After being evacuated to Western Ukraine in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster, Hütz became enamored of the mystical, outsider qualities of gypsy music. Living as a refugee in Poland, Hungary, Austria, and Italy before moving to the United States in 1993, he experienced life as an outsider himself.
After arriving in New York, he teamed up with guitarist Vlad Solofar and squeezebox player Sasha Kazatchkoff. American Eliot Fergusen added a strong rock sound on the drums and the band was also augmented by Sergei Riabtsev on fiddle, a former theater director from Moscow whose past experience would prove helpful in the future in crafting Gogol Bordello's bizarre stage shows (like one which tells the story of super-powered immigrant Ukrainian vampires).
The group's early gigs involved playing straight gypsy music at Russian weddings, but their music soon evolved into the hyper-kinetic explosions that earned them a solid following amongst New York's downtown hipsters. The band issued a single in 1999 entitled Gogol Bordello, quickly followed by their debut full-length, Voi-La Intruder, which was produced by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds' drummer Jim Sclavunos. Solofar and Kazatchkoff were replaced by accordionist Yuri Lemeshev, who hails from the Russian island of Sakhalin, and two Israelis, guitarist Oren Kaplan and saxophonist Ori Kaplan, who despite their similar names were not related.
Hütz helped bolster the band's popularity by becoming somewhat of a celebrity in the downtown scene, in part fueled by his Thursday night DJ gigs at Bulgarian club/restaurant/bar Mehanata, where he played Ukrainian, Gypsy, raï and flamenco music for a crowd of artists, models, Ukrainians, Russians, Gypsies, and Bulgarians with tendencies toward exuberant dancing and smashing plates. In the spring of 2002, Gogol Bordello embarked on a European tour and performed as part of the Whitney Biennial, bringing their music to a whole new audience.
In 2007, the band released their fourth studio album, Super Taranta!.
The members of Gogol Bordello have also made appearances in film. In 2006, their song "Start Wearing Purple" was featured in the film Everything Is Illuminated (starring Elijah Wood and Eugene Hütz), bringing their music to an even broader audience throughout the US.
Gogol Bordello all appeared in Madonna's first short film as director, Filth and Wisdom. Eugene Hütz is to play one of the lead roles. The band have contributed three original songs to the soundtrack.
Their music was also featured in the film Wristcutters: A Love Story and the character of Eugene was based on and partially written by Eugene Hütz.
Immigrant Punk
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk, punk
Upon arriving to the melting pot
Now that I am categorized
Officer gets me naturalized
Immigrant punk, immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Now that I'm living up in God knows where
Sometime it gets hard without a friend
But as I am lurking around
Hoptza! I see another immigrant punk!
There is a little punk rock mafia everywhere you go
She is good to me and I am good to her
Legalize me!
Realize me!
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Despite the living up in USA
I'm still holding up in all my ways
I gotta friends, we gotta band
We still make sound you can't stand
Without banging on some big old pot
Without getting out of bed
But I'm relaxed, I'm just lurking around
Hoptza! I see another immigrant punk!
There is a little punk rock mafia everywhere you go
She is good to me and I am good to her
Legalize me!
Realize me!
Party!
Of course we immigrants wanna sing all night long
Don't you know the singing salves the troubled soul?
So I'm relaxed, I'm just lurking around
I got a method and you don't
You got a dictionary kicking around?
Look up the immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk!
Punk, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
Yes, punk! punk! punk! punk!
I punk!
The song "Immigrant Punk" by Gogol Bordello talks about the experience of being an immigrant in America and specifically the punk subculture that immigrants create within themselves. The lyrics describe the difficulties of fitting in as an immigrant, even as one tries to assimilate into American culture by getting naturalized. Despite the challenges of being in a new place, the song celebrates the camaraderie and support of other immigrant punks.
The song suggests that these immigrants are becoming their own community and culture, even if they don't fit within the broader American cultural narrative. The "punk rock mafia" mentioned in the song is a reference to the solidarity that immigrants can create by finding each other and bonding over common experiences. Additionally, the song says that singing helps soothe the soul, which also speaks to the need for community and support.
Overall, "Immigrant Punk" is a compelling commentary on the immigrant experience in America and how it can lead to the development of vibrant and unique subcultures that can thrive despite challenging circumstances.
Line by Line Meaning
Immigrant, immigrant, immigrant punk
The singer identifies as an immigrant punk and repeats the phrase multiple times for emphasis.
Upon arriving to the melting pot
Upon entering the US, which is a melting pot of different cultures and backgrounds.
I get penciled in as a goddamn white
Despite being an immigrant, the singer is categorized as white due to their appearance.
Now that I am categorized
The artist is now officially identified as an immigrant by the authorities.
Officer gets me naturalized
The officer helps the artist go through the process of becoming a naturalized citizen.
Now that I'm living up in God knows where
The singer is living in an unknown place in the US.
Sometime it gets hard without a friend
The singer faces difficulties without the support of friends in their new home.
Hoptza! I see another immigrant punk!
Excitement at spotting another person who identifies as an immigrant punk like the artist.
There is a little punk rock mafia everywhere you go
A community of immigrant punks can be found in many different places.
She is good to me and I am good to her
The relationship between the artist and the other immigrant punk is mutually beneficial.
Legalize me!
The singer wants to be fully acknowledged and accepted as a legal immigrant in the US.
Realize me!
The artist wants to be recognized as a valuable member of society despite being an immigrant punk.
Despite the living up in USA
Despite living in the USA as an immigrant punk.
I'm still holding up in all my ways
The singer is surviving and thriving despite some challenges.
We still make sound you can't stand
The singer and their friends continue to create music that may be too radical for some people.
Without banging on some big old pot
The band makes use of unconventional instruments to make their music.
But I'm relaxed, I'm just lurking around
The artist is taking things easy and observing their surroundings.
Of course we immigrants wanna sing all night long
Immigrants, including the singer, enjoy expressing themselves through music.
Don't you know the singing salves the troubled soul?
Singing is a way for the singer to heal and find solace.
So I'm relaxed, I'm just lurking around
The artist continues to observe and enjoy their surroundings.
I got a method and you don't
The artist has a unique approach to life that others may not understand.
You got a dictionary kicking around?
The artist suggests that others should look up the term 'immigrant punk.'
Punk, immigrant punk
The singer reaffirms their identity as an immigrant punk.
Yes, punk! punk! punk! punk!
The artist celebrates their punk identity with enthusiasm.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: OREN KAPLAN, YURI LEMESHEV, EUGENE HUTZ, SERGEY RYABSTEV, ELIOT FERGUSON, REA MOCHIACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
LordTeaOfBiscuits
man i wanna see this live
shadowprince101
I got to last year
павле
i did, eugene got on stage with a bottle of wine and started spraying it everywhere
Jesse Barnes
This video is pretty much the only Gogol Bordello song that I've been to where there is an argument it's kind of nice actually.
Nicholas Blackstone
Whats family without battles to overcome together?
john blaydes
GOOD SOUNDS, 😎
Wolf and Raven
I have been searching for this for so long lol
jennich1961
a little punk rock mafia everywhere you go
Colette Bembenek
Underworld Dog Strike..... excellent pro - East Infection another super album, Trans-Continental Hustle, My Gypsy Girl < ( but the title is in Russia), there so many greats.
Ru made
I have never seen Thor Ragnarok so when people said there was a really good bit set to Immigrant Song I thought they meant this song :|