This song is about a kid who’s being exposed to bullying and he’s starting to get numb due to the continuing actions of physical/psychological acts of bully.

The first 2 bars explains how he is used to the physical beating and the 2 bars after tackles the psychological aspect of the bullying. Ghostly blows are used to describe the hurtful words the bullies are subjecting him too.
The lingering pain that grows in the darkness is his mind constantly repeating the taunts therefor allowing them to grow like a never ending echo.

He’s waiting for someone to acknowledge him and introduce him to the experiences that the world can bring, since he’s only been receiving harsh and cruel ones as the first verse states. He’s basically asking for a friend but due to his past encounters he’s aware of the possibility of them trash talking him when he leaves.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kl4hJ4j48s

The kid is either lost in his thoughts or (perhaps both) under the influence of marijuana as the effect of this drug is often referred to being high or in the clouds and is a antidepressive drug as well since it allows him to be less vulnerable and aware of the situation he is in.

To soak in potions is taking a shower where the shampoo, balsam and perfumes would be the potions, he’s thoroughly aware of the fact that this is what she’s thinking.
Continuing on… He’s painting a picture with his words displaying their apartment as a warm place next to the beach, possibly near the equator where exotic islands are often described as paradise.

Paradise in a relationship would also be where you never have any fights, fights that could involve doors slamming and voices raised to the point of screaming. Oh and on a side note, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard of Mac Lethal’s living room.

He’s trying to get her to climax, but also to gain a sustainable joy in life and he’d rather do it in a slow pace so he can enjoy the ride. Since he’s willing to do this all he needs to hear is that she cares for him as well, ending up as a couple sharing a full life.

By achieving this he will also have managed to repair her broken heart, which he isn’t afraid of acknowledging that he can do.

But don’t be bitter, cause then he might cut you off.

Moulin Rouge is a movie from 2001

Film critic David Bruce wrote this about the deeper meaning of Moulin Rouge:

On a deeper level this story is about the needless divorce between Christian spirituality and natural sensuality. It is about how the worldly system exploits God-given sexuality for greed and money.

So 50 adapts the deeper concept of Moulin Rouge to achieve his entrepreneurial visions: an exploitation of sexuality for profit

Also ties back to the last line, the “double knowledge of self”. A part of him is Christian and spiritual, but he also has another part of him whose only goal is to make money.

Cole hopes people are listening to his songs for the positive messages rather than his “work outs” with women and sexcapades with younger rappers. Notice the “brain”/ “knowledge” wordplay expounded on later in the track

Buddha is a play on both the Bhuddhist God as well as everyone’s favorite Green plant; his smoking capacity is Godly.

Also a play on the timeless idiom, “your arms are too short to box with god.”

(although Muhammad wasn’t a God, but a prophet. Small detail.)

Or

He had/has a mini show on Youtube called The hotbox, where he interviews rappers and then let’s them spit a verse. So in short he’s probably saying with Muhammad cause Muhammad spoke with/through God.