Empire Ants
Gorillaz Lyrics


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Oh joy's arise
The sun has come again to hold you
Sailing out the doldrums of the whole week
The polyphonic prairies here, it's all around you
It's all around you, out here

And if the whole world is crashing down
Fall through space out of mind with me
Where the emptiness we leave behind on warm air rising
Blows all the shadows far away

The falling alcohol empire, is here to hold you
Rolling out and haunted 'til it sleeps

Little memories, marching on
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine

Soon like a wave that pass will fall
And closing in on you they're going on

Little memories
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine





Soon like a wave that pass will fall
And closing in on you they're going on

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gorillaz's "Empire Ants" describe a feeling of rebirth and hope that comes with the arrival of the sun after a long, tiring week. The verse "Oh joy's arise, the sun has come again to hold you" suggests that the person addressed in the song has been through some kind of emotional or spiritual darkness and is now relieved to see the light.


The lyrics also touch upon the idea of escapism or "falling through space out of mind again" to leave behind the emptiness of past hardships. The line "Blows all the shadows far away" reinforces this idea of leaving behind negative thoughts and memories.


The chorus, "Little memories, marching on, your little feet, working the machine, will it spin, will it soar, my little dream, working the machine" suggests the idea of moving forward despite the odds, with the use of industrial metaphors such as "working the machine." The final verse, "Soon like a wave that pass will fall and closing in on you they're going on" suggests that life is continually moving forward and brings with it new challenges.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh joy's arise
Happiness is born anew


The sun has come again to hold you
The promising day is here, embrace it


Sailing out the doldrums of the whole week
Escaping the mundane routine of everyday life


The polyphonic prairies here, it's all around you
The world is full of diverse sound, it surrounds you


It's all around you, out here
There's beauty and life everywhere


And if the whole world is crashing down
In the face of chaos and destruction


Fall through space out of mind again
Escape reality and enter a dreamlike state


Where the emptiness we leave behind on warm air rising
The feelings we cast away float away like warm air


Blows all the shadows far away
All darkness is banished


The falling alcohol empire, is here to hold you
Alcoholic oblivion is waiting for you


Rolling out and haunted 'til it sleeps
Drinking until numbness overcomes you


Little memories, marching on
Memories, both good and bad


Your little feet, working the machine
You are just a cog in the system


Will it spin, will it soar
Will you break free or remain stagnant?


My little dream, working the machine
Your hopes and aspirations, lost within the monotony


Soon like a wave that pass will fall
Time will swiftly pass by


And closing in on you they're going on
The mundanity of life is closing in and continues to move forward




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Damon Albarn, Little Dragon, Jamie Hewlett

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@shill2920

Lyrics:

Oh, joys arise, the sun has come again to hold you
Sailing out the doldrums of the week...
The polyphonic prayer is here, it's all around you
It's all around you, out here


And if the whole world is crashing down... (on you)
Fall through space out of mind with me


Where the emptiness we leave behind on warm air rising
Blows all the shadows far away
The falling of the whole empire, is here to hold you
Rolling out and haunted till it sleeps


Little memories, marching on
Your little feet, working the machine
Say will it spin, will it soar?
My little dream, working the machine
Soon, like a wave, empires will fall
And closing in on you, they're going on


Little memories


Your little feet, working the machine
Say will it spin, will it soar?
My little dream, working the machine
Soon like a wave, empires will fall
Closing in on you, they're going on.



@johnnygallos0939

Oh joy's arise
The sun has come again to hold you
Sailing out the doldrums of the whole week
The polyphonic prairies here, it's all around you
It's all around you, out here

And if the whole world is crashing down
Fall through space out of mind again
Where the emptiness we leave behind on warm air rising
Blows all the shadows far away

The falling of the whole empire, is here to hold you
Rolling out and haunted 'til it sleeps

Little memories, marching on
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine

Soon like a wave that pass will fall
And closing in on you they're going on

Little memories
Your little feet, working the machine
Will it spin, will it soar
My little dream, working the machine



All comments from YouTube:

@sledgehammr6615

It's just mind blowing, about how a cartoonist and a guitar player meet up one day and say, let's create an imaginary band with all these different people. It's amazing about how this band came to life, and became real. It's something else. I'm just... blown away

@Bluewolf23

Thank God they met.

@casbutwehavemoresubscriber2357

Bluewolf 23 hello

@delvinwest672

murdoc's nipples lol twins 😂

@minhaj_khan

I totally feel you. I dread the possibility that what if they never met :(

@alteebclips7612

Imaginary?

129 More Replies...

@caroline-rg2hx

This is literally the most beautiful song

@stephencoe2168

no I think it's to binge

@asunayuuki5388

Both songs are beautiful now let's move on

@stephencoe2168

Ok

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