Guv'nor
JJ DOOM Lyrics
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From the fire vocaled
Ash and molten glass like
Eyjafjallajökull
The volcano out of Iceland
He'll conquer and destroy the rap world like the white men
Learnt from a pro as a mentor
Started with a bird nest and burnt it to a cinder
That'll get the party kicking
Plus your little charred body is smoldered like chicken
As the dollar continues to lose momentum
He need land from murdered indians that represent 'em
Gold is up, urging all thugs
Trade your chains for cash and splurge it on drugs
Or a more secure investment:
Food or water
A couple of gallons for your cutest daughter
And thank him as a Yankee fellow southerner
Don't forget the general rank, 'ello guv'nor
Vocals spill over like the rolling hills of Dover
Or the Gulf Oil Disaster if preferred you're after
Depends on your status or your stature
Whether you benefit from the prior or the later-er
Get the fatter check split
How much for 100,000 tons of correct shit
Sell a Chinese half-priced seafood
Price is like a real nice street dude
Who can knock the most dead birds out the sky
And then spread a lie
And then say he know why
I bet
Get the machine, blame it on the fireworks
Cleanup, y'all know when to send the wire, jerks!
Black teeth still snack on sweets
And get stacks with the qui mon qui
They use to sell CD's
Now they got fake weed
Seeds burning trees like potpourri
Buyer beware
Had to tell this one liar "sire be fair"
At least untie her hair from the chair while I'm there
I hate playing loving her, JJ for Governor
The lyrics of "Guv'nor" by JJ DOOM, a collaboration between hip-hop artist MF DOOM and producer Jneiro Jarel, are complex and multifaceted. The song begins with a reference to the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull and uses its ash and molten glass as a metaphor for the fiery, explosive nature of the vocals. The lyrics then suggest that the singer, represented by DOOM's alter ego JJ, will conquer and destroy the rap world like a white conqueror, drawing on the violent history of European colonization.
The reference to starting with a bird's nest and burning it to a cinder is a metaphor for JJ's rise to power and the destruction he leaves in his wake. The lyrics then turn to a critique of the capitalist system, urging the listener to trade traditional forms of currency, like chains, for drugs or more secure investments in food and water. The mention of murdered Native Americans is a nod to the ongoing legacy of colonialism and its impact on communities of color.
The second half of the song continues this critique of capitalist violence with references to the Gulf Oil Disaster and the sale of Chinese half-priced seafood. JJ is depicted as a kind of anti-hero, who can "knock the most dead birds out the sky" and "spread a lie" without consequence. The lyrics suggest a world where greed and corruption reign, and the only hope for survival is to be savvy and ruthless.
Line by Line Meaning
Catch a throatful
Get ready for some intense lyrics
From the fire vocaled
His lyrics are hot and intense
Ash and molten glass like
His lyrics are destructive like a volcano
Eyjafjallajökull
Referencing the Icelandic volcano to highlight his destructive power
The volcano out of Iceland
Reiterating the destructive power he holds
He'll conquer and destroy the rap world like the white men
He's going to take over the rap world and destroy it like white colonizers destroyed nations
Learnt from a pro as a mentor
He learned from someone experienced in the game and is now skilled
Started with a bird nest and burnt it to a cinder
He started from humble beginnings and destroyed it all to become successful
That'll get the party kicking
His lyrics will get the party started
Plus your little charred body is smoldered like chicken
If you're not careful, he'll burn you like chicken and leave you in the ashes
As the dollar continues to lose momentum
As the economy goes down, he advises that people invest in more secure things
He need land from murdered indians that represent 'em
He believes in taking things that were stolen from indigenous people as reparations
Gold is up, urging all thugs
With the price of gold going up, he advises criminals to trade in their loot for it
Trade your chains for cash and splurge it on drugs
He suggests selling stolen goods and then using that money to buy drugs
Or a more secure investment:
Another alternative is to invest in food or water
A couple of gallons for your cutest daughter
Buying water to secure the future for your kids
And thank him as a Yankee fellow southerner
People should thank him as their fellow American
Don't forget the general rank, 'ello guv'nor
He asserts his dominance and authority, greeting everyone as 'guv'nor'
Vocals spill over like the rolling hills of Dover
His lyrics are just as beautiful as the hills of Dover
Or the Gulf Oil Disaster if preferred you're after
Alternatively, his lyrics can be just as disastrous as the Gulf oil spill
Depends on your status or your stature
It depends on your social status or power
Whether you benefit from the prior or the later-er
Whether you benefit from disaster or beauty
Get the fatter check split
Get more money and share it
How much for 100,000 tons of correct shit
He wants to know the price for a lot of good quality merchandise
Sell a Chinese half-priced seafood
He knows someone who sells cheap, questionable seafood
Price is like a real nice street dude
The price is nice but at the same time dangerous
Who can knock the most dead birds out the sky
He's powerful and capable of causing harm
And then spread a lie
He's also deceitful and lies to cover his tracks
And then say he know why
He'll pretend to know why things went wrong
I bet
He's confident in his abilities
Get the machine, blame it on the fireworks
He's strategic and knows how to create a distraction
Cleanup, y'all know when to send the wire, jerks!
After the plan, he wants to get paid
Black teeth still snack on sweets
Even those who are unhealthy still indulge in treats
And get stacks with the qui mon qui
People can still make money in unorthodox ways
They use to sell CD's
People used to sell CDs, but now they don't
Now they got fake weed
Now people sell fake drugs
Seeds burning trees like potpourri
The fake drugs are harmful and destructive like burning potpourri
Buyer beware
Be cautious and aware of what you're buying
Had to tell this one liar "sire be fair"
He confronts someone who is dishonest and tells them to be fair
At least untie her hair from the chair while I'm there
He may be confronting a liar but still values treating women with respect
I hate playing loving her, JJ for Governor
He hates playing games with women and wants to be taken seriously as a political figure
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Daniel Dumile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind