RubySoho
Winston
Finally The King Is Dead: The Herd Rap, Sing And Tell It Like It Is
April 24th 2008 03:46
The Herd
(by RubySoho)
The King is Dead is the new single from Aussie hip-hop band The Herd and the first from their latest album Summerland. Now I’m not the biggest hip-hop fan in the world but good music is good music and sometimes the best music is music with a social conscience. The king of the title is none other than John Howard, Australia’s ex-Prime Minister. That’s ex-Prime Minister. Yes, ex. How good it still feels to say that. The song is basically a celebration of Howard’s embarrassing defeat in the November 2007 Federal Election and a query into why it took so long to depose him, given the damage he did to the social fabric of this country.
It’s not the first time The Herd have tackled politics and Howard in their music. In 2003 they released “77%” as in “77% of Australians are racist” which was a response to a survey that found 77% of Australians agreed with the Liberal Government’s handling of the Tampa incident. For those of who don’t know about the Tampa or have simply forgotten, it was the Norwegian ship which rescued 439 Afghan asylum seekers from a sinking vessel, these refugees had the nerve to flee their war torn country, and search for a better life in the Lucky Country, which ironically was one of the nations which was bombing their long-suffering country to smithereens. The Tampa tried to drop the refugees off in Australia but Howard, ever the compassionate leader, refused to allow the ship entry to Australian waters. In the end, New Zealand stepped in and agreed to take the refugees. Not enough room on the world’s biggest island, but itty-bitty New Zealand managed to squeeze them in. The band also released “Burn Down The Parliament” that same year. The King is Dead references that particular track.
The Herd features MC’s Ozi Batla and Urthboy (he gets around, he gets around- some of you will get that, some of you won’t), and the sweet, sweet voice providing the catchy and happiness-inducing chorus belongs to Jane Tyrell.
Here is the video clip (directed by Gavain Browne), with the lyrics printed below:
Lyrics:
We danced like New Year's Eve
We danced from sheer relief
Everything must change
The people that you projected us as-
We were nothing of the sort; it sold us all short.
Put down the champagne
No toast to the legacy
And all the propaganda of prosperity
That’s what a machine does and they don’t need therapy
You turned us into a nation of haters
Far-right appeaser, believer in whatever kept you leader
Dog whistle through the speakers see who bites it
I noticed a hell of a lot of people liked it
An ethical choice is simpler if you price it
Conquer by dividing-that’s why you admired him?
Unless pushed we would never have retired him
Fuckin’ pirate, history will damn him
Once it seemed like nothing can damage him
Crook, you got your arse played in Mandarin
Chorus:
Finally the King is Dead
We cried "off with his head!"
Everything must change
Everything must change
We danced like New Year’s Eve
We danced from relief
Everything must change
Nothing stays the same
Nothing stays the same
Cats I know are feeling this like the Rapture
I can tell who this mood is failing to capture
It’s like somebody finally did light that match up
And burn down the parliament, learned from the argument
Can’t be non-partisan, when you’re an artist
And you put your heart in it, and that’s not even the half of it
Like my man said, we’re talking butter and bread
Better if his words were never uttered again
Mostly vindictive, who could have predicted
Just a few tax breaks to keep us all addicted
The dickhead dictator, leader, imitator
Made me feel immature when I said “I hate ya”
Did you read the paper the day after and hear the laughter?
I’ll read it to you, it starts with M. McKew and ends with you
No broader view for the people on your ship
Who you used to call crew
Ha! That’s typical, now I guess it’s difficult
For the type of person who only thinks of individual
No residual, you’ll see our resilience
Take your bat and ball and head for the pavilion.
Just promise me this, no rose petal glasses,
Quickly consign him to part of the past
Just promise me this, no rose petal glasses,
Quickly consign him to part of the past…
I love the last few lines. No need to elaborate, The Herd say it just fine.
There are also a few very clever lines that are worth commenting on and explaining to our international friends:
The last line of the first verse “Crook, you got your arse played in Mandarin”, is a cheeky reference to Kevin Rudd, our new PM and the man who defeated Howard in the election. Rudd is quite famous for his ability to speak fluent Mandarin Chinese. An ability he never tires of showing off (bless him).
“Did you read the paper the day after and hear the laughter?
I’ll read it to you, it starts with M. McKew and ends with you.”
This refers to Maxine McKew, the journalist turned Labor Party politician who did what we all thought was nigh on impossible- she defeated John Howard in his own seat of Bennelong For those unfamiliar with Australia’s system, in order to enter parliament politicians must campaign for and win a local seat. Howard had held the seat of Bennelong since 1974. His humiliating defeat at the hands of McKew was only the second time a PM lost his own seat (the first was another Liberal, Stanley Bruce in 1929). For those who had waited 12 long years to see the king dethroned, Maxine McKew provided the icing on the cake. Not only did the conservative Liberal Party lose the election, but even if they had won, they would have had to choose another leader as the people of Bennelong had spoken and what they had to say Howard, no doubt, did not enjoy hearing.
“Take your bat and ball and head for the pavilion”
This is a cricket reference whereby when a batsman is “out” or when play has ceased for afternoon tea (yes, afternoon tea), the players head…back to the pavilion. Howard was a famous cricket fan. In fact he loved all sports so much he prioritised them over health, the arts and education in order to pour more money into sport. Who needs a functioning society when we can win gold medals and play cricket better than the Indians?
Yes, the language in this song is strong and the stance is unflinching. But whether you agree with portrayal of our ex-leader or not, I think we are extremely lucky to live in a country where our artists can express themselves so freely, without fear of repercussion.
In how many parts of the world can a singer call a venerated leader a "dickhead" and get away with it?
| 77 |
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
But you know, Tampa, the Children Overboard, Iraq, WorkChoices, GST, Medicare, Centrelink, Education-that's what I had in mind when I wrote that.
I don't think the Liberal Party was always like this and I don't think all conservatives are like this, I hope they can find their way back to something decent.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
As for how our country will vote in a few months? Who knows. Any of the leading three candidates (including McCain) will be an improvement over the current President, so hopefully things are looking up whatever the outcome.
Do we really deserve a change? Why? We're the dumbasses who voted him in. Twice.
Comment by Brenton
Dr Spin
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Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
I meant all the Americans who didn't vote for Bush deserve a change. And maybe some who did because they were misled.
Nice one Brenton.
Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions
I never voted for W. myself, I was speaking more for the nation as a whole. We were all misled, whether we voted for him or not. Still, I think the writing was on the wall during the '04 elections and we put him in again anyway. I really don't know why.
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
You guys just went off track with Bush. it happens. Heck, we voted Howard into office in 96, 98, 01 and 04. Four times! That's unforgivable. At least you guys only did it twice (or once, depending on how you look at it).
Winston, the whole world was stunned after 04. I remember watching the telecast with my sister and we were just dumbstruck. It was just incomprehensible. Gotta hand it to Karl Rove and his mobilisation of the religious right.
Yeah, McCain is a tough one. I thought he had a more liberal outlook but I guess you can't afford to keep that if you want to win over the die hard conservatives. Hagee also loves him because he is fanatically pro-Israel (but which US politician isn't?)
And what's with fundies and Israel anyway? That bloody Book of Revelation...
Comment by Mvsevm of Skin
Comment by RubySoho
Music Zone
Thought Zone
MC Rove. Good grief.
Comment by Anonymous
thats my opinion whether u want it or not but iu have to say george w bush is a retard y bother sending troops to iraq in da first place in my opinion it only made things worse
and thats froma 12yo lmao
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by Anonymous
Great messages behind it.
Just an all round winner in my books.