03. Not A Crime by Gogol Bordello Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Threads of Rebellion
Lyrics
The fire and the power, you know
In the old time it was not a crime, drop the charges
You people don’t you realize the sun rises?
(Drop the charges, man! Drop the charges)
(Right you are! And this time, let the people know)
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a crime (what are you talking about?)
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a, not a crime
Not a crime!
(It’s all nonsensical)
Not a crime!
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a crime
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a, not a crime
Not a crime
(Drop the charges)
Not a crime
Not a crime
Reality
Spices, creation, realization, naturalization
What are you talking about? It’s all about time ‘cos today you go to nature
(Not a crime)
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a crime
In the old time, in the old time
In the old time it was not a crime
(Not a crime, not a crime)
Not a crime
Not a crime
Not a crime
Drop the charges
Not a crime
Not a crime
Not a crime
(It’s not a crime, it’s legal, perfectly natural)
Gogol Bordello’s ‘Not A Crime’ from their audaciously eclectic album ‘Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike’ isn’t just a toe-tapping tune; it’s a fiery proclamation, a call to the wild heart of freedom. With its gypsy punk energy and thrashing rhythms, the song beckons listeners into a world where the constructs of legality and crime are as fluid as the staccato rhythms of a fiddle.
But to peel back the layers of ‘Not A Crime’ is to discover much more than a catchy refrain. The song is a statement, a historical reflection, and a molotov cocktail of cultural resistance that deals a heavy blow to the complacency of modern society.
Eugene Hütz’s Raucous Rebellion
Frontman Eugene Hütz is no stranger to controversy or activism, and ‘Not A Crime’ is imbued with that brazen spirit. The song’s beat conjures visions of dusty roads and rebellious nights, the very landscapes where the band’s music was born.
Moreover, the lyrics challenge the notion of what society has branded as illegal or taboo, pushing back against the notion that laws and norms are the absolute arbiters of right and wrong.
The Resonating Echoes of the Past
‘In the old time, it was not a crime,’ Hütz cries out, evoking a nostalgia for a distant past where humans perhaps lived in closer harmony with their natural instincts and inclinations.
This repeated reference to an ‘old time’ serves as a stark contrast to the present, suggesting that what we consider criminal might be nothing more than a cultural construction that varies with the times.
The Hidden Meaning Behind the Mantra
This chorus, at first glance a raucous chant, serves a deeper purpose – it’s a mantra for the marginalized, a beacon to those who find themselves at odds with society’s arbitrary rules.
‘It’s all nonsensical,’ the song argues, highlighting the absurdity of many man-made laws, and suggesting that they don’t necessarily correspond with an innate moral compass.
Memorable Lines: ‘Reality, Spices, Creation…’
The song’s bridge is a notable mosaic of words: ‘Spices, creation, realization, naturalization.’ Each word builds upon the other, hinting at a progression from blandness to a full-bodied life imbued with meaning.
By invoking ‘reality’ alongside these concepts, Gogol Bordello underlines the genuine human experience over the constructed and controlled norms imposed by those in power.
Drop the Charges: Symbolism of Liberation
The repeated demand to ‘Drop the charges’ serves as the song’s rallying cry. It is an outright rejection of the notion that certain actions, inherently harmless but criminalized by societal codes, should be prosecuted.
This isn’t just a lyrical motif; it’s a symbolic call to action, asking listeners to free themselves from the shackles of outdated norms and to dance in the face of absurdity and constraint.
