This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
(Radio talkback...)
(Cheers) Well I'm left sitting here staring into a beer
Shaking my head at the same ol' loathing and fear
Stranger in my own land, can't understand
How the very word Australian has been damned
I fucking hate myself, take 'Aussie' from my name
Erase this endless shame, forever casting blame
If you don't act the same will I destroy you?
Everyone looks the same beaten, black and blue
So I've had enough of these redneck pricks
When fact is the only real shit that sticks
Watch as I tear the very skin from my face
So none'll see my race, my deep disgrace
Your not even from here in the first place
And those that are you wanna further debase
Nup, no more, never again whether by fist or pen
I will defend, 'cause I'm at a loose end
The shattered remnants of Aussie dignity
I'm a skip, whitey, round-eye surprise me
By using your shrivelled brain to please explain
How the clever country just went down the drain
We rode the sheep's back now the sheep ride you
If this is how its gonna be don't call me 'true blue'
I denounce my ancestors, wounds still fester
If you say 'it ain't so' I suggest ya' wake up
(Chorus)
It's time for you to
Wake up - this country needs a fucking shake up
Wake up - these cunts need a shake up (x4)
Talkback squawking hacks won't relax
Until Jones'why, Zemanek and Laws are all axed
77 percent of aussies are racist
And if you're here, I'll say it your faces
Rich redneck pricks still hold all the aces
So I'll buy ya a beer, with an arsenic chaser
Better off dead? is that what I've said?
Tempting to take for all the blood you've shed
No doubt your as bad as your dads and ya mums
Mainsteam media making me so fucking glum
Just anglo reality, intellectual cavities
Channel 9 fostering prejudiced mentalities
I won't be a casualty, just mention casually
That I can't stand for you shit-eating bullies
Preying on peeps without a mainstream voice
Most of you stay silent but I've got no choice
(Chorus)
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no avail
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no avail
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no fukin' avail
That you're a stranger yourself now that's the sting in the tail
Captain Cook was the very first queue jumper
It was immigrant labour that made Australia plumper
Enough is enough, whiteys go pack your stuff
Don't wanna live in England? That's fucking tough
I'm sick and tired of this redneck wonderland
Most've you stay silent and I can't understand
I just can't understand (understand)
(Chorus)
(Cheers) Well I'm left sitting here staring into a beer
Shaking my head at the same ol' loathing and fear
Stranger in my own land, can't understand
How the very word Australian has been damned
I fucking hate myself, take 'Aussie' from my name
Erase this endless shame, forever casting blame
If you don't act the same will I destroy you?
Everyone looks the same beaten, black and blue
So I've had enough of these redneck pricks
When fact is the only real shit that sticks
Watch as I tear the very skin from my face
So none'll see my race, my deep disgrace
Your not even from here in the first place
And those that are you wanna further debase
Nup, no more, never again whether by fist or pen
I will defend, 'cause I'm at a loose end
The shattered remnants of Aussie dignity
I'm a skip, whitey, round-eye surprise me
By using your shrivelled brain to please explain
How the clever country just went down the drain
We rode the sheep's back now the sheep ride you
If this is how its gonna be don't call me 'true blue'
I denounce my ancestors, wounds still fester
If you say 'it ain't so' I suggest ya' wake up
(Chorus)
It's time for you to
Wake up - this country needs a fucking shake up
Wake up - these cunts need a shake up (x4)
Talkback squawking hacks won't relax
Until Jones'why, Zemanek and Laws are all axed
77 percent of aussies are racist
And if you're here, I'll say it your faces
Rich redneck pricks still hold all the aces
So I'll buy ya a beer, with an arsenic chaser
Better off dead? is that what I've said?
Tempting to take for all the blood you've shed
No doubt your as bad as your dads and ya mums
Mainsteam media making me so fucking glum
Just anglo reality, intellectual cavities
Channel 9 fostering prejudiced mentalities
I won't be a casualty, just mention casually
That I can't stand for you shit-eating bullies
Preying on peeps without a mainstream voice
Most of you stay silent but I've got no choice
(Chorus)
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no avail
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no avail
Well I've yelled my lungs out but to no fukin' avail
That you're a stranger yourself now that's the sting in the tail
Captain Cook was the very first queue jumper
It was immigrant labour that made Australia plumper
Enough is enough, whiteys go pack your stuff
Don't wanna live in England? That's fucking tough
I'm sick and tired of this redneck wonderland
Most've you stay silent and I can't understand
I just can't understand (understand)
(Chorus)
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The whole song is a reaction to the populist right-wing attitude of intolerance towards non-white non-Christians prevalent in the English speaking world, particularly in the last decade.
It is predominantly about the "Tampa" immigration incident in Australia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Tampa). 77% is the surveyed support for the Australian Government's action on this issue (Aus. Gov. refused to let the container ship Tampa dock at Christmas Island carrying 460 Afghani assylum seekers which the Aus Gov. encouraged the Tampa to pick up after the assylum seekers' boat sank).
"Jones'y, Zemanek and Laws" are all right-wing radio "shock-jocks" in Australia who survive on fanning right-wing intolerance in Australia.
Absolutely Love This Song!! So clever, so confronting, so political, so honest. A beat that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Typical of The Herd, this song is a song so catchy, a pleasure to listen to and so hard to get it off the stero.
I have seen these guys live about 5 times and they have so many great songs but this is by far my favourite track. The most memorable was at The Pyramid Rock Festival NYE 2005. This was around the time of the Cronulla Race Riots. After addressing the huge crowd and calling for harmony, the boys delivered this song with such passion. Emotional.
"Captain Cook was the very first queue jumper It was immigrant labour that made Australia plumper Enough is enough, whiteys go pack your stuff Don't wanna live in England? That's fucking tough" - Its no wonder this song caused outcry among conservative and intolerant parts of the community. But it worked - it got the message across. And it is time we 'woke up'.
P.S. - How good is Aussie Hip Hop at the moment. The Herd, Hilltop Hoods, Tzu.....................
damn good song. someone needs to put up the lyrics to We Can't Hear You and Unpredictable, coz they both kick ass as well
Well, firstly, in the line "and those that are, you wanna further debase?" I actually think the word is debate. This is about the way Australians have treated Aboriginies in the past and, unfortunately, present.
"Captain Cook was the very first queue jumper" Queue jumper is a term used mostly by right-wingers to describe asylum seekers (even though most do not have "queues in their country). He's saying that we shouldn't be so angry, seeing as our country was discovered by a so-called queue jumper.
"Channel 9 fostering prejudiced mentalities" Channel nine is known to be pretty right-wing, particularly 60 Minutes and whatever that current affairs one at 6.30 is called.
"77 percent of aussies are racist" - Pretty much what gilgoomesh said.
I love this song, and the talk back radio at the start has an awesome effect on the song.
And I agree, they're awesome live. I saw them at Big Day Out and wow! For I Was Only 19, they got the guy who sang it first to come on stage and sing it too! And it was an awesome atmosphere cause we were in the boiler room and everyone is just moving and really getting into the songs.
this is an AWESOME song!! its about the tampa incident, which i dunno about the other 23% of australia, but shocked me! how can ppl have such racist mentalities? so to me its both reassuring and admirable that the herd are standing up to the 77% of aust who dont seem to give a shit about the less fortunate. i love how the song begins with the commentary, and it has really clever lyrics too! such as: 'Captain Cook was the very first queue jumper It was immigrant labour that made Australia plumper'. unfortunately soo true... so much injustice... cheers to the 23%, i hope this song gets through to some of the others!
Racism. Deeply ingrained in what is a beautiful country. The one thing that shames me to call myself Australian. I hope we can learn