Retribution
tagaq tanya Lyrics
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Retribution will be swift
We squander her soil
and suck out her sweet black blood to burn it
We turn money into God and salivate over opportunities
To crumple and crinkle our souls for that paper
That gold money has spent on us
Left us in small boxes, dark rooms
Left investing our time in hollow philosophies
To placate the fear of our bodies returning back into our mother
Demand awakening
The path we have taken has rotted
Ignite, stand upright, conduct yourself like lightening
Because the retribution will be swift
In "Retribution," Tanya Tagaq speaks to the rapid and dangerous destruction of the natural world caused by humankind's unfettered greed and desire for profit. She depicts Mother Earth as a living being that has been hurt and angered by our heedless actions, warning us that retribution will be swift. We have drained and contaminated the soil, and we drill into the earth to extract oil and gas, burning it and fouling the air. We worship money instead of turning to the wisdom of nature, satisfying our hunger for material gain at the expense of the planet's health.
The lyrics describe a dystopian world in which humans are trapped in tiny, dark spaces, mesmerized by electronic devices and devoid of true connections to each other or to the natural world. Tagaq urges us to awaken from this nightmare, to stand upright like lightning, and to take action to protect our world before it is too late. The tone of the song is urgent and intense, a warning that we must change our ways before the consequences of our actions overwhelm us.
Line by Line Meaning
Our mother grows angry
The Earth is becoming increasingly distressed and upset with how humans are treating it.
Retribution will be swift
There will be rapid and severe consequences for the harm humans have caused to the environment.
We squander her soil
Humans have not taken care of the earth's natural resources and have wasted them over time.
and suck out her sweet black blood to burn it
Fossil fuels such as oil and coal have been extracted from the earth and burned for energy, causing pollution and damaging the environment.
We turn money into God and salivate over opportunities
The pursuit of wealth and material possessions has become more important than valuing and protecting the environment.
To crumple and crinkle our souls for that paper
People are willing to sacrifice their own well-being and happiness for the sake of accumulating money and financial gain.
That gold money has spent on us
The money earned from exploiting the earth's resources has been used to improve human lives, often without consideration for the environment.
Left us in small boxes, dark rooms
Humans have become disconnected from nature and spend most of their time in small, enclosed spaces like homes and office buildings.
Bright screens, empty tombs
Technology has become a major part of human life, but it often distracts from real-life experiences and relationships, creating a sense of emptiness.
Left investing our time in hollow philosophies
People often focus on empty or superficial beliefs instead of investing in meaningful actions and solutions for the environment.
To placate the fear of our bodies returning back into our mother
Humans fear that death will result in their bodies returning to the earth and becoming one with the environment, highlighting their lack of respect for the earth in life.
Demand awakening
It is time for people to wake up and take action to protect the environment before it is too late.
The path we have taken has rotted
The current path of human society is leading to environmental degradation and destruction.
Ignite, stand upright, conduct yourself like lightening
Take action and become a force of change for the environment, standing up against those who perpetuate harm.
Because the retribution will be swift
The consequences for the damage done to the environment will be severe and will come quickly.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bernard Falaise, Jean R. Martin, Jesse Freeman Zubot, Tanya Tagaq Gillis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@redwillowcreations6919
This matriarch is phenomenal. My 2yr old daughter loves Tanya and imitates her throat singing and performancing.
@mitchybee8258
❤️
@vincent2053
Lol
@SoundShinobiYuki
“Money has spent US”, and the following lines, especially “hollow philosophies to placate the fear of returning to our mother”, that was such an eye opener (in the form of a massive backhand) to the disease that is modern capitalism. I’m no minimalist in most senses- but over the last few years I finally learned the philosophy of “I have ENOUGH. I don’t NEED this. This doesn't improve anything in my life or make me happy, so I won't own it.”
@torontoguy1097
Inuit woman making art. Making us proud!
@jackiepower2439
So great!
@williamdunn9053
Tanya Tagaq is one of my most favorite Inuit artists
@johnpetten8717
Raw, uncomfortable, primal,addictive. A song like this enrages the spirit within and unleashes it upon the world. I cant get enough
@peterbyrne5004
This is more metal than metal, and more punk than punk.
@cheyennet218
I’m here after listening to Björk’s vocal album Medúlla. Tagaq was featured on the song ancestors, and her performance was absolutely mind blowing. Because of this, I wanted to find out more about her.
From just listening to this song, it’s easy to see that Tanya is insanely creative. I have never heard anything like this song before, and that’s coming from a Björk fan. I love how the intensity builds throughout the song, making it a beautifully harrowing experience for the listener. Personally, I found this a little hard to digest, because it’s so out of the ordinary, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful. Great work!