Thievery Corporation is on the Eighteenth Street Lounge record label named after the DC club owned by Eric Hilton, but several of their singles and EP's appear on the 4AD and !K7 labels.
Formed in the summer of 1995 at D.C.’s Eighteenth Street Lounge. Rob Garza and Lounge co-owner Eric Hilton bonded over club life, dub, bossa nova and jazz records, then decided to see what would come of mixing all these in a recording studio. From this, the duo was born and their self started label Eighteenth Street Lounge Music began to emerge on an international level.
The duo caught the ears of underground DJ’s with their first two 12" offerings, Shaolin Satellite and 2001: a Spliff Odyssey. Their 1997 debut LP, Sounds from the Thievery Hi-Fi began to both define a new genre of electronic music and connect with an international community of like-minded souls. Though the terminology has varied (downtempo, chill out, left field and a myriad of other permutations), they have maintained their unique musical standards for the duration of their popularity.
In 2002, they released The Richest Man in Babylon on their ESL label. This fifteen track album is similar in sound and timbre to their earlier 2000 release, The Mirror Conspiracy, and features performances by vocalists Emiliana Torrini, Pam Bricker, and Loulou.
In 2005 they released The Cosmic Game, which has a darker, more psychedelic sound than The Richest Man in Babylon. The album also featured more high-profile guest singers on it, including Perry Farrell, David Byrne, and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips.
In 2006, the group released Versions, a selection of remixes done by Thievery Corporation for other artists and toured the United States, playing at Lollapalooza.
The group released their fifth studio album, Radio Retaliation, on 23 September 2008.
The language of the group's lyrics are as diverse as English, Spanish, French, Persian, Portuguese, Romanian and Hindi. This reflects the group's global feel and collaborative structure.
They were the opening act on August 1, 2009 for Sir Paul McCartney at FedExField in Landover, Maryland.
On July 27, 2010, Babylon Central, the cinematic directorial debut of founding member Eric Hilton, was released. Set (and shot) in Washington, D.C., the film follows tripwire events in the interconnected lives of its characters, each influencing power brokers' schemes to manipulate international currencies.
In June 2011, Thievery Corporation released their sixth album, Culture of Fear.
In January 2012, Thievery Corporation launched a remixes contest in conjunction with Dubspot.
Better Must Come
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
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I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time
But I can't make it
No one to give me a helping hand
They only tryin' to keeps me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Oh, my people get a seat
They're trying to take advantage of me
Better must come, better must come, yeah
Better must come one day
Better must come, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
I've been trying a long, long time still I can't make it
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
It seems I have done something wrong
But they're trying to keep me down
Who God bless, no one curse
Thank God I'm not the worst
Better must come one day
Better must come, they can't conquer me
Better must come one day, better must come
Oh, better must come one day, better must come
Better must come one day
Better must come
Better must, ooh
The song "Better Must Come" by Thievery Corporation expresses a message of perseverance and hope in spite of adversity. The artist describes the struggles and setbacks he has faced along his journey, feeling as though everything he tries to do goes wrong, and that he is being held down by those around him. Yet, he remains optimistic that things will improve, stating that "better must come one day." He acknowledges that he may not be the best, but he is grateful for what he has and knows that he will eventually overcome his obstacles.
The lyrics also touch on the idea of being taken advantage of by others. The artist echoes the sentiments of many who feel that they are being exploited or manipulated by those in power. Even though it may be challenging to stand up to those that are trying to oppress them, the artist believes that one day, they will be able to overcome these challenges and triumph over their struggles.
In summary, "Better Must Come" is an inspirational song that encourages listeners to persevere through hardships and maintain a positive outlook, as better times are sure to come.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been trying a long, long time still I didn't make it
Despite multiple efforts, I have yet to be successful in achieving my goals.
Everything I try to do seems to go wrong
Each attempt to succeed is met with failure, resulting in discouragement.
It seems I have done something wrong
Self-doubt arises, leading to a belief that making mistakes has caused the failure.
But they're trying to keep me down
Others are preventing progress or obstructing success.
Who God bless, no one curse
Those favored by God's grace cannot be cursed or affected by others' negative energies.
Thank God I'm not the worst
Gratitude for not being in the most dire situation compared to others.
Better must come one day
Hope for a brighter future despite current circumstances.
Better must come, they can't conquer me
A refusal to be defeated or dominated by obstacles and adversaries.
I've been trying a long, long time
Persistence and dedication towards achieving one's goals despite setbacks.
No one to give me a helping hand
Lack of assistance or support when needed.
They only tryin' to keeps me down
People are actively suppressing or hindering progress and growth.
Oh, my people get a seat
Others are privileged and able to obtain power, whereas the artist may not have the same opportunity.
They're trying to take advantage of me
Others seek to exploit the singer's vulnerability or lack of power.
Better must come, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Reiteration of the hope for a better future amid present struggles.
Better must come one day, better must come
Affirmation that a brighter future is inevitable, despite difficult circumstances.
Better must come one day, better must come
Reiteration of the message that a brighter future is on the horizon.
Better must come
A firm belief that things will get better, despite present challenges.
Better must, ooh
Expression of confidence that a brighter future is possible, and it is necessary to have hope and perseverance in achieving it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: EDWARD OSULLIVAN LEE, HYA P
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind