On the eve of Trump’s inauguration, the animated band Gorillaz released their first song in six years, a haunting protest anthem called “Hallelujah Money.”
It’s a thinly veiled dig on the new president with many elements, both visual and lyrical, that appear to criticize him. The video features British singer Benjamin Clementine front and center as the KKK, Animal Farm and other politically charged imagery flash in the background.
Gorillaz is a band founded by the lead singer of the British rock band Blur, and are commonly represented by a cast of cartoon characters. The band took a long hiatus after their 2010 album Plastic Beach. Their music has never been too overtly political, but their new album to be released in may be based on this track.
Accompanying the song is a message from the band’s animated bassist, Murdoch: “In these dark times, we all need someone to look up to. Me. That’s why I’m giving you this new Gorillaz song, a lightning bolt of truth in a black night. You’re welcome. Now piss on! The new album’s not gonna write itself.”
We carefully unpacked the potential meaning of this song (with the help of Genius, a web site where users speculate on the meaning of song lyrics), which stands as one of the first of many protest songs of the new Trump era.
Here are the lyrics, annotations are in [brackets]:
Here is our tree
That primitively grows
And when you go to bed
Scarecrows from the far east
Come to eat
Its tender fruits
And I thought the best way to perfect our tree
[According to the folks at Genius annotator, the tree could represent American prosperity, which grows in a reactionary way. The scarecrows from the Far East could refer to Trump’s “strawman” argument that China is coming for our jobs to take that prosperity away.]
Is by building walls
Walls like unicorns
In full glory
And galore
And even stronger
Than the walls of Jericho
[An obvious reference to Trump’s planned wall on the Mexican border. The comparison to unicorns could be a dig at the fact that Trump may not build the wall in the end, said another Genius user, or the idea that the wall will protect American prosperity is only imaginary. The walls of Jericho in the Bible were known for their strength but were brought down by the Israelites, who themselves could be described as refugees.]
But glad then my friend
Out in the field we shall reap a better day
[Possible reference to the migrant farm workers kept out by the wall]
What we have always dreamt of having
Are now for the starving
It is love, that is the root of all evil
But not our tree
And thank you my friend
For trusting me
[Hook: Benjamin Clementine (Choir)]
Hallelujah
(Hallelujah)
Hallelujah money
[A reference to the demogogery surounding Trump, a billionaire.]
(Past the chemtrails)
[A reference to the chemtrails conspiracy theory. Trump has been friendly with conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who touts this theory.]
Hallelujah money
(Hallelujah money)
Hallelujah money
(Hallelujah money)
Hmmm
Hallelujah money
(Hallelujah)
Hallelujah money
(Oooh)
[Bridge: 2-D]
How will we know?
When the morning comes
We are still human
How will we know?
How will we dream?
How will we love?
How will we know?
[Spoken Verse: Benjamin Clementine]
Don’t worry, my friend
If this be the end, then so shall it be
[Trump and the nuclear codes, maybe?]
Until we say so, nothing will move
Ah, don’t worry
It’s not against our morals
It’s legal tender
Touch, my friend
While the whole world
And whole beasts of nations desire
Power
[Bridge 2: 2-D]
When the morning comes
We are still human
How will we know?
How will we dream?
How will we love?
How will we know?
[The song and the video aim to create a dreamlike state of unreality, similar to the feeling of keeping up with the ongoing bizarre spectacle of the Trump presidency. The “how will we dream,” “how will we love” seems like typical liberal panic that everything will be upended and destroyed, even the metaphysical, with a Trump presidency.]
[Hook: Benjamin Clementine (Choir)]
(Hallelujah money)
Hallelujah money
(Past the chemtrails)
Hallelujah money
(Hallelujah money)
Hmmm
Hallelujah money
(Hallelujah money)
Hallelujah money
(Oooh)
Hallelujah money
Hallelujah money
Hallelujah
Hallelujah money!
[Outro: Spongebob Squarepants]
[According to Genius, the ending scene of Spongebob Squarepants screaming is from the episode “Karate Choppers,” where Mr. Krabs tells Spongbob he is fired. It can’t be a coincidence that this is Trump’s catch phrase.]
The visual cues of the song also point to aspects of Trump.
The first shot shows a Benjamin Clementine exiting an elevator in what appears to be Trump Tower.
The next image shows an African village. This could be a reference to Trump’s birther conspiracy, which posited that Barack Obama was not a US citizen because he was born in Kenya.
Napoleon form Animal Farm also makes an appearance. In the novel, Napoleon was able to convince the other animals to give up their rights in service to him and the other pigs. This could be a commentary on racism and authoritarianism.
The KKK were enthusiastic supporters of Trump during the election.
Killer Clowns were sweeping the nation during the election, but mysteriously vanished from the streets and parks after Trump won. Coincidence?
The “all seeing eye” behind Clementine could be another reference to conspiracy theories. The Masonic symbol is at the center of many historical conspiracies.
I think that’s Clint Eastwood below, a Republican and avid Trump supporter.
Hallelujah Money certainly had a timely release, attempting to paint the next four years in doom and gloom and even as the potential end of the world. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
