Since its inception, Fugazi has been self-managed and have released almost all their material through Dischord Records, an independent label founded by MacKaye and partner Jeff Nelson in 1980. The band maintained a policy of affordable access to their work through low record and ticket prices and all-ages concerts.
Says AMG All Music Guide, "Along with their stridently underground ethics — which were more out of pragmatism and modesty than anything else — they gained an extremely loyal and numerous global following. To many, Fugazi meant as much to them as Bob Dylan did to their parents."
They played their first show in the fall of 1987 and since then released 7 albums and toured the world extensively covering all 50 United States, Europe, Australia, South America, Japan and many points in between.
In addition to their recorded output Fugazi released a documentary film/video called "Instrument" in collaboration with independent filmmaker, Jem Cohen. The feature length video offers a documentary overview of the the band's career with footage shot in a variety of formats over the last 10 years combining concert, tour and studio material backed with a musical soundtrack by the band unique to the movie.
Fugazi's last musical releases were The Argument, a 10 song LP, and Furniture, a 3 song single, released in the Fall of 2001. These sessions marked the first studio appearance of long time roadie and second drummer Jerry Busher who played additional drums and percussion on a number of the tracks on both releases. The recordings were once again made in collaboration with long time Fugazi engineer Don Zientara at Inner Ear studios.
Prior to forming Fugazi, the members of the band played in various other bands with releases available on Dischord.
Fugazi are currently on hiatus as of 2002, with Mackaye in The Evens, Picciotto having produced various bands including Blonde Redhead and The Blood Brothers, and Lally playing with John Frusciante and Josh Klinghoffer on both Ataxia releases and working on a solo album.
Five Corporations
Fugazi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Takes so neatly it's as if they belong
And they've been here all along
Grows so smoothly moves so slowly
Takes completely it's as if they
Belong and they've been here all
Along this one's ours let's take
In ten years clusterfuck theory
Buy them up and shut them down
Then repeat in every town every
Town will be the same this one's
Ours let's take another five
Corporations there is a pattern
The lyrics to Fugazi's song Five Corporations seem to be a commentary on the pervasive nature of corporate greed and the assimilation of small businesses into larger corporations. The opening line "moves so slowly grows so smoothly" suggests a subtle and gradual takeover. The second line "takes so neatly it's as if they belong" implies that the larger corporations take over small businesses seamlessly, as if they were always meant to be there. The repetition of "they've been here all along" emphasizes the idea that these corporations have been lurking in the background and gradually taking over businesses for a long time.
The chorus "Grows so smoothly moves so slowly Takes completely it's as if they Belong and they've been here all Along" implies that this is a cyclical process that will continue to recur on a larger and larger scale. The lines "check the math here check In ten years clusterfuck theory Buy them up and shut them down Then repeat in every town" suggest a pattern of large corporations buying out smaller businesses and closing them, then moving on to the next town to repeat the process. The final line "every town will be the same" suggests a bleak future where small, independent businesses will no longer exist and every town will be dominated by large corporations.
Overall, the lyrics of Five Corporations serve as a commentary on the state of capitalism and corporate greed, and how it affects small businesses and communities.
Line by Line Meaning
Moves so slowly grows so smoothly
The corporations operate in a steady, gradual manner that avoids attention.
Takes so neatly it's as if they belong
The corporations acquire assets in a way that appears natural, making it seem like they were always meant to be there.
And they've been here all along
The corporations have been silently growing for some time without anyone noticing.
Grows so smoothly moves so slowly
The corporations continue to expand quietly and slowly without attracting any scrutiny.
Takes completely it's as if they belong
The corporations acquire entire industries without any resistance, as if it is their right to do so.
And they've been here all along
The corporations have been present in the industry for an extended period without being noticed.
This one's ours let's take
The corporations lay claimed to the industry they acquire and plan to exploit it for their interests.
Another check the math here check
The song's writer calls on the listener to look for themselves & see the pattern of corporate takeovers occurring in society.
In ten years clusterfuck theory
In ten years, the corporate takeover and consolidation of industries will result in a chaotic and problematic situation.
Buy them up and shut them down
The corporations acquire other companies and shut them down to eliminate competition and gain greater control of the industry.
Then repeat in every town every town will be the same
After acquiring and consolidating industries locally, the corporations plan to repeat the process in every town in the country, resulting in a uniform market corrupted by big corporate interests.
This one's ours let's take another five
The corporations see their expansion and consolidation of the industry as an endless process of accumulating power and wealth.
Corporations there is a pattern
The lyrics are a warning about the pattern of corporate takeovers in industries and their encroachment on citizens' democracies.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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