Their name comes from a term that refers to Indian immigrants that move to England, in that they often own street corner stores. Their music is a fusion of Indian music, British indie rock, and electronic dance.
In 1997, Cornershop shot into the UK charts with the song 'Brimful of Asha' reaching number 60! Things changed when DJ Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) remixed the track for re-release in 1998. The remix topped the chart, selling over 200,000 copies in 7 days! The track featured lyrics about Bollywood playback singer, Asha Bhosle.
Wogs Will Walk
Cornershop Lyrics
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Down twenty, why stairs
It came from the rest There,
Goes to rest in the heart
First I was a foreigner
Then suddenly, Everything (is) was cool forever
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
Last number recall
Told me what you were up to
Put the volume down on adverts
To emphasize how sad they are
Mar ships sexier
And from all the above
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
The song "Wogs Will Walk" by Cornershop is a social commentary on the issue of discrimination faced by immigrants in the Western world. The lyrics of the song are a mix of sarcasm, self-deprecation, and irony that effectively capture the essence of the issue at hand. The song begins with the lines "Get your fat ass off the acetate into / Down twenty, why stairs / It came from the rest There, / Goes to rest in the heart", which are an attempt at satire directed towards those who view immigrants as lazy and unproductive. By juxtaposing the idea of a "fat ass" with the notion of climbing stairs, the singer highlights the senselessness of such stereotypes.
The lyrics then move on to a more personal description of the immigrant experience. The line "First I was a foreigner / Then suddenly, Everything (is) was cool forever" speaks to the often-deceptive nature of assimilation. The process of assimilation is something that immigrants are expected to undergo, but it is not always easy or straightforward. The line "This Western Oriental’s going full circle" suggests that the singer has come full circle as an immigrant, experiencing both the highs and the lows of the process.
The final lines of the song "Mar ships sexier / And from all the above / This Western Oriental’s going full circle / This Western Oriental’s going full circle" are a call to action. The singer is suggesting that the discrimination faced by immigrants is not something that can be ignored, and that change is needed.
Line by Line Meaning
Get your fat ass off the acetate into
Stop lazing around and get moving
Down twenty, why stairs
Take the stairs down instead of using the elevator
It came from the rest There,
The motivation came from within
Goes to rest in the heart
The feeling of accomplishment stays with you
First I was a foreigner
Initially, I was an outsider
Then suddenly, Everything (is) was cool forever
But suddenly things became better and remained that way
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
The person of mixed heritage is coming back to their roots
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
The person of mixed heritage is coming back to their roots
Last number recall
I remember the last conversation we had
Told me what you were up to
You shared with me what you were doing
Put the volume down on adverts
Turn off the noise and distractions of advertisements
To emphasize how sad they are
So that their depressing nature can be fully appreciated
Mar ships sexier
Mars is more attractive
And from all the above
Taking everything into consideration
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
The person of mixed heritage is coming back to their roots
This Western Oriental?s going full circle
The person of mixed heritage is coming back to their roots
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TJINDER SINGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind