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.
Vampires
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They'll gain the world but lose their souls
Don't believe politicians and thieves
They want our people on their bended knees
Pirates and robbers, liars and thieves
You come like the wolf but dressed like the sheep
If you go to Kinshasa what you find, vampires
If you go to Darfur what you find, vampires
If you go to Malabo what you find, vampires
Lies and theft
Guns and debt
Life and death
IMF
When the bank man comes to your door
Better know you'll always be poor
Bank loans and policies
They can't make our people free
You live on the blood of my people
Everyone knows you've come to steal
You come like the thieves in the night
The whole world is ready to fight
If you go to Lagos what you find, vampires
If you go to Kinshasa what you find, vampires
If you go to Darfur what you find, vampires
If you go to Malabo what you find, vampires
Lies and theft
Guns and debt
Life and death
IMF
They'll gain the world but lose their souls
They'll gain the world but lose their souls
You live on the blood of my people
Everyone knows you've come to steal
You come like the thieves in the night
The whole world is ready to fight
If you go to Lagos what you find, vampires
If you go to Kinshasa what you find, vampires
If you go to Darfur what you find, vampires
If you go to Malabo what you find, vampires
Lies and theft
Guns and debt
Life and death
IMF
The lyrics to Thievery Corporation's "Vampires" is a pointed and biting commentary on the actions of politicians, bankers, and global financial institutions that exploit and take advantage of the people of the world. The repeated line "They'll gain the world but lose their souls" is a warning to those who prioritize the pursuit of power, wealth, and success without any regard for morality or the consequence of their actions. They are willing to do whatever it takes to accumulate wealth and success, including exploiting and harming others.
The verses refer to the exploitation and mistreatment of people in different parts of the world by corrupt financial institutions and policies. The references to Lagos, Kinshasa, Darfur, and Malabo, illustrate the global reach of these corrupt practices. The line "You live on the blood of my people, everyone knows you've come to steal" further emphasizes the harm and exploitation that occur in these situations.
The song also highlights the conflicting voices that exist within the political and financial systems with the references to "politicians and thieves" and "pirates and robbers." The repetition of the line "lies and theft, guns and debt, life and death, IMF" confirms the view that many people have of these institutions being motivated by greed, power and a lack of concern for people's well-being.
Line by Line Meaning
They'll gain the world but lose their souls
Material gain at the expense of moral principles
Don't believe politicians and thieves
Corruption and exploitation exist in the political sphere
They want our people on their bended knees
Those in power seek to subjugate and control the masses
Pirates and robbers, liars and thieves
A critique of those who benefit from deceit and criminality
You come like the wolf but dressed like the sheep
Exploiters and manipulators masquerade as helpful or benign figures
If you go to Lagos what you find, vampires
Exploitation and oppression are rife in Lagos
Lies and theft
Deception and theft are ubiquitous
Guns and debt
Power is maintained through force and debt
Life and death
The stakes are high
IMF
The IMF is seen as a contributor to the economic exploitation of Africa
Better know you'll always be poor
The system is rigged against those who lack power
Bank loans and policies
The mechanisms by which the system exploits and entraps
They can't make our people free
True freedom cannot be granted by the system
You live on the blood of my people
Exploiters benefit at the expense of others' well-being
Everyone knows you've come to steal
The exploitative nature of the powerful is widely recognized
You come like the thieves in the night
Exploiters operate under the guise of stealth and deception
The whole world is ready to fight
Resistance to exploitation and oppression is growing
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ROBERT MANUEL GARZA, ERIC HILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@elnagualmex
Just a wonderful track. Zapatista subcomandante Marcos picture is in the album's cover!! That is really revolutionary indeed!
@AlvaroCubillosMaes
The initial phrase "They'll gain the world but lose their souls" reminds me of the line from the videogame Castlevania: Symphony of the night that goes "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the world, and loses his own soul?" said by no other than Dracula, a vampire. Coincidence? For sure.
@cherieperez9448
They'll gain the world but lose their souls....Brilliant.
@DeborahAbelha
I think they’ll gain the war but lose their souls, no? Kkkk my bad not sure but yes the statement is powerful
@KenyaMitchell
Got to love it when musicians quote Jesus.
@pablot-r9402
Just one of many great other equally valid aspects of this song. The lyrical summary alone of the elite sucking the blood out of the working class and the land is enough on its own.
@tzitzi21r
Thank god for Thievery Corp, and thank god for greece where I was introduced to TC!
@StevenLJohnson
another great track!
@elliot1428
I just clicked this because I need to write about for a homework project...it's actually a pretty good song.
@MN-dt2kq
So relevant-doesn’t matter what time period you live in.