The song "Pastime Paradise" is a reflection on the need for progress in society. It pushes us to give more importance to the future, instead of staying anchored and magnifying the past. Through the chorus it reflects the performance of people who spend much of their time living in the past, wasting their days instead of moving forward. He wonders who will be responsible for realizing that. It makes us reflect on the evils of the world such as exploitation, or racism, and the need to combat them. Emphasizing how important it is to live for a future paradise that achieves salvation and world peace, instead of living anchored in the past.

The main riff was inspired by Johann Sebastian Bach's "Prelude number 2 in C minor", and in the final stretch we can hear sound references to the gospel song "We shall overcome" which was recorded by sound engineer Gary Olazabal, when he ran into some Hare Krishna who were chanting on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. Stevie Wonder emulated a string section with a Yamaha GX-1 synthesizer, something at that time very advanced and difficult to achieve.

Pastime Paradise

The cover by Coolio for the film "Gangsta's Paradise" was one of hits more ear in the 90`s.

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been wasting most their time
Glorifying days long gone behind
They've been wasting most their days
In remembrance of ignorance oldest praise

Tell me who of them will come to be
How many of them are you and me
Dissipation
Race Relations
Consolation
Segregation
Dispensation
Isolation
Exploitation
Mutilation
Mutations
Miscreation
Confirmation...to the evils of the world

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been looking in their minds
For the day that sorrows gone from time
They keep telling of the day
When the Savior of love will come to stay

Tell me who of them will come to be
How many of them are you and me
Proclamation
of Race Relations
Consolation
Integretion
Verification
of Revelations Acclamation
World Salvation
Vibrations
Stimulation
Confirmation...to the peace of the world

They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a pastime paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
They've been spending most their lives
Living in a future paradise
We've been spending too much of our lives
Living in a pastime paradise

Let's start living our lives
Living for the future paradise
Praise to our lives
Living for the future paradise
Shame to anyones lives
Living in the pastime paradise