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.
Sound the Alarm
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Order the attack
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
It's martial law
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
It's martial law
Put your guns pon cock
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
Order the attack
Selasie-I-soldias
Beat Babylon back
Sound the alarm
The lyrics to Thievery Corporation's "Sound the Alarm" are politically charged and evocative. The repeated refrain to sound the alarm and order the attack suggest a sense of urgency, an imminent threat that needs to be addressed, possibly through force. The reference to martial law and "putting guns pon cock" adds to this sense of impending violence and militarization.
However, the mention of Selasie-I-soldias beating Babylon back suggests a specific political context. Haile Selassie was an Ethiopian emperor who was seen as a messianic figure by the Rastafari movement, and the reference to Babylon is a metaphor for oppressive systems, specifically Western colonialism and imperialism. So the call to action is not just about using force, but also about resisting oppressive systems and fighting for freedom.
Overall, the lyrics of "Sound the Alarm" convey a sense of urgency and determination to resist oppressive forces and fight for freedom. The use of militaristic language and references to specific political contexts add to the powerful message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Sound the alarm
This is a call for action and preparation for either a threat or danger.
Order the attack
This means to initiate an offense against a target, usually with the intention to defeat or conquer it.
It's martial law
This refers to a state where the military or some other authority with military-like power is in charge of an area in the absence of a civilian government or law.
Put your guns pon cock
This is a call to be prepared and ready for the expected confrontation, to ensure that weapons are loaded, and ready to fire at any moment.
Selasie-I-soldias
This is a reference to Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I and his army.
Beat Babylon back
This is a call for overcoming difficulties and defeating the opposition, Babylon being used as a metaphor for oppressive and corrupted powers that are causing misery to people.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT MANUEL GARZA, ERIC HILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yolandamcclure8315
Where are all of the Thievery Corporation fans ??
@almirba100
Still here , didnt switch dial , RADIO Retaliation #Bosnia
@cristiancovarrubias9445
@@almirba100 whats up big dog From Salinas California.
#MontereyBay
@mariap6856
Here #Greece
@nestorburgos1185
Puerto Rico🇵🇷, present
@johnstallings4049
Annapolis Maryland checking in 2 say hey NOW! 👊 😊 💘✌
@DjeverB
2019 still great album .......!!!!!! 😉 This is mean music 🎶 from heart ♥
@cristiancovarrubias9445
Yeeee
@thedutchonequestioneveryth4128
One love!!!!! , and the alarm is sound 18-04-2020 , the law is implemented.
@kenneththompson8933
It's 2021.."Sound The Album Order The Attack"!!