Clint Eastwood

I disagree. I think he's telling us that we spend too much time thinking about things that aren't important instead of opening our eyes and seeing what's going on around us. Lines such as "cause you don't see with your eyes, you percieve with your mind" point this out blatantly. Also the use of the words fictional and mystical help. "Hype shit" refers to all of the crap we meditate on such as what clothes we're going to wear or even what music we're going to listen to. I think that the guys are just saying that we're psuedo-simplifying everything and we need to stop. As for smoking marijuana... I don't see it. Could just be me.

Like all songs this has several keys to figuring out the meaning. Firstly there are sound clips from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" - the Clint Eastwood film, and the "sunshine in a bag" could refer to money in a bag - hence the name of the song.

However, there is another "sunshine" people sometimes forget. Rewind 30 years, "Sunshine Acid" was a particular potent form of LSD manufactured that was as high as 300 micrograms (that's about 3x as potent as a relatively potent tab of blotter these days) - it was commonly referred to as just "Sunshine"

"I ain't happy. I'm feeling glad. I got sunshine in a bag. I'm useless, but not for long. The future is coming on."

• When dosing there is a sense of apprehension about the trip, you're not quite happy, but you're feeling glad that you're about to trip. The sunshine refers to sunshine acid, and the "I'm useless, but not for long" describes how it will benefit him. Then the "The future is coming on" part refers to the come up, as it takes approximately an hour and a half from dosing to feel the effects.

"Yeah, ha ha. Finally someone let me out of my cage." - Often when consuming psychedelics, people feel that something is "released" within them.

"Now time for me is nothing 'cause I'm counting no age." - Psychedelics cause time dilation, a minute can feel like an hour, or time can stand still completely for what seems like weeks.

"No, I couldn't be there. No, you shouldn't be scared. I'm good at repairs and I'm under each snare." - Psychedelics often make people afraid, even those who have never taken them, but they can be powerful healing tools - and the tripper just needs to remember that the psychedelics are only so powerful, they won't kill you or make you do anything stupid.

"Panoramic view, look I'll make it all manageable." - Psychedelics change perception, making it easier to analyse things, LSD in particular does this a lot.

"Chicks and dudes, who you think is really kicking tunes?" - Here they're talking about how much psychedelics have influenced music, they're saying it's not the artists that came up with the ideas, but the acid.

"You think it's fictional? Mystical, maybe. Spiritual hero who appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy." - Talking about how some people don't understand psychedelics and think they can't help you, when really they're a very powerful aid. They can also "clear your view" as suggested when things are clouding up your mind, by removing the ego, or "mental chatter" temporarily.

"Priceless to you because I put you on the hype shit." - This is about how it has benefited him in his creative work - creating music.

"You like it? Gun smoking, righteous, with one toke, psychic Among those, possess you with one go." - This is the part that confuses people, as a toke is the inhalation of Cannabis smoke - however people often smoke while on LSD as it can heighten the trip and make it more intense, one toke of even the best Cannabis will do very little, but while you're tripping, that's another matter.

"The essence, the basics, without it, you make it. Allow me to make this childlike in nature. Rhythm, you have it or you don't, that's a fallacy. I'm in them, every sprouting tree, every child apiece, Every cloud at sea, you see with your eye. You see destruction and demise, corruption in disguise, From this fucking enterprise" - Anyone who has ever taken psychedelics will probably get a sense of deja vu when they first hear this song. This part in particular very much explains a large part of psychedelics. When the ego is lost you feel a strong sense of one-ness, that life is in everything, every rock, every tree, every bird, every person. It also gives a sense of duality, you see the love in everyone, but you also see the destruction and hate, the murder, the corruption in the government and corporate enterprises.

"Y'all can see me now 'cause you don't see with your eye. You perceive with your mind. That's the inner." - Do I really need to explain this part? Really? Just do a simple Google search for "third eye", or "inner eye", "inner mind" and "psychedelics"

"Bust a few rhymes so motherfuckers remember Where the thought is. I brought all this So you can survive when law is lawless. Feelings, sensations that you thought was dead. No squealing, remember that it's all in your head." - This whole last part is going on about how the song's basically a quick dedication to psychedelics and telling people not to worry and go with the trip, because it's just a drug and it'll be over soon - even if the experience is going bad.

Alright. I'm not a huge supporter of drug culture. Regardless, I think it's hard to deny that the lyrics of this song make references to smoking marijuana. Listen to other songs on the album. Track 17 starts with the sound of a lighter and a bubbling bong. 'Clint Eastwood' is an awesome song, but don't try to attribute innocence where it isn't due. In short... yeah, it probably has to do with using drugs.

2D says "I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad. I got sunshine in a bag. I'm useless, but not for long. The future is comin' on" because he's Stuart "2D" Tusspot and he's always on a combined sugar and aspirin high.

If you know anything about the characters, you know that the rapper in the song is a ghost (named Del) who lives inside Russel's head. The entire rap is all about Del's mammoth-sized ego, how he can alter reality as a ghost, and about the impossible existance of Gorillaz in general as they're cartoons.

"You think it's fictional? Mystical?" - Referring to the fact that the Gorillaz really aren't real and people refuse to accept them as a band

"Spiritual" - He's a ghost

"Hearable" - They're here just to play music. That's their point in "life," such as it is.

"Ya'll can see me now cuz you don't see with your eyes" - 1) he's a ghost and you need a 6th sense to see ghosts 2) the point of Gorillaz is pretending that they're real

All-in-all, it's a weird, darkly humorous song by a British group. No drug abuse. No dark meanings. It's Brits being Brits. End of story

There was an interview with Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett (creators of Gorillaz) and they said the song was NOT drug related. They said the "sunshine in a bag" represents whatever you want it to represent, because everyone gets their happiness from different things.

"Yeah... Ha Ha! Finally someone let me out of my cage" Something has been released, at this point in the song, there is not enough context to understand what that may be.

"Now, time for me is nothing cos I'm counting no age Now I couldn't be there" Introductory description, whatever this is, it is an infinite being or concept that transcends time and physical limitations.

"Now you shouldn't be scared I'm good at repairs" This is something positive (as its telling us not to fear), and something progressive (as its stating how it can correct the flawed)

"Intangible" Definition: "Unable to be touched or grasped; not having physical presence"

"Bet you didn't think so I command you to Panoramic view Look I'll make it all manageable" Its saying that you probably weren't even paying attention to whatever this was, but no worries, because he's going to break this down for you ('make it managable'). Panoramic view being a view that allows you to see everything at once.

"Pick and choose Sit and lose All you different crews Chicks and dudes Who you think is really kickin' tunes?" You really think that Gorillaz are the ones making music? You really think The Beatles were responsible for "Let It Be"? Pick any artist you want -- same situation. It is becoming apparent that whatever this is, it is something incredibly powerful -- implying responsibility as the 'true' source of any artist's talent.

"Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube Like you lit the fuse" Imagine yourself being a Rock superstar, a rapper, talking in interviews about your craft, like you were the one responsible for your artistic talent ('the fuse'/'the spark' is traditionally associated with initial inspiration).

"You think it's fictional Mystical? Maybe Spiritual Hearable What appears in you is a clearer view cuz you're too crazy Lifeless" You think this is all New Age crap? Maybe it really is truly divine, but it certainly is downright spiritual. You can friggin hear it, and eventually it flows through you if you allow it to. The end result, music or created culture, is more beautiful than your actual self ('cuz you're too crazy'), and he basically calls you out (as a person) as lifeless without the presence of...well...this inspiration.

"To know the definition for what life is Priceless For you because I put you on the hype shit" I've tuned you in and you can't put a price on that.

"You like it? Gunsmokin' righteous with one token Psychic among those Possess you with one go" This is basically bragging, really, just a really abstract way of doing so. He's basically saying all it takes is one listen (if you are listening to music/experiencing culture) or one moment of inspiration (if you are the one creating the culture/music).

"I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad I got sunshine, in a bag I'm useless,but not for long The future is coming on" This makes a bit more sense later on at the end of the song, but basically I believe this chorus is someone realizing the inspiration and creating a song, and tapping into that magical feeling and feeling unstoppable, (like Clint Eastwood) in the process. As a listener, you come to realizations within yourself that make you feel complete as an individual (feeling great, like fuckiing Clint Eastwood). Alternatively, Del could just be calling this insane inspirational concept that possesses all artists alike a force as powerful as our view of the fictional Clint Eastwood hero.

"The essence the basics Without it you make it" Anyone can tap into this. If you aren't already experiencing it, when you're bored you'll make it on your own. It is so natural to the human spirit, that if it isn't present, inspiration will take over on its own.

"Allow me to make this Childlike in nature" He's gonna break it down even further

"Rhythm You have it or you don't that's a fallacy" Pretty obvious, mainly repeating how anyone can tap into this.

"I'm in them Every sprouting tree Every child apiece" Self-explanatory.

"Every cloud you see You see with your eyes" When you see, you see the literal, the physical and to a deeper extent in the context of the song, the surface level.

"I see destruction and demise Corruption in disguise From this fuckin' enterprise" "Clint Eastwood"/Inspiration/This concept that's being described in this song sees the problems of the world and whatnot inherent in our current societal system.

"Now I'm sucking to your lies" On a literal level, this is saying inspiration/'clint eastwood' feeds off of your all the problems of the world and your personal insecurities because without them there wouldn't be any reason to create anything.

Through Russ, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides with me as a guide" Russel (the drummer of Gorillaz) is the vessel through which "Clint Eastwood"/Inspiration manifests itself through. Not Russel himself, but Russel's ability to allow inspiration to flow and music to come to creation. This concept described in the song is found in the cultural output of humanity once a human allows inspiration to flow -- basically stating, as previously stated in the song, that without 'clint eastwood', we are lifeless.

"But y'all can see me now cuz you don't see with your eye You perceive with your mind That's the inner" So now you get it. You are finally seeing beyond the surface. Some poetry here, really. He's saying we don't see anything anywhere with just our eyes, its really the mind at work perceiving on an individualized, inner level.

"So I'm gonna stick around with Russ and be a mentor" 'Clint Eastwood' is leaving now, but he'll be around for a few more bars, guiding Russ to keep the beat of the song. If you remember the music video for this song, Russel gets taken over and possessed by Del. This completely matches up with the interpretation of this song, and it causes the zombies to literally awaken from their graves (people waking up).

"Bust a few rhymes so mother fuckers Remember where the thought is" The whole reason he is doing this song is to give people a clue to the truth behind inspiration and creativity and its purpose in the world. The real thought behind humanity -- the driving force for progression.

"I brought all this So you can survive when law is lawless Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead" Whenever, ifever, everything falls apart and we are trying to rebuild ourselves, we'll need to remember how to be genuinely inspired and progress as a culture.

"No squealing, remember (that it's all in your head)" No complaining if things get really bad, or if you can't catch the fuse. Here's the twist, there is no divine power, there is no Clint Eastwood or personification of inspiration -- it's all you, if you allow yourself to.

Am I the only one who knows how to use psychedelics on this site? A few people have mentioned DMT, which is very close, but they haven't really explained it. This song is most explicitly about mushrooms, and the mushroom God that you contact when you take them for shamanic purposes. If you actually know how to use psychedelics properly, you can open your third eye, which is why he says "Ya'll can see me now cuz you don't see with your eye, you perceive with your mind." It also explains the line "Hero who appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy." Mushrooms delete your cultural programming and force you to see the world for what it really is, as seen in the lines "Nah you shouldn't be scared, I'm good at repairs and I'm under each snare." and - "bet you didn't think so I command you to." The last line that proves beyond all doubt that the song is about the Mushroom (also called The Logos, The Alien, The Other, etc...) is the line where he says "I'm in 'em, every sproutin tree, every child apiece, every cloud and sea." Mushrooms teach you that all life is connected, that we are all one and that the gift of life is in all of us. I could go more in-depth, but I'm too lazy for now.

The whole song is about how we dont perceive the world to be what it really is. Throughout the song its spoken in 1st person, who i believe to be the source/god 'pick and choose, sit and lose, all you different crews, chicks and dudes, who do you think is really kicking tunes?' i believe refers to how we make choices that makes us think we control our lives when really we every aspect of our lives is controlled. 'you have it or you dont thats a fallacy' were always told that your good at something or your not, or 'its in your genes' meaning you cant change it so the solution is to just accept what your given ( for example were now told there is a fat gene, so some people are fat and others arent, thats just life? ). 'Every sprouting tree, child apiece, cloud you see with your eyes i see destruction and demise corruption and disguise from this fkin enterprise' We are blinded by what we have been told, we see things in an innocent way or for our benefit when our lack of perception leads us to believe this, the world is all wrong! 'Yall can see me now cause you dont see with your eye, you perceive with your mind, thats the inner' He now talks about how you can see him now when earlier he was intangible, we observe things based on what we have been told/fed through the media and the lies that circulate; you have every power in you to make decisions for yourself based off your own experiences and instinct, you have to find it in yourself to see this. There are so many other references i believe people have overlooked, with this point of view in mind go back over the lyrics and see for yourself!

This is a song referencing awakening the self. You all aren't ready for the truth if you think this song is just about drugs or a simple reference to a Clint Eastwood movie. Sigh.

• I ain't happy. (He isn't happy cuz life is miserable)

• I feeling glad. (But he is under the influence of drugs. So he feeling glad.)

• I got sunshine in a bag. (He got drugs in a bag)

• I'm useless, but not for long. (The trip hasn't start yet. Without the trip, he feels useless. But not for long cuz soon the kick will start.)

• My future is coming on. (Soon he will see things or something else.)

• Finally someone let me outta my cage. (Finally the kick has started)

• Now time for me is nothing, cuz I'm counting no age. (When you are high on mushrooms, you have no control about time.

• panoramic view... (You see things like it is paranormal)

• Y'all can see me now cuz you don't see with your eyes. (He can se a ghost now, in the trip.)

• What the thought is I brought all this, so you can survive when law i lawless. (You brought all monsters and ghosts from your thought, so you can do what ever you want.)

-It's all in your head!!!