"FILM THE POLICE," has quickly become an anthem for the #Occupy generation, and shows no signs of slowing it's spread.
B. Dolan began performing in 1999 in the heart of the spoken word scene; New York City's famous Nuyorican Poets Cafe, where he developed his chops quickly. An 18 year old Dolan arrived for the first time as part of HBO's Def Poetry Series in 2002, and the respect earned with numerous performance poetry championships in the two years that followed.
2003 also saw the first release of "The Failure," [at the time] a two-disc, homegrown demo full of Dolan's earliest work.
After this self-release, Dolan disappeared from the poetry scene to pursue more overtly musical projects, as well as his own contribution to the struggle against social injustice.
In the midst of inventing the ragged, breakdown aesthetic of his later work, Dolan also dug in his activist roots by creating and co-founding the Knowmore.org website with former slam teammate and friend Sage Francis.
B. Dolan joined Francis on The Knowmore.org Tour in support of the project, which is when Francis expressed interest in releasing a revised version of "The Failure" on Strange Famous Records.
2008 brought about the official re-release of "The Failure" lp, which was trimmed down by a disc, and was critically acclaimed as a genre-defying, unheralded classic. It also earned a legion of die hard fans for Dolan's spoken word pieces, who've stuck around since to watch this unique artist's continual reinvention.
In 2009 he released House of Bees vol. 1, a full length mixtape that served to build momentum toward his 2010 release. Then, in 2010, "Fallen House, Sunken City" hit. Dolan's decidedly hip-hop sophomore lp was hailed by rap legends, critics and fans as a massive success. Alternative Press called the album "proof that underground hip hop still has bite," and The Onion's A.V. Club named it "One of the best albums of 2010." "Earthmovers," the album's first video, also became an MTVu Freshman of the Week and was entered into rotation on MTV2.
Since his signing to SFR, Dolan has toured exhaustively and internationally, most notably as part of the Paid Dues, SXSW 09, Soundset, and Rock the Bells festivals.
In addition to his partner and frequent collaborator Sage Francis, Dolan has also toured with the likes of Buck 65, Alias, Sole, Solilaquests of Sound, Prolyphic, Dan le sac vs. Scroobius Pip, Grand Buffet and others.
Earthmovers
B. Dolan Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Building cities in the desert. Cities in Antarctica Cities on the moon.
Bulldozer. Back-hoe. Hard-hat. Harvester.
Rough gets smoothed, everything can move.
They got just the tool, everything can move.
Got a foreman and a crew, everything can move
Got a union too, everything can move.
The earthmovers:
Development.
Settlement.
Sharp eyes
Dissect space and time
With a measurement of lines
Divide lots and plats
Plot the map plant the flag
Drop the marker like that.
Got plenty
Property
Proper
Documents
Safety
Goggles
Priviledge
Hard hats
Thick skin
Dig in
We are the architects
Few view the blueprints
Never stop to rest.
Never mind the mess, we're going to mars next
Father of the projects
God complex
"Let there be light"
How large is your obelisk?
It's a contest.
Watch this:
Mountain from a molehill mountaintop removal
Terra-form irrigate excavate level grade
Dam (it's hydro-electric)
It's your boy Pipelaya
Bobsledding throug the desert
Fuckin up the sandbox since I was seven
Tonka toy permanent permit for demolition
Flatten every surface, de-stroy difference
Grease the commission just to keep the wheels spinnin but
Listen:
We were born with permission.
They see the vision in our clear blue eyes
Air conditioning the ice cubes, chillin poolside
Come to Jamaica,
Come to Dubai
Got a new mayor
Cleaning up the crime
Got a snow machine
You can ski anytime
Not a cloud to be seen
In the dome of the sky
Reshape Harlem into North Manhattan
Wake up on the reservation like
"What happened?"
Sleep to the sound of a chainsaw massacre
Wake to the sound of a dumptruck backing up
(Back that thing up.)
The earthmovers:
Building cities in the desert. Cities in Antarctica Cities on the moon.
Bulldozer. Back-hoe. Hard-hat. Harvester.
Rough gets smoothed, everything can move.
They got just the tool, everything can move.
Got a foreman and a crew, everything can move
Got a union too, everything can move.
The earthmovers:
They rule.
The lyrics of B. Dolan's Earthmovers talks about the power and influence of the earthmovers or the construction workers. The song has a satirical tone, highlighting the destructive nature of development and settlement. The opening lyrics allude to the idea that the earthmovers are capable of building cities anywhere, including the desert, Antarctica, and the moon. The tools of the trade, such as bulldozers, backhoes, hard-hats, and harvesters, are powerful enough to move anything in their way.
The lyrics then highlight the precision of the earthmovers; they are capable of dissecting space and time and dividing lots and plots. They have the privilege of wearing safety goggles and hard hats, giving them an advantage over others. The earthmovers pride themselves on their ability to dig in and never stop to rest, always moving onto the next project. The lyrics also suggest that the earthmovers have a God complex, taking on a symbolic role as the "Father of the projects."
The lyrics also allude to the idea that there is a competition among developers to build the tallest or largest structure, shown through the lyric, "How large is your obelisk? It's a contest." The song also references the destructive nature of development, showing how it flattens every surface and destroys differences. Despite this, the song suggests that the earthmovers were born with permission to do so and that people see the vision in their "clear blue eyes."
Line by Line Meaning
Building cities in the desert. Cities in Antarctica Cities on the moon.
The people who operate earth-moving machines are building cities in places like the desert, Antarctica, and the moon.
Bulldozer. Back-hoe. Hard-hat. Harvester.
The tools used by earthmovers include heavy machinery like bulldozers, backhoes, hard-hats, and harvesters.
Rough gets smoothed, everything can move.
The earthmovers can make any surface smooth and easy to traverse.
They got just the tool, everything can move.
The earthmovers have the necessary equipment to move anything.
Got a foreman and a crew, everything can move
The earthmovers have a leader and a team to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Got a union too, everything can move.
The earthmovers have a union to help protect their rights and ensure fair treatment.
They rule.
The people who operate earth-moving machines have a lot of power and control over the land.
Development.
The earthmovers are responsible for the development of new infrastructure and buildings.
Settlement.
The earthmovers are involved in establishing new settlements and cities in previously uninhabitable areas.
Sharp eyes
The earthmovers must have good vision and perception to operate their machinery accurately.
Dissect space and time
The earthmovers are able to analyze and break down areas and timelines for development or redevelopment.
With a measurement of lines
The earthmovers use lines and markings to measure and designate particular areas for development.
Divide lots and plats
The earthmovers are involved in dividing land into distinct parcels for development and sale.
Plot the map plant the flag
The earthmovers are responsible for designing and mapping out new territories, as well as claiming them for their owners.
Drop the marker like that.
The earthmovers are able to quickly and efficiently mark areas for development or excavation.
Got plenty
The earthmovers have an ample supply of tools and resources for their work.
Property
The earthmovers are involved in the buying, selling, and developing of land and property.
Proper
The earthmovers strive to ensure that their work is done properly and to the highest standards.
Documents
The earthmovers must have proper documentation and permits for their work to be legal and legitimate.
Safety
The earthmovers take safety precautions to avoid accidents and injuries while operating heavy machinery.
Goggles
The earthmovers wear protective eyewear to protect their eyes while working with machines that create dust and debris.
Privilege
The earthmovers feel privileged and powerful to have the ability to shape the land to their will.
Hard hats
The earthmovers wear hard hats to protect their heads from falling debris and other hazards on the job.
Thick skin
The earthmovers must be resilient and tough to withstand the physical demands and dangers of their job.
Dig in
The earthmovers are dedicated and committed to their work, willing to put in the effort to get the job done right.
We are the architects
The earthmovers see themselves as responsible for designing and shaping landscapes, like architects designing buildings.
Few view the blueprints
The work of the earthmovers is often unseen and underappreciated, with few people understanding the details of what they do.
Never stop to rest.
The earthmovers work tirelessly to keep moving forward with their projects, never taking a break or slowing down.
Never mind the mess, we're going to mars next
The earthmovers are always looking for new opportunities and challenges, even if the next project seems impossible or daunting.
Father of the projects
The earthmovers are responsible for creating and leading large-scale development projects.
God complex
The earthmovers may feel godlike and all-powerful in their ability to shape the land to their will.
"Let there be light"
The earthmovers may see themselves as the creators of new worlds and landscapes, like a divine being bringing light to darkness.
How large is your obelisk?
The earthmovers may compete with each other over the size and scale of their projects, like builders trying to outdo each other with the tallest obelisks or other structures.
It's a contest.
The earthmovers often view their work as a competition, trying to outdo each other and impress their clients or bosses.
Watch this:
The earthmovers may be show-offs and enjoy impressing others with their skills and abilities.
Mountain from a molehill mountaintop removal
The earthmovers are capable of turning small hills into large mountains or removing entire mountaintops in the name of development.
Terra-form irrigate excavate level grade
The earthmovers are involved in various aspects of land shaping and preparation, including irrigation, excavation, leveling, and grading.
Dam (it's hydro-electric)
The earthmovers may be involved in building hydroelectric dams to generate power for nearby communities.
It's your boy Pipelaya
The singer is introducing themselves as someone who lays pipeline for a living, another type of earthmover.
Bobsledding throug the desert
The artist is joking about the idea of riding a bobsled through the desert, a silly visual that contradicts the ruggedness of the environment.
Fuckin up the sandbox since I was seven
The artist has been fascinated with playing with sand and dirt since they were a child, and now they get to do it as a profession.
Tonka toy permanent permit for demolition
The singer is comparing their heavy machinery to the toys they played with as a child, while acknowledging their power to destroy.
Flatten every surface, de-stroy difference
The singer sees their job as destroying natural differences and smoothing out landscapes to make them conform to human standards.
Grease the commission just to keep the wheels spinnin but
The artist may be involved in bribing officials or other ways of keeping their business running smoothly, even if it may not be ethical or legal.
Listen:
The artist is emphasizing the importance of what they're about to say.
We were born with permission.
The artist believes that they and others like them were born with the innate ability and authority to shape the land however they see fit.
They see the vision in our clear blue eyes
The singer believes that others recognize the potential and creative energy in the eyes of people like them who operate earth-moving machines.
Air conditioning the ice cubes, chillin poolside
The artist is talking about the luxurious lifestyle that can be enjoyed in places that were previously inhospitable, thanks to the work of earthmovers.
Come to Jamaica,
The singer is inviting people to come to Jamaica, which has likely been transformed by the work of earthmovers.
Come to Dubai
The singer is also inviting people to come to Dubai, which has been extensively developed by earthmovers.
Got a new mayor
The singer is indicating that there has been a change of leadership in a particular location they're working in.
Cleaning up the crime
The artist is implying that the earthmovers are helping to combat crime and create safer communities through development projects.
Got a snow machine
The artist is indicating that they have access to technology that can create snow, perhaps for use in ski resorts or other tourist destinations.
You can ski anytime
The singer is promoting the idea of year-round skiing through the use of artificial snow-making technology.
Not a cloud to be seen
The singer is describing a clear and sunny day, unobscured by clouds or other weather patterns.
In the dome of the sky
The artist is using a metaphor to describe the sky like a dome or ceiling over the earth.
Reshape Harlem into North Manhattan
The artist is referring to the idea of gentrification and community development that could transform Harlem into a more affluent and upscale area like other parts of Manhattan.
Wake up on the reservation like
The artist is indicating that they have experience working on Native American reservations, perhaps specifically regarding land development.
"What happened?"
The singer is indicating that they may have seen or been involved in projects that have drastically changed the landscape of certain areas, causing surprise or confusion from those who are familiar with the previous state of things.
Sleep to the sound of a chainsaw massacre
The artist is describing the noise of chainsaws cutting down trees or other structures, which may be necessary in the development process but could also be seen as destructive or violent.
Wake to the sound of a dumptruck backing up
The singer is describing the noise of heavy machinery moving around the job site, which may be a jarring start to the day but is also an indication that work is continuing.
(Back that thing up.)
This is a parenthetical comment that refers to the sound of backing up a dumptruck, as though the singer is offering instructions or advice on how to do it.
Contributed by Caroline G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.