guys been in... we don't get in love, right? Oh! Let this black man right here tell what his idea^✦ of love is, 'cause not all the time we hear a young black man talk about^✦ love. About^✦ your personal definition, don't tell me what Webster thinks. Huh?

[Boy]

Willingness to do everything^✦ for that person^✦

[Teacher]

Okay,^✦ everything^✦ like what? Explain. Let him talk, c'mon. If I asked^✦ him to talk about^✦ a fancy^✦ car, he'd be right on point. But we wanna^✦ talk about^✦ love. You can do it. (To another pupil) What do you think? You said you love somebody, you should know why you love them right?

[Boy 2]

The way they act

[Teacher]

Uh-huh^✦

[Boy 2]

The way they carry^✦ themselves, stuff like that

[Teacher]

Okay^✦

[Girl]

The way that they hang with they boys, and they just stand out. It's like sometimes^✦ it don't even^✦ matter^✦ like what they wear or what they look like. It's like, that way, you know?

[Girl 2]

Yeah

[Girl]

It's like you know you want to talk to him, because he stands out, it's like he got a glow or something

[Teacher]

That's deep

[Boy 2]

That's what I'm talking about^✦

[Teacher]

I thought that was a beautiful^✦ point. Anyone^✦ else want to deal with that?

[Girl 2]

It's sometimes,^✦ like when they try to act funny^✦ in front of they boys, like when they get around say they love you. They can't love you. 'Cause love-love-love wouldn't do that

[Girl 3]

Love is not phony!^✦

[Class]

(Laughter)

Technical Breakdown

8.9

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.0

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm10.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity5.5

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control9.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.89

Production

— Lauryn Hill, Che Guevara

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

The verse relies on emotive vocal performance and thematic repetition over dense lyrical wordplay to create a transcendent, hymn-like atmosphere.

A+

9.5

Multisyllabic

9.5

Internal Rhymes

Cadence / Flow

5.5

Vocabulary

Wordplay

9.5

Delivery

AnaphoraEmotional cadence modulationRepetition as liturgical device

Rhyme Architecture: A highly circular, repetitive structure built on A-B-C rhyme sounds centered around 'Zion', utilizing call-and-response vocal layering to reinforce the religious and maternal themes.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Is in Zion"

① The literal, geographical or spiritual place of sanctuary/heaven.② The name of her son, equating her child with her source of spiritual and worldly joy.

Exceptional vocal control

Strong emotional resonance

Effective use of minimalist structure to build intensity

Masterful delivery of tone

Low lexical variety

Lack of complex figurative wordplay

Limited narrative progression in the outro

To Zion

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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