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.
John the Conqueror
Gogol Bordello Lyrics
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Growing on the sunny side
I've heard about you
From people of a healing kind
People of a healing kind
They said your name I need to call
If I'm sick or down in trouble
So I went on a mighty
Highway byway ride
And dancing on the roadside
Guess who did I find
I said 'Hey man, what's you name?'
And he said 'Think about,
Think about it,
'cause truth is always the same'
Living and loving
Truth is always the same
Living and loving
The rest is insane
John the Conqueror
Was nowhere to be found
So I asked about him
People of the mystic kind
People of the mystic kind
Said he's no secret at all
If you broke or down and out
Or need anything at all
So I traveled world around me
And i went back inside
And dancing on my ribs
Guess who did i find?
I said 'Hey man, what's your name?'
And he said 'Think about it,
Think about it,
'cause truth is always the same'
Living and loving
Truth is always the same
Living and loving
The rest is insane
Gather round, people
Gather round here
Living and loving
Truth is always the same
Living and loving
The rest is insane
America's people
Truth is always the same
Russian people
Truth is always the same
Asian people
Truth is always the same
African people
The rest is insane
The song "John the Conqueror" by Gogol Bordello is a folktale-like story of the quest to find the mythological figure of John the Conqueror. The song tells the story of the singer's journey to find John the Conqueror, a miraculous plant that has healing powers. The song begins with the singer explaining that he has heard about John the Conqueror from people of a "healing kind." These people tell him that if he needs anything or is in trouble, John the Conqueror is the one to call.
The singer sets off on a "mighty highway byway ride," looking for John the Conqueror. Along the way, he encounters a hitchhiker who tells him to "think about" John the Conqueror's name, as "truth is always the same." The hitchhiker is implying that John the Conqueror is more than just a plant; he is a symbol of truth and the journey in search of John represents the search for truth.
The song ends with the singer spreading the message that truth is the same for all people, with various nationalities mentioned, but the rest is insane. The idea is that when people are searching for truth or healing, they may take different paths, but the ultimate goal is the same. The song encourages listeners to focus on the truth and not get caught up in distractions or unimportant details.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey John the Conqueror
Addressing someone named John the Conqueror
Growing on the sunny side
Thriving in a positive environment
I've heard about you
Awareness of John the Conqueror's reputation
From people of a healing kind
Recommendation from those knowledgeable in healing
People of a healing kind
Reference to those knowledgeable in healing
They said your name I need to call
Suggestion to call on John the Conqueror for assistance
If I'm sick or down in trouble
Implication that John the Conqueror can help in times of hardship
Or need anything at all
Implication of John the Conqueror's helpful nature
So I went on a mighty
Embarking on a daring journey
Highway byway ride
Traveling on various routes
And dancing on the roadside
Celebrating along the way
Guess who did I find
Discovery of John the Conqueror
I said 'Hey man, what's you name?'
Introduction to John the Conqueror
And he said 'Think about,
John's evasive response
Think about it,
Furthering John's evasiveness
'cause truth is always the same'
Implies that John's true identity is immaterial
Living and loving
Emphatic statement of the importance of these two things
Truth is always the same
Suggests that truth is a constant in life
The rest is insane
Everything else is irrelevant
John the Conqueror
Reference to John the Conqueror
Was nowhere to be found
Absence of John the Conqueror
So I asked about him
Inquiry into John's whereabouts
People of the mystic kind
Reference to those knowledgeable in mysticism
Said he's no secret at all
Assertion that John the Conqueror is known
If you broke or down and out
Implication that John the Conqueror can help those in need
Or need anything at all
Further implication of John's helpful nature
So I traveled world around me
Journeying around the world
And i went back inside
Return to oneself
And dancing on my ribs
Celebration of inner self
Guess who did i find?
Rediscovery of John the Conqueror
I said 'Hey man, what's your name?'
Reintroduction to John the Conqueror
And he said 'Think about it,
Reiteration of John's evasiveness
Think about it,
Furthering John's evasiveness
'cause truth is always the same'
Reiteration of truth's constancy
Gather round, people
Invitation to assemble
Gather round here
Further invitation to assemble
America's people
Reference to Americans
Russian people
Reference to Russians
Asian people
Reference to Asians
African people
Reference to Africans
The rest is insane
Reiteration of the irrelevance of everything else
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eugene Hutz, Michael Ward, Oliver Francis Charles, Pedro Erazo-Segovia, Sergey Ryabstev, Thomas Gobena, Yuri Lemeshev
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind