Originally formed in 1997 for Easy Star Records’ first recordings, the All-Stars primarily existed as a studio entity until releasing Dub Side of the Moon. The success of that album led to the formation of a touring version of the collective. The core of the touring line-up has remained relatively intact, including Ras Iray (bass/vocals), Junior Jazz (guitar/vocals), Ive-09 (drums) and Jeremy Mage (keyboards) in the rhythm section. Tamar-kali and Menny More provide additional lead and backing vocals, while the group is filled out by the Chronic Horns (Jennifer Hill on saxophone & flute and Buford O’Sullivan on trombone). The band is always mixed live by a dub engineer, usually Marcos Ferrari or Jocko Randall (of John Brown’s Body). Other members of the musical collective, such as Victor Rice (Victor Rice Octet, Version City All-Stars and bassist on Dub Side of the Moon), reggae legend Ranking Joe, trumpet player Pam Fleming (of the Burning Brass), singers Kirsty Rock (of Trumystic) and Stephanie McKay, Groove Collective’s Jay Rodriguez, Antibalas’s Stuart Bogie, John Brown Body’s Josh Driscoll, and even Ticklah and Michael G join the All-Stars on specific gigs, adding their abilities to the already talented ensemble.
The Easy Star All-Stars—in any combination of members—have been a resounding success. The band has played at numerous major festivals or headlined their own shows in the U.S., U.K., France, Italy, Chile, Poland, Turkey, Mexico, Argentina, Israel, Croatia, Ireland, Egypt, Brazil, and beyond.
As individuals, the band’s vocalists and instrumentalists have toured and recorded with Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytals, Jimmy Cliff, Gil Scott-Heron, The Toasters, The Meditations, Bernie Worrell, DJ Logic, MC Solaar, King Django, Antibalas, The Scofflaws, Diana King, Dennis Brown, Monty Alexander, Sister Carol, and many others. Each of these musicians gets a chance to shine in the typical Easy Star set, whether it is through soloing, composing, or singing, or simply through playing an essential part in this tight-knit collective. Each line-up may result in slightly different sounds for this unique reggae band, but regardless of who plays, the one thing that never changes is that the Easy Star All-Stars deliver a fun, exciting, and different show every time out.
Paranoid Android
Easy Star All-Stars Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head
What's that?
What's that?
When I am king, you will be first against the wall
With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
What's that?
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy
You don't remember, you don't remember
Why don't you remember my name?
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
Why don't you remember my name? I guess he does
Rain down, rain down
Come on and rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height, height
Rain down, rain down
Come on and rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height, height
Rain down, rain down
(That's it sir, you're leaving)
(The crackle of pigskin)
Come on and rain down on me
(The dust and the screaming)
(The yuppies networking)
From a great height
(And the panic, the vomit)
From a great height, height
(The panic, the vomit)
(God loves His children)
(God loves His children, yeah)
The first verse begins with a request for quietness, as the singer is trying to rest while troubled by the voices in their head. The line "unborn chicken voices" suggests there is something nonsensical or inconsequential going on inside their mind. In the second verse, the singer becomes assertive and declares their position of power, noting that those with opinions that do not matter will be the first to suffer. The line "kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy" may imply contempt for those who prioritize material wealth over substance.
The chorus has a cryptic quality to it, as the lines "rain down, rain down" repeat several times. It is as though the singer is calling for something to happen, perhaps a kind of catharsis. The line "from a great height" implies a sense of distance or detachment from what is happening on the ground. The third and final verse is a flurry of disconnected phrases, all surrounding the idea of chaos and disorder. The use of the phrase "God loves His children" suggests a trace of irony or sarcasm.
Overall, the song seems to capture a sense of confusion and anxiety, with the chorus acting as a kind of release valve for that tension. There is a sense of commentary on power dynamics and society's tendency to place value on superficial things. The lyrics leave a lot to the imagination and interpretation, making for a memorable and thought-provoking song.
Line by Line Meaning
Please could you stop the noise, I'm trying get some rest
I need some peace and quiet to sleep, but the constant noise in my head is preventing me from doing that.
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head
My mind is filled with chaotic and unformed thoughts that are akin to the sounds of unborn chickens.
What's that?
The singer is trying to identify a strange or unfamiliar sound.
When I am king, you will be first against the wall
If the artist becomes the ruler, anyone who disagrees with him will be the first to face his wrath and be punished or executed.
With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
The artist believes that any opinion other than his own is worthless and unimportant.
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
The desire for success and power can have negative consequences and make a person unattractive.
Kicking, squealing Gucci little piggy
The singer is mocking someone who is rich and materialistic, calling them a spoiled and helpless pig.
You don't remember, you don't remember
The artist is frustrated that someone has forgotten his name or who he is.
Why don't you remember my name?
The artist wants to know the reason why someone has forgotten his name.
Off with his head, man, off with his head, man
The artist is threatening violence, possibly decapitation.
I guess he does
The singer acknowledges that the person he was addressing actually does remember his name.
Rain down, rain down
The artist wants something to shower down upon him.
Come on and rain down on me
The singer is encouraging this shower to happen.
From a great height
The singer wants the source of this rain to come from a high place.
Rain down, rain down
Reiterating his desire for the rain to come down on him.
(That's it sir, you're leaving)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the artist's thoughts.
(The crackle of pigskin)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the artist's thoughts.
From a great height
The singer continues to express his wish that the rain comes down from a high place.
(The dust and the screaming)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the singer's thoughts.
(The yuppies networking)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the artist's thoughts.
From a great height
The artist reiterates again that he wants the rain to come from a high place.
(And the panic, the vomit)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the artist's thoughts.
From a great height, height
The singer emphasizes his desire for the rain to come from a high place.
(The panic, the vomit)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the artist's thoughts.
(God loves His children)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the singer's thoughts.
(God loves His children, yeah)
This could be part of the song's original lyrics and is not associated with the singer's thoughts.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Colin Charles Greenwood, Edward John O'Brien, Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood, Philip James Selway, Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@syahrilseban
Please could you stop the noise, I'm trying to get some rest
From all the unborn chicken voices in my head
What's that...? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
What's that...? (I may be paranoid, but not an android)
When I am king, you will be first against the wall
With your opinion which is of no consequence at all
What's that...? (I may be paranoid, but no android)
What's that...? (I may be paranoid, but no android)
Ambition makes you look pretty ugly
Kicking and squealing gucci little piggy
You don't remember
You don't remember
Why don't you remember my name?
Off with his head, man
Off with his head, man
Why don't you remember my name?
I guess he does....
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height... height...
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
From a great height
From a great height... height...
Rain down, rain down
Come on rain down on me
TThat's it, sir
You're leaving
The crackle of pigskin
The dust and the screaming
The yuppies networking
The panic, the vomit
The panic, the vomit
God loves his children, God loves his children, yeah!
@a.p.6580
When you're chill af but also undergoing an existential crisis
@silentm999
Isn't that the story with everyone who carefully considers their existence?
@str8breetha
this album acts as a perfect middle ground for when your baked and wanna listen to radiohead and your pals just wanna listen to blazing music. love it
@bstephan42
"Jah love his children" gives me the chills every-fuckin-time
@Calvinios
When the brass section kicked in I fell in love.
@MicahBuzanANIMATION
wow, what a great cover. really made it their own.
@michielvdvlies3315
they always got great covers
@silentm999
Why am I just now hearing about this 15 years after it was released?
@behemothnemoth
just enjoy, coming back after 12 years
@dv1860
16 years