Bang Bang Bang by Mark Ronson Lyrics Meaning – Unpacking the Anthem of Disillusionment
Lyrics
Bang, bang, bang
Feathers, I’m plucking feathers
One by one, by one
No more skylarking, around my head
Your information
But there’s no hiding it, behind moulting feathers
On the plane, on my brain, ’bout to do the sho’
40k contract, take it out the do’
Dice, symbolize my life, roll ’em on the flo’
From your grubby hands, as you hand the grandstand
You live a shitty life, we live a bon, bon vie
Hotter than the book, while we watch the tv
Think you got us fooled, ooh never again
First time, shame on me, second time, your time will end
No way, bang your dead, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
Bang your dead, alouette, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
No way, no, (the clock) it’s ticking forward
No way, it’s just a cruel, cruel world
Cruel world is fittin’, they got us all hittin’
With late night divisions, and lab app decisions
We’re faced with decisions, to fight a fricassee
And you’ve clearly decided, on how to handle me
Difficile, imbecile, is it fake, is it real
Are we dying on our feet, are we trying in our sleep
There’s a rumour goin’ ’round, ’bout the suits runnin’ town
If you look into the sky, them birds fly high, high, high
Numbers, you got that number
You’re logging hours, and don’t see the big picture
Over your shoulder, you’ll get no last words
Because it’s too late, you’ve clipped your own wings (your own wings)
No way, bang your dead, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
Bang your dead, alouette, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
We’re never gonna, believe in, the stories, that you’re weavin’
We’re never gonna, believe in, the stories, that you’re weavin’
We’re never gonna, believe in, the stories, that you’re weavin’
We’re believin’ in the proof, we’re believin’ in the truth
We’re believin’ in each other, not you, you, you
Stories (you with the tall tales), how many stories (so many tall tales)
We climb the structure (you scale the ladder)
You build it higher (you make us madder)
We take our aim (so now we’re bearin’ off)
You perch above your nest (in your charms)
The stories in your head (it’s a crazy bald head)
Yeah, that’s what got you dead
No way, no, (the clock) it’s ticking forward
No way, it’s just a cruel, cruel world (cruel, cruel world)
No way, bang your dead, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
Bang your dead, alouette, here’s your silhouette
Je te plumerai la, tete
Je te plumerai la, tete
Un, deux, trois
No one ever does it like that anymore
Bang, bang, bang
When feathers fly, you deny everything (alouette)
Un, deux, trois
No one ever does it like that anymore
Bang, bang, bang (alouette)
When feathers fly, you deny everything yo
With a tune as catchy as it is confrontational, Mark Ronson’s ‘Bang Bang Bang’ hits listeners with a ricochet of rhythms and symbolism. The song, featuring the talents of Q-Tip and MNDR, is more than just an infectious track; it’s a nuanced social commentary wrapped in electro-pop veneer.
Scratching beneath the surface of the beat, ‘Bang Bang Bang’ carries listeners on a journey through themes of power, deceit, and rebellion. This exploration dives deep into the song’s lyrical complexity, revealing the hidden layers of its cultural critique.
Deconstructing the Bird Imagery
Ronson masterfully weaves a narrative utilizing the bird as a central motif, a symbol of freedom, often with the ability to transcend human limitations. However, in ‘Bang Bang Bang’, feathers are plucked, wings are clipped: a narrative of control surfaces. This imagery is dark, a stark contrast to the usual empowerment associated with flight.
The plucking of feathers implies a systematic dismantling of autonomy, stripping down to reveal vulnerability despite a facade. This is a powerful metaphor for societal conditions, possibly hinting at the entertainment industry’s own predatory practices.
The Relentless March of Time
Central to the song’s chorus is the relentless passage of time, captured in the repetitive, ‘No way, no, (the clock) it’s ticking forward.’ The song refuses to overlook the unyielding progression of life and the pressures that accompany such inexorable movement.
Ronson is critiquing a system that manipulates people into a perpetual hustle – a ‘cruel, cruel world’ – one where delayed reflection means missed opportunities and clipped wings. Whether referring to the fleeting nature of fame or life’s finite timeline, the message resonates: time waits for no one.
A Cosmic Gamble: Rolling The Dice of Life
Q-Tip’s verses pivot around the image of dice – a game of chance – evoking the unpredictability of fate and fame. ‘Dice, symbolize my life, roll ’em on the flo’,’ he raps, suggesting the high stakes and arbitrary nature of success in modern society.
By using this motif, the narrative suggests that despite the perceived control one might attempt to wield over their own destiny, there are always elements left to chance, and that’s where fear and uncertainty find their breeding ground.
Hidden Meanings: The Satirical Spin on ‘Alouette’
Woven into the chorus, the French children’s song ‘Alouette’ is recontextualized here. Traditionally, the song is about plucking the feathers from a lark, ostensibly in preparations for cooking. Ronson takes this lighthearted melody and assigns it a macabre twist, underlining themes of exploitation and disposability.
‘Je te plumerai la tête,’ the repeated line in ‘Bang Bang Bang’, translates to ‘I shall pluck your head,’ a doubling down on the theme of stripping someone down, possibly alluding to the public’s consumption of stars, feasting on their imperfections.
The Anthem Within: Empowerment Among Disempowerment
In the sea of external pressures that ‘Bang Bang Bang’ illustrates, there is a galvanizing undercurrent about solidarity in disbelief. ‘We’re never gonna, believe in, the stories, that you’re weavin’,’ becomes a mantra for rejecting false narratives imposed by those in power.
The song pushes for a collective understanding and mutual support against deceit. This shared empowerment transforms listeners from passive to active participants in a cultural dialogue that questions authority and champions truth.
