Their first album, produced by DJ Danger Mouse, was released on 22nd January 2007 and charted at no.2.
The Good, The Bad & The Queen reunited for a one-off gig in London to celebrate 40 years of Greenpeace in 2011.
By October 2018, the second new album's name and cover was revealed. Title track and lead single "Merrie land" premiered at BBC Radio 2 and published at streaming services, also on YouTube with the video at 23 October. Preorder for the new album, produced by Tony Visconti started in that day.
Herculean
The Good the Bad & the Queen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
By the gasworks
Celebrate the ghost gone by
When all love hurts
And the medicine man here 24/7
You can get it fast in Armageddon
Everyone on the way to heaven
Call for prayer is common around here
In the morning
Wash our faces go to work
There is no warning
That it all gets better when life is straight
It′s bigger than you and the Welfare State
And we'll keep singing it′s not too late
For you
The opening verse in The Good the Bad & the Queen's song Herculean paints a bleak picture of the singer's surroundings. They are standing on a dark canal, in close proximity to the gasworks, and seem to be contemplating lost love. However, amidst the despair, there is a glimmer of hope in the form of an omnipresent medicine man. The lyrics suggest that in this dystopian world, Armageddon is imminent, and the only way to survive is to acquire what the medicine man offers. The singer notes that everyone is heading towards heaven, but not quickly enough. The call for prayer is commonplace, suggesting a religious overtone in this world.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on the dark canal
We are situated by the murky waterway
By the gasworks
Next to the industrial facility
Celebrate the ghost gone by
We honor the departed spirits
When all love hurts
When all forms of affection result in pain
And the medicine man here 24/7
There is a constant presence of the healer
You can get it fast in Armageddon
During times of chaos, remedies are quickly obtained
Everyone on the way to heaven
All are journeying towards eternal paradise
Slowly
At a gradual pace
Call for prayer is common around here
It is customary to invoke divine assistance in this area
In the morning
As day breaks
Wash our faces go to work
We cleanse ourselves and attend to our jobs
There is no warning
No indication of what is to come
That it all gets better when life is straight
Things improve when circumstances are favorable
It′s bigger than you and the Welfare State
The situation transcends individual effort and government aid
And we'll keep singing it′s not too late
We shall persist in proclaiming that there is still hope
For you
Addressing a specific listener, indicating that they can still turn things around
Writer(s): Simonon Paul Gustave, Albarn Damon
Contributed by Owen G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
space shakespeare
Standing on the dark canal
By the gas works
Celebrate the ghosts gone by
When the love hurt
And the medicine man here twenty four seven
You can get it fast in Armageddon
Everyone on their way to Heaven
Slowly
The call for prayer is common around here
In the morning
We wash our faces, go to work
There is no warning
That it all gets better when life is straight
It's bigger than you, the welfare state
And we'll keep singing it's not too late
For you
Eduardo Moreno Bolzan
This is Damon Albarn's most original piece of work in my opinion, the whole album is fucking incredible
DreamShore - channeling dream music
agreed. this song is nostalgia in sounds
Sameer
My dad got me this cd as a surprise when I was like 13 after realising I was into gorillaz. Didn't really understand it until I went to bed with my headphones on and listened through the whole thing.
Thank you boss!
Christina Stütz
cool dad!!!
Alex Tatkin
I hvent heard this song in over 10 years, and im a complete mess. A kid I met on a cruise ship showed me this band and it absolutely kills me inside that there is no way to find them. Some of the best people I have ever met.
Axie SEM
Too bad the band is gone for good without Tony
oibenjiboy
This is definitely my fav song out of the album. love the instrumental and drumming. Albarn's a genius!
Andrés Barbosa
It is not only Damon, but I agree, he is a genius
Alex Huzar
Really strikes with me how this song has reached so many different people in different situations. This song will always remind me of walking home at night in Manchester constantly thinking of this one girl I liked. I dunno, I loved this album so much and every time I listen to a song from it, I too get taken back to different memories.
Sammi Starlight
i was in 6th grade when i first heard this song and my god the chills and the memories it brings back. i can close my eyes and remember all of the things from that time