Gorillaz - Clint Eastwood Song Meanings
 Top Rated Interpretation
anonymous
May 27th, 2007 11:15PM
< Click a star to vote!
I think that "I ain't happy - future is comin' on" definitely has to do with some kind of drugs, but to me the idea is mainly not being on top of yourself. like, lacking ambition or motive, but also looking toward your future to have some sort of drive. for the time being tho, there is none, so he is 'useless' and he 'aint happy'. kind of like when your rooms a mess and your just being lazy, but you do plan on eventually cleaning it, but right now you suck at life and your just fed up with your messy room and not being able to see your floor n shit.
When del tha funkee homosapien starts, "finally someone let me outa my cage." I think that shows that he feels he is someone who has overcome this mindset, or you could say he got off his ass and cleaned his room.
He randomly says "intangible" because I'd say he means that his message and way of thinking isn't something that is easily perceived or accomplished, but I'm not to sure of the word. "bet you didn't think so I command you to" goes without saying, but "panoramic view" is said because he thinks you should take a step back and reevaluate yourself from a different perspective. "look ill make it all manageable" is because the point of the rap is trying to help you metaphorically get into the right mindset for cleaning your room I guess, (im just sticking with that analogy because its simple and it makes sense)
The next couple of lines makes absolutely no sense to me but they are gorillaz and they are amazing and allowed to say whatever they hell they want.
The "hero who appears in you to clear you view when your too crazy" is either a way he defines himself, or something he is trying to bring out in you, like he's trying to help you help yourself.
"Lifeless, to those with definitions for what life is" I believe has to do with other people judging you and the way you live your life. I.e. a pothead that someone could just be like ew your a dumb pothead and you waste space on the earth, but that person probably doesn't even know what they're talking about and their not you so it doesn't matter.
"priceless, to you because I put you on the hype shit" I can't say I've ever heard anybody say hype shit before so I wouldnt know what it means, but I looks to me like its the course that he's trying to set you on, and its priceless to you, because it can change your life if you utilize it.
Then some more blah moments..
"allow me to make this, childlike in nature" is saying allow me to make all of this simple, like it already is, its just difficult to see just how simple.
"with me as a guide, y'all can see me now because you don't see with your eyes, you perceive with your mind" he's referencing how he's your guide again, and what was once before considered intangible, is now tangible because your now thinking through everything he has said, and you can see him now really means you understand him and his message clearly now, and it took a panoramic view to get to that point.
"be a mentor" is another guide reference.
"bust a few rhythms so muthafuckas remember where the thought is. I brought all this so you can survive when law is lawless." more guide reference, and implying he should get his credit for his message. Then stating the purpose, which is that you can heed his message when what things are, is not what things should be. like, stuffs unfair or something.
anonymous
January 5th, 2007 03:43PM
< Click a star to vote!
If anyone knows the actual stroyline of Gorillaz you'd know
2d is always on pain killers because of his punched in eyes
"glad" is a term to described high. "I aint happy, I'm feeling glad" is saying he doesn't like having to take them.While 2d sings about not liking his drugged up life, Del the ghost is singing about how he was able to quit drugs and how people on drugs don't perceive anything and let there life fly past them
anonymous
June 6th, 2007 04:43PM
< Click a star to vote!
...Actually, unless I missed it somewhere, no one seems to be taking into consideration that the actual "band members" here are imaginary figures, so much of the verbal imagery in the rap part of the song might just be referring to the required imagination (or, at least, the suspension of disbelief on the part of the spectators) to accept these characters as an actual band --to associate the music with the characters themselves, one must proceed, not with their eyes, which would remind you instantly that these guys are just puppet products of some unseen cartoon mastermind, but with your mind. Even just considering the song along these lines begins to open up a whole new level of possible meaning in the lyrics because the concept of imagination is a very broad and often poetic notion that many of the verses could easily be interpreted as referring to on some level.
...of course, the allegorical concept of a "hero's journey" into greatness of some kind seems to be in there too, but I don't doubt that the creators of this song revel knowingly in the fact that it seems to be about nothing more than tripping on drugs on the surface.
anonymous
December 20th, 2007 09:32PM
< Click a star to vote!
I always thought that the line "I got sunshine in a bag" was in reference to the Clint Eastwood movie "the good, the bad , and the ugly" because of the name of the song. "Sunshine in a bag" refers to the money the main character leaves with at the end of the movie.
Don't get angry at me just because I don't think that sunshine in a bag is in reference to a bag of any type of drug you think is called Sunshine.
It won't matter what you think a song means later so don't fight about it. You go on thinking your way and let everyone else think their way.
anonymous
May 8th, 2008 04:32PM
< Click a star to vote!
I believe this to be a very spiritual song and how current societies are doing nothing but detaching us from who we really are through judgements which creates fear. Finding your inner self is the first step to spiritual enlightment and the first step to change the way the corrupt world is - one person at a time....hear me out...
"Finally someone let me out of my cage
Now, time for me is nothing because I'm counting no age
Now I couldn't be there
Now you shouldn't be scared
I'm good at repairs
And I'm under each snare
Intangible "
-This is a clear reference to a spiritual guide(counting no age, time is nothing in the spiritual world). This guide is an intangible being, so he cannot be here but is good at repairs (AKA mental and physical healing) Listening to your inner self through meditation is a great way to let your spiritual guide "out of the cage"
"Who you think is really kickin' tunes?
Picture you gettin' down in a picture tube
Like you lit the fuse"
- Television(picture tube), controlling us by making us want to be like the people on TV, (pop culture), yet we still believe we have complete free will (who do you think is really kickin tunes)
"You think it's fictional
Mystical? Maybe
Spiritual
Hearable
What appears in you is a clearer view because you're too crazy
Lifeless
To know the definition for what life is
Priceless"
-This control detaches people from themselves and into a FICTIONAL world, when really, we are the real thing(fear mongering- terrorism is everywhere!! right?). The outcome is a clear view of how crazy and lifeless we are yet we all think the we know the definition for what life is. This new found spirituality maybe mystical but spiritual is hearable.(listen to your guide- a spiritual awakening is probobly what this person is experiencing)
"The essence the basics
Without it you make it"
-You are a co-creator of reality, through your thoughts- if you don't have it you make it.
"You have it or you don't that's a fallacy
I'm in them
Every sprouting tree
Every child apiece
Every cloud you see"
-To think you have it or don't is a complete fallacy, because, as a co-creator of reality, you have everything you ever need in the HERE and the NOW. Everything is ONE(there is no separate between anything in the universe, only the illusion of separateness)- in every sprouting tree, child apiece, and every cloud you see. You and the guide are an integral part of everything you see and experience. This goes for every being on the planet.
"Through Russ, though not his muscles but the percussion he provides
with me as a guide
But y'all can see me now because you don't see with your eye
You perceive with your mind
That's the inner"
-Destruction, demise, corruption in disguise- the power that are in place who are constantly fear mongering and telling us how to live. Now through russ's (russ symbolizes anyone in a spiritual awakening) "percussion" (thoughts), and not his muscles...with him as a guide...humanity will begin to see how things really are and stop seeing with their eyes, and start perceiving with their mind(brain)..."thats the inner"- your inner spiritual guide helping with your spiritual awakening
"Remember where the thought is
I brought all this
So you can survive when law is lawless
Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead
No squealing, remember
(that it's all in your head)"
-Remember where your thoughts are-
"I brought all this", you are creating the reality you want through perceptions..so you can survive when law is lawless- society is changing rapidly- many of societie's institutions that have been controlling us for so long are being critisized and will collapse in our lifetime...IE- massive organized religion, schooling systems, oppresive governments (including USAs!)... feeling sensations that you thought were dead- spiritual awakening and a paradigm shift in society will create new feelings we haven't had since children (loss of judgement- garbage man was no less than a CEO!, unconditional pure love etc)... no sqealing, remember that its all in your head....dont worry about a thing, everything you know and experience is a complete manifestation of your thinking which happens to occur in the head!
MOST IMPORTANTLY- IF YOUR STILL READING--
"ain't happy, I'm feeling glad" -
hes not happy, but he has moments of feeling glad (temporary fixes either thru drugs, materialism, nurturing self ego)
"I got sunshine, in a bag" -
sunshine is the reason we have life and creates life,- we all have this "sunshine" effect on the earth(co- creation of reality), within our bag (our mind or head)
"I'm useless, but not for long"-
after a spiritual awakening he is no longer going to be a useless being
"The future is coming on" -
the new way of thought is coming on--a new age.
-THIS IS A VERY SPIRITUAL SONG, WITH NEW AGE CONCEPTS- that's my interpretation and I'm stickin to it! Please though, tell me if I'm way off the cliff here...
anonymous
May 31st, 2008 10:31AM
< Click a star to vote!
From what I see, the chorus is a shout out to clint eastwood. In the beginning of the song, you can hear the screams from "the good, the bad, and the ugly", arguably clint eastwood's greatest film. The "sunshine in a bag" is the gold he found at the end of that movie. That's my view in a literal sense.
anonymous
January 2nd, 2009 10:49PM
< Click a star to vote!
I can't believe no one got this one yet. Its about 2d having a bad trip (I aint happy, I'm feeling glad" Means he's having a bad trip - aint happy, but feeling glad - but hes high. Del is trying to talk him through the bad trip, and remind him its all in his head. If you ever did acid, you would know 100% this is what he is talking about. "Feelings, sensations that you thought were dead" That is exactly what I said on my first trip
anonymous
January 27th, 2009 11:23PM
< Click a star to vote!
As many people have hinted on, I believe the chorus refers to weed, and many of the other lyrics are about how smoking weed can help you see your reality more clearly.
More lyrics that lead me to believe this:
"Bet you didn't think so I command you to,
Panoramic view, look I'll make it all managable."
"A hero that appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy. Lifeless; to know the definition for what life is. Priceless to you because I put you on this hype shit"
And the end of the last verse as a whole, refering to the illegality of weed and the ignorance of the govmt:
"I brought all this so you could survive when law is lawless. Fearless, sensations that you thought was dead, no squealing; remember that it's all in your head."
Many people, as I have in the past, use weed to escape their problems. Others use it to deal with them. And I think this song is about both of them. And ultimately, it's a metaphor for life: Do what you will with your time, but it's not gonna last forever.
anonymous
March 10th, 2009 12:51PM
< Click a star to vote!
This song is all about being stoned.
Notice that the chorus is,
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad (He is not happy that he has a drug problem)
I've got sunshine in a bag (Uhhhh... I'll give you a clue. Its green, crystally, and its called California Sunshine)
I'm uselss, but not for long (He's so high, he can't even function)
The future is coming on (When he is inebriated as such, he can only sit back and watch time pass)
I'm not going into depth with Del's part, but there are obvious references.
Gun's Smoking, Rightous with one 'tokin (Shotgun's smoking, one toking, a slang term for someone smoking)
Yall can see me now cause you don't see with your eyes, you perceive with your mind (When high, you don't rely on visual signals as much, and you are much more open to interpritation of many subjects, IE, religion, nature, etc)
Also notice that in a section of the song you can hear Del inhale, and this is a small sample made famous by most Bob Marley songs. It can also be found in "Don't Worry Be Happy" for instance.
anonymous
March 10th, 2009 04:28PM
< Click a star to vote!
THIS IS NOT ABOUT DRUGS
he video and song name is a reference to the famous western starring actor Clint Eastwood, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The yell from the film's theme song can be heard at the beginning of the video. Closeups of the bandmember's faces are featured throughout the video, something that is used often in spaghetti westerns. Midway through the film, Del summons a graveyard from the ground, which is a reference to the ending of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Although often mistaken for referring to drugs such as marijuana, LSD, or mushrooms, the song's famous chorus, "I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad. I got sunshine in a bag", is actually a reference to the money in the bag Clint Eastwood's character rides off with at the end of the film.
anonymous
March 30th, 2009 11:24PM
< Click a star to vote!
The whole song is based off of Clint Eastwood and the good bad and the ugly.
Though some speculation is involved with drugs, as 2-D was on painkillers for his eyes.
So it goes both ways.
anonymous
June 4th, 2009 09:46PM
< Click a star to vote!
"I got sunshine in a bag"
that doesn't mean drugs dumb asses. In an interview they said that it was about clint Eastwood's character in a movie where he runs away with a bag full of money. everything else can be interpreted in one of their lines " you don't see with your eyes, you perceive with your mind " meaning that nothing you see might not be real because what you see is what your brain takes of all the colors you see with your eyes and you could just be imagining all of this in your head. all other lyrics also mean nothing is what it seems. Thin about it dumb shit.
eggetdude
August 28th, 2009 01:11PM
< Click a star to vote!
1*Yeah, ha ha.
2*Finally someone let me out of my cage.
3*Now time for me is nothing 'cause I'm counting no age.
4*No, I couldn't be there. No, you shouldn't be scared.
5*I'm good at repairs and I'm under each snare.
6*Intangible, bet you didn't think, so I command you to.
7*Panoramic view, look I'll make it all manageable.
8*Pick and choose, sit and lose, all you different crews.
9*Chicks and dudes, who you think is really kicking tunes?
10*Picture you getting down in a picture tube,
11*Like you lit the fuse.
12*You think it's fictional? Mystical, maybe.
13*Spiritual hero who appears in you to clear your view when you're too crazy.
14*Lifeless, to those the definition for what life is.
15*Priceless to you because I put you on the hype shit.
------------------------------------------------------------
/////////////////////translation\\\\\\\
------------------------------------------------------------
1*Yeah, ha ha
2*The awareness (deeper conciousness) has finally come to life/awaken
3*time is just an illusion as feelings can't really age
4*Is this really true? Yes, and don't be scared.
5*The awareness is good to repair thoughts in the mind and everything is linked
6*Intangible, bet you didn't think but you are doing it already now anyhow
7*Panoramic view, how our reality has been mapped out by thoughts and feelings in the physical world.
8*Pick and choose how you wish to use your mind to create your own reality, every one picks their own specific path at own choice
9*chicks and dudes, it is you who are making the music, as others making it is just an illusion
10*example: understand what goes on in a picture tube, how all these signals are converted into what we self see with the eye, amazing
11*Like your mind is the real fuse
12*It might be hard to belive at the time. Mystical? Depends your awareness.
13*At a point your consciousness will let you know how it all fits together.
14*To those the definition for what life is lifeless
15*Priceless since I remind- and make you even more aware of whats really going on
Anonymous5555
February 2nd, 2010 01:20PM
< Click a star to vote!
The song could be about a love shy being set free.
Submit your interpretation
More Gorillaz Song Meanings
Email me when this band is updated
Discuss this group in the Gorillaz forum
Home
| 
