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.
Wires And Watchtowers
Thievery Corporation Lyrics
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How can they turn their eyes and walk away?
How can the blue bloods hide while brothers killing brothers?
Why do they divide I and I for diamonds and gold?
The dreams of children they float to the sky
And wires and watchtowers can't bring their demise
Tell me, why, oh, why are we so blind?
Tell me, why, oh, why do we deny?
The chains of Babylon are all in our mind
The murderers clouds can't keep the sun from shining
The wind of Jah will scatter them away
The murderers clouds can't keep the sun from shining
Jah will scatter he who has no shame
The dreams of children they float to the sky
And wires and watchtowers can't bring their demise
Tell me, why, oh, why are we so blind?
The treasures of love lay buried inside
Tell me, why, oh, why do we deny?
The chains of Babylon are all in our mind
Why, oh, why?
Tell me, why, oh, why are we so blind?
The treasures of love lay buried inside
Tell me, why, oh, why do we deny?
The chains of Babylon are all in our mind
The lyrics to Thievery Corporation's song Wires and Watchtowers speak to the confusion and heartbreak many feel when they witness problems in the world that seem too big to fix. The first verse asks how those in power can be so callous in the face of global issues, such as conflict between nations and the unequal distribution of resources. The frustration and sadness in these lines is palpable, as the singer is baffled by the lack of action from those who seem to have the power to make a difference.
The chorus provides a small glimmer of hope, however, as it focuses on the dreams of children, which cannot be squelched even by the most oppressive forces in the world. The use of the term "wires and watchtowers" conjures up images of confinement and control, yet even these symbols of oppression cannot contain the innocence and imagination of youth. The second verse repeats the chorus, emphasizing that the love and joy that exist within humankind are often hidden, but they are always present.
The final repetition of the chorus urges listeners to consider why it is so hard to acknowledge the good in the world and the power we all have to create change. The phrase "the chains of Babylon are all in our mind" echoes the idea that many problems are created by our own fears and prejudices, which can be overcome with time and effort. Overall, this song encourages reflection on the ways we as individuals can contribute to a better world, even when we feel small and powerless.
Line by Line Meaning
Now how can the wicked smile while the world is burning?
How can those who cause harm to others have joy while the world is suffering?
How can they turn their eyes and walk away?
Why do some people choose to ignore problems instead of addressing them?
How can the blue bloods hide while brothers killing brothers?
Why do some people with privileged backgrounds avoid getting involved in issues that impact others?
Why do they divide I and I for diamonds and gold?
Why do people create social divisions based on wealth and material possessions?
The dreams of children they float to the sky
The hopes and aspirations of young people are limitless and cannot be contained.
And wires and watchtowers can't bring their demise
Even with surveillance and control, people's dreams and goals cannot be suppressed forever.
Tell me, why, oh, why are we so blind?
Why do we struggle to see the world as it truly is and recognize our collective responsibility for it?
The treasures of love lay buried inside
Love and empathy are valuable and transformative forces deep within us, waiting to be unleashed.
Tell me, why, oh, why do we deny?
Why do we fail to acknowledge or accept the presence of those valuable emotional resources?
The chains of Babylon are all in our mind
The obstacles to our collective advancement as a society are largely imposed by our own limiting beliefs and perspectives.
The murderers clouds can't keep the sun from shining
The actions of destructive people cannot ultimately block out the positive forces of the world.
The wind of Jah will scatter them away
The natural forces of good in the world will eventually overcome the destructive actions of people.
Jah will scatter he who has no shame
Those who perpetrate evil actions will ultimately face consequences and accountability for their actions.
Why, oh, why?
An ongoing question about the reasons behind the problems that persist in our society.
Tell me, why, oh, why are we so blind?
Continuing to question why we struggle to see the world clearly and acknowledge our collective stake in shaping it.
The treasures of love lay buried inside
Love, empathy, and compassion are still present within us, ready to be activated.
Tell me, why, oh, why do we deny?
An ongoing question about why we resist or struggle to tap into those characteristics and use them to make the world a better place.
The chains of Babylon are all in our mind
The obstacles and limitations that prevent us from creating a better world are primarily rooted in our own ways of thinking and conceptualizing the world.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ERIC HILTON, ROB GARZA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind