When was Lauryn Hill's 'Final Hour' released? Meaning behind the song's lyrics explored

Lauryn Hill's debut album, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill catapulted her to become one of the most revered artists of all time. Released in 1998, the album is a concoction of themes of love, emotional complexities, motherhood, and interpersonal conflicts.

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was an instant hit and was universally acclaimed by both critics and audiences. Debuting atop the US Billboard 200 list, Lauryn Hill's debut solo album went on to win five Grammys at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, including the coveted Album of the Year and Best R&B Album.

Final Hour is the seventh track of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and was released on August 19, 1998. The song delves deep into the themes of spirituality, materialism, and the ultimate destination of an individual. The album, which deals with the various shades of love, takes a turn for the philosophical and abstract in Final Hour.

Lauryn Hill defines "Final Hour" as the final hour before our demise— the hour of judgment. Through the song, Hill preaches the futility of mortal affairs during the hour of judgment. What truly matters is how a person has loved.

---

Decoding the meaning behind Lauryn Hill's Final Hour

In a world obsessed with material success, Lauryn Hill's Final Hour teaches the futility of material possessions. The singer implores the listener to not lose his faith amid the bustle of worldly ambitions. This duality between aspiration and faith creates a compelling narrative, and becomes something that most people find relatable.

Hill paints a picture of her own life, wrestling with worldly ambitions while struggling to cling to her spirituality. Her success is unfathomable, expressed with the playfulness of a lyrical "Gemini", but she issues a warning. The Grammy winner entreats listeners to not get lost in the extravagance of worldly affairs and to keep their eyes on the "Final Hour."

"You can get the money, you can get the power/ But keep your eyes on the Final Hour"

In the next verse, Hill proceeds to envision her dream— to rewrite every archaic law shackling humanity. She wants men in power to tremble before her rhymes, like the testaments of Moses and Aaron. She wants slum lords to confess their crimes and relieve the children of the tyranny. She wants humanity to win over evil.

"Make a slum lord be repentant, give his money to kids to spend it/ And then amend it, every law that ever prevented/ Our survival since our arrival documented in The Bible/ Like Moses and Aaron, things gon' change, it's apparent/ And all the transparent gonna be seen through"

Yet, contradictions envelop her thoughts. Sometimes she wants to revolutionize the world with her fire, but other times she just wants to sit in a corner, clutching onto her faith. She escapes to one corner, eating bread and sipping wine until reality hits again. Despite oscillating between the two ways of life, she stays true to the 144: the chosen few.

"Now I be breaking bread sipping Manischewitz wine/ Pay no mind, party like it's 1999/ But when it comes down to ground beef like Palestine/ Say your rhymes, let's see if that get you out your bind/ Now I'ma get the mozzarella like a Rockafeller/ Still be in the church of Lalibela, singing hymns a cappella/ Whether posed in Mirabella in Couture/ Or collecting residuals from off The Score/ I'm making sure I'm with the 144"

Lauryn Hill sings about her paradigm-shift transformation from Hoodshock to the conscious grace of Hood-chic. The singer emphasizes the toxic touch of materialism, focusing on the demure solace of faith throughout the song. Final Hour isn't just a musical number, it is a message from Hill emphasizing the importance of introspection.