It's The Real Thing
The Legendary Pink Dots Lyrics

The Legendary Pink Dots' song "It's The Real Thing" showcases the scenario of a tourist in the poorest place on earth, being tempted to try something new, but also being cautious of being robbed or scammed. There is a sense of superiority in the tourist's perspective as he wears his straw hat and palm tree shirt, throwing cents for locals to lick and buying monkey on a stick. Nevertheless, he warns himself to never take their word and to read between the lines to notice their true intentions.

The song's lyrics are a commentary on the tendency of first-world tourists to exploit the third world by utilizing their economic superiority. The phrase "it's the real thing" refers to the concept of authenticity or distinctiveness that can be attained by experiencing or buying something that is indigenous to a particular region. However, the tourist's process of acquiring the "real thing" is exploitative in nature, as they contribute to widening the gap between rich and poor. The song ends with the darkly comical lyric of the tourist ordering a brandy on the rocks with a shrunken head, as if he's ticking off a bizarre souvenir list while vacationing.