Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head by Gorillaz

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Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head

Gorillaz

Fire Coming Out Of A Monkey's Head

Song byGorillaz

in AlbumDemon Days

Once upon a time at the foot of a great mountain,

there was a town where the people known as Happyfolk lived,

their very existence a mystery to the rest of the world,

obscured as it was by great clouds.

Here they played out their peaceful lives,

innocent of the litany of excess and violence that was growing in the world below.

To live in harmony with the spirit of the mountain called Monkey was enough.

Then one day Strangefolk arrived in the town.

They came in camouflage, hidden behind dark glasses, but no one noticed them: they only saw shadows.

You see, without the Truth of the Eyes, the Happyfolk were blind.

Falling out of aeroplanes and hiding out in holes

Waiting for the sunset to come, people going home

Jump back from behind them and shoot them in the head

Now everybody dancing the dance of the dead,

the dance of the dead,

the dance of the dead

In time, Strangefolk found their way into the high reaches of the mountain,

and it was there that they found the caves of unimaginable Sincerity and Beauty.

By chance, they stumbled upon the Place Where All Good Souls Come to Rest.

The Strangefolk, they coveted the jewels in these caves above all things,

and soon they began to mine the mountain, its rich seam fueling the chaos of their own world.

Meanwhile, down in the town, the Happyfolk slept restlessly,

their dreams invaded by shadowy figures digging away at their souls.

Every day, people would wake and stare at the mountain.

Why was it bringing darkness into their lives?

And as the Strangefolk mined deeper and deeper into the mountain,

holes began to appear, bringing with them a cold and bitter wind that chilled the very soul of them up.

For the first time, the Happyfolk felt fearful for they knew that soon the Monkey would soon stir from its deep sleep.

And then came a sound. Distant first, it grew into castrophany so immense it could be heard far away in space.

There were no screams. There was no time.

The mountain called Monkey had spoken.

There was only fire.

And then, nothing.

O little town in U.S.A, your time has come to see

There's nothing you believe you want

But where were you when it all came down on me?

Did you call me now?

LanguageEnglish

Translated byAllen Morningstar

About this Song

Fire Coming Out of a Monkey's Head by Gorillaz delves into a fictional narrative where peaceful townsfolk live in harmony until the arrival of outsiders. These outsiders exploit the town, leading to catastrophic events, symbolized by the 'fire coming out of a monkey's head.' The song explores themes of environmental destruction, corporate greed, and the loss of innocence. Key poignant moments include the story's turning point where the outsiders' greed leads to disaster, and the haunting repetition of the warning signs that were ignored. It serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of exploiting natural resources and disregarding indigenous communities.