Combining elements of punk, gypsy music, and Brechtian cabaret, Gogol Borde… Read Full Bio ↴Combining elements of punk, gypsy music, and Brechtian cabaret, Gogol Bordello tells the story of New York's immigrant diaspora through debauchery, humor, and surreal costumes. Leader and singer Eugene Hütz's taste in music was spun out of black-market tapes of the The Birthday Party and Einstürzende Neubauten in his native Ukraine.

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.

Underdog World Strike
Gogol Bordello Lyrics

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I am a foreigner
And I'm walking through new streets
But before I want to I see the same deeds
Inherited by few a power machine
That crushed and strangles you right in your sleep

But be it me, or it's you
The leisure class, I think we all know

That be it punk, hip-hop, be it a reggae sound
It is all connected through
The gypsy part of town
Let's go!

It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike

And let your girl scouts
Lip-synch about the freedom
Just the way you want them but soon enough you'll see them
Soon enough they all turn around
And soon enough you'll see them in a different part of town

'Cause be it me or it's you
The leisure class, I think we all know
That be it punk, hip-hop, or be it a reggae sound
It is all connected through
The gypsy part of town
Let's go!

It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike

I am a foreigner
And I'm walking through new streets
But before I want to I see the same deeds
Inherited by few a power machine
That crushed and strangles you right in your sleep

But be it me, or it's you
The leisure class, I think we all know
That be it punk, hip-hop, be it a reggae sound
It is all connected through
The gypsy part of town
Let's go!

It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike
It's the underdog world strike

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
It's the underdog world strike

Overall Meaning

In Gogol Bordello's song "Underdog World Strike," the singer is a foreigner walking through an unfamiliar city and sees the same injustices and corruption that they have witnessed in their own country. The "power machine" referenced in the lyrics refers to the few in power who crush and strangle the rest of society, keeping them down in their sleep. Despite all of this, the singer recognizes that they are not alone in their struggle. The leisure class, whether they are into punk, hip-hop, reggae, or any other genre of music, are all connected through the "gypsy part of town," representing the marginalized and outcast community. The chorus of the song emphasizes the message of a strike by the underdogs, those who society has cast aside, to take down the power machine and fight for justice.

The lyrics of "Underdog World Strike" are a commentary on the idea that the struggles faced by marginalized communities are universal and transcendent of borders and languages. As a band with international roots and influences, Gogol Bordello's message of solidarity and resistance is expressed through a mix of musical genres, including punk, gypsy, and reggae. The song empowers those who are often silenced and marginalized by the ruling elite to come together and fight against oppression.

Line by Line Meaning

I am a foreigner
As someone in a new and unfamiliar place, I observe the world around me with fresh eyes.

And I'm walking through new streets
I am literally wandering through uncharted territory and encountering new experiences.

But before I want to I see the same deeds
Despite being in a new place, I recognize patterns of behavior that I have seen before.

Inherited by few a power machine
These actions are perpetuated by a small group of people who hold power and control over others.

That crushed and strangles you right in your sleep
Their actions are so pervasive that people can feel trapped and powerless, even in their unconscious state.

But be it me, or it's you
Whether it's myself or others who recognize these injustices, we know that they exist and must be addressed.

The leisure class, I think we all know
This group of powerful people, with their wealth and privilege, is well-known and broadly acknowledged.

That be it punk, hip-hop, be it a reggae sound
Despite the musical differences between genres, there is a common thread that ties them all together.

It is all connected through the gypsy part of town
That shared element is the 'gypsy' spirit and the marginalized perspective that comes with it.

Let's go!
With this realization, we are motivated to take action and effect change.

And let your girl scouts lip-synch about the freedom
Don't be lulled into complacency by surface-level displays of patriotism or supposed freedom.

Just the way you want them but soon enough you'll see them
These gestures are performative and not reflective of reality, and will eventually be exposed for what they are.

Soon enough they all turn around
People who were once content to accept the status quo will eventually realize the need for change.

And soon enough you'll see them in a different part of town
This realization will lead people to take action and seek out new allies in the struggle for justice.

It's the underdog world strike
This is not just a small-scale revolution, but a worldwide movement for change led by those who have been oppressed and marginalized.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
This chorus is a rallying cry for all those who seek a better world and are willing to fight for it.

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELIOT FERGUSON, EUGENE HUTZ, OREN KAPLAN, REA MOCHIACH, SERGEY RYABSTEV, YURI LEMESHEV

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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