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.
The Richest Man in Babylon
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your wicked walk in Babylon
There is no wisdom to your freedom
The richest man in Babylon
Your beggars sleep outside your doorway
Your prophets leave to wonder on
You fall asleep at night with worry
The wicked stench of exploitation
Hangs in the air and fingers on
Beneath the praise and admiration
The weakest man in Babylon
There is no hope left in your kingdom
Your servants have burned all their songs
Nobody here remembers freedom
The richest man in Babylon
The song "The Richest Man in Babylon" by Thievery Corporation conveys a powerful message about the corrupt and exploitative nature of power and wealth. The lyrics suggest that the wealthiest man in Babylon is also the saddest and most miserable, as he has no guidance, wisdom, or hope left in his kingdom. Instead, he relies on the exploitation of the weakest and the suppression of the prophets and the beggars to maintain his power.
The song's chorus highlights the emptiness of the rich man's existence, as he falls asleep at night with worry, surrounded by the stench of exploitation that hangs in the air. The lyrics paint a picture of a society that has lost sight of its values and has become consumed by greed and corruption. The impoverished and marginalized are forgotten, and the rich have no purpose beyond accumulating more wealth at their expense.
Line by Line Meaning
There is no guidance in your kingdom
You rule without any moral principles
Your wicked walk in Babylon
You've chosen the path of evil in this city
There is no wisdom to your freedom
You're not truly free because you lack good judgment
The richest man in Babylon
You have wealth beyond measure, but it doesn't bring you true happiness
Your beggars sleep outside your doorway
Your wealth hasn't been shared with those in need
Your prophets leave to wonder on
The wise ones have left because they see through your facade
You fall asleep at night with worry
Your guilty conscience keeps you from peaceful slumber
The saddest man in Babylon
Your riches have brought you nothing but sorrow
The wicked stench of exploitation
Your actions reek of taking advantage of others
Hangs in the air and fingers on
Your deeds have consequences that linger
Beneath the praise and admiration
Others may flatter you, but they don't truly respect you
The weakest man in Babylon
Despite your wealth and power, you are morally and spiritually weak
There is no hope left in your kingdom
Your reign is one of despair and pessimism
Your servants have burned all their songs
Even those who serve you have lost hope in a better future
Nobody here remembers freedom
Your people have been so oppressed that they don't know what true freedom feels like
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: NORMAN HOWELL, RICHARD ERIC HILTON, ROBERTO MANUEL GARZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Leifer Castro Salazar
There is no quidance in your kingdom
Your wicked walk in Babylon
There is no wisdom to your freedom
The richest man in babylon
Your beggars sleep outside your doorway
Your prophets leave to wonder on
You fall asleep at night with worry
The saddest man in Babylon
The wicked stench of exploitation
Hangs in the air and lingers on
Beneath the praise and admiration
The weakest man in Babylon
There is no hope left in your kingdom
Your servants have burned all their songs
Nobody here remembers freedom
The richest man in Babylon
Si la lou babylon go 'dain
Babylon gon' be rich again
But to we don' sick again
But no we no weak again
Babyloooon on on on on
(Rasta scat)
Sal la lou ca uba whoa
Si la douba douba do wa bay
??
Si la loo babylon come 'round
You better know you better understand
'Fact you know you better hear what they say
Babylon this is your final day
Babylon this is your final call
Read the writin' it's on the wall
Said United we stand
And together we fall
And if I know that
You're not 'gon catch me in a rat pack
We not go fallin' on your death trap
No way...
Whoooooa oh oh oh oh whoa oh who oh oh
Whooooooa oh oh oh
Whoa oh oh o oh
Katerina Maraggouli
There is no guidance in your kingdom
Your wicked walk in Babylon
There is no wisdom to your freedom
The richest man in Babylon
Your beggars sleep outside your doorway
Your prophets leave to wonder on
You fall asleep at night with worry
The saddest man in Babylon
The wicked stench of exploitation
Hangs in the air and fingers on
Beneath the praise and admiration
The weakest man in Babylon
There is no hope left in your kingdom
Your servants have burned all their songs
Nobody here remembers freedom
The richest man in Babylon
Katerina Maraggouli
Scat)
Babylon no get rich again
But to end up sick again and you end up weak again
Babylon (scat)
Babylon you run
You better know, you better understand
The rancher man you better hear what we say
Babylon this is your final day
Babylon this is your final call, read the writing that's on the wall
See, divided we stand and together we fall
You never know dat; you not gon' catch me in a rat pack
We're not gon' fall away from it Jah, no way
cigarlounge1
A friend of mine introduce me to Thievery back in 99-00. We saw them at the Hollywood Athletic Club. At the time I didn't have a clue what they were all about. Glad I went, it opened up a whole new world. I'll be 40 in April and I'm still listening.
Keegan
I saw them in Maine back in 2016, holy shit what a fuckin show!
Nicolai Gogol
The message, the music, they never get old. Blessings, World.
DJ Kunimitsu
Goddamn I don't think Thievery Corporation can possibly be a better group than they already are. Fucking love the flow and the vibe man, fucking love it.
MrDekstroza
This song is unique masterpiece! These guys should get some reward for a life work... Ultimate lyrics, disturbing video, brutal drums - the definition of excellence! However, song's message is definitely most important thing, above all! Say no to globalism and imperialism! Greetings from Belgrade, Serbia...
Harry Putang
😊👍
Seenulator
Bre!
steve goff
"The greatness of a person is not in how much wealth they acquire. But in their integrity, and their ability to affect those around them with it positively"~ Bob Marley
EMANUEL PAUL LÓPEZ HAAR
True
Chris Meyer
I love this band!!! God and Jesus bless everybody!!! Much love to all, unconditional love! =)