The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
To the dark dark seas
Comes the only whale
Watching ships go by
It's the day we try
It doesn't know
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
If they hold you, whale
On a really hot day
When the call got made
You've gone away
It doesn't know
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
Comes the only whale
Watching ships go by
It's the day we try
It doesn't know
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
If they hold you, whale
On a really hot day
When the call got made
You've gone away
It doesn't know
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's a Styrofoam deep sea landfill
It's automated computer speech
It's automated computer speech
It's a Casio on a plastic beach
It's a Casio
Lyrics submitted by Fushigikai, edited by Mbtravis99, SukiaGorillaz
Plastic Beach Lyrics as written by Jamie Hewlett Damon Albarn
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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Anyone know why 2D is afraid of whales? I think it has something to do with the actual meaning of this.
Also, artists don't always say exactly what they mean if you look at Andy Warhol for example everything he said about his art was sarcastic and mocking of his true ideals perhaps you're judging Gorillaz too quick saying there's no environmental concern when you think about it, Gorillaz are a set of characters meant to show a point they aren't precisely the point and shouldn't have a literal meaning
So maybe Albarn did say that, what did he mean though?
I don't think he's afraid of whales for any particular reason...
You must also remember that when it comes to art it can be interpreted in many ways so it does not really matter what the artist intended if it does not come across to the interpreter. I agree with you but if they did not intend to be about the environment it came across that way to so many people that it does not really matter.