“Cracker Island” by Gorillaz (ft. Thundercat)
What the creative lyrics of Gorillaz’s “Cracker Island” point to, as noted throughout actually, is the concept of cultism. The reason an island plays an important part in this piece is because, well first of all based on Damon Albarn’s explanation, said location is symbolic. In other words, the song is not referring to a literal landmass. Instead, what the reference to an” island” actually alludes to is the concept of isolationism. And going back to cults and all, this would be more akin to mental/social isolation, i.e. a person relegating themselves to only one espoused way of thinking and interacting with likeminded individuals.
As presented, the vocalist himself is or was a resident of and adherent to the teaching of Cracker Island. But said decision ultimately proves to be to his dismay. Or as presented, he comes to realize that “the truth” he is being force fed is actually fabricated.
But since this is in fact a cult we’re talking about, maybe he was able to escape from it. Such is not forthrightly stated but is implied at the end of the second verse. However, in any event, whether he managed to get away or not, the moral of the story is that he “had to pay”, i.e. coming to greatly regret having gotten down with the Cracker Island crew, perhaps even at the price of his “soul”.
“Cracker”
It has to be noted that the word “cracker”, colloquially speaking, is a pretty well-known racial epitaph from the United States. It is a term that some use to insult White people in general. But the reason it has a negative connotation is because it more specifically points to the notion of an ignorant White person, i.e. being such that one White may even call another a cracker.
So it could be that the inspiration behind this piece are the likes of White supremacists, as some of such organizations, which many people perceive as being unintelligent, are generally known to conduct themselves like cults, on top of seemingly coming under more mainstream scrutiny as of late.
But that’s just a hypothesis in an attempt to make further sense out of the title. And what the song is actually speaking to, discernible, is that some cults are so without even realizing it. And the same can be said for their adherents, i.e. not knowing how deep they’ve fallen into a cult until it’s too late.
The Long and Short of “Cracker Island”
The lyrics of “Cracker Island” speak out against cultism. In doing so, the lyrics depict the practice as one that is deceptively ensnaring.
When was “Cracker Island” released?
The first time this song is on record as having been played was on 30 April. This was about a month before its release. And Gorillaz officially teased its forthcoming about a week after that.
Eventually Gorillaz officially dropped the song via Parlophone Records on the 22nd of June 2022. The track’s release marked Gorillaz’ first tune of the year in question.
Their most-recent singles prior to this one were those associated with “Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez”, a project the band came out with in 2020.
At the time of Cracker Island‘s dropping, it’s not connected to any Gorillaz album.
Credits
Greg Kurstin had a hand in both the producing and authoring of this song. He co-wrote it with Thundercat and Gorillaz’ frontman Damon Albarn.
The entire Gorillaz crew is recognized as co-producing “Cracker Island”, with an individual shoutout being given to band member Remi Kabaka Jr.
Thundercat, a well-known musician in his own right, also contributed vocally to “Cracker Island”. In addition to his vocals, he also played bass on the track.
Why isn’t anyone else talking about the cover art for this song? Doesn’t it look like a spin on a swastika? Is this a white supremacist dog whistle?
The cover art and symbolism match the song’s meaning. Listen to the lyrics. Matches some themes from Humanz and Song Machine volume 1.
That being said, f*** white supremacists.
Agreed.
F*** you too, sincerely white supremacist
Protip: If you’re going to try to troll at least say “F–k”
I have a deep history in Florida a cracker was a hard working livestock hearder that used long whips made a cracking sound hard-working salt of the earth type people with no race schism in their blood at all. They lived along side in with the Native Americans and blacks in Florida. Pure ignorant to think or relate cracker with anything else.
Gaymion AllBlurt must have been sucking the jooos off again to have come up with this racist anti bollocks.
Looks like a chaos magick star being spun counter-clockwise, being spun backwards.
Only to those on cracker island lol
The song is anti racist is anti white supremecy stop being stupid for your sake and other
More clown a-s anti white bullsh-t complaining about something that’s extremely rare.
Exactly, the anti-white cults of hollywood must have paid Damien handsomly, they are after the youth, trying to mold the minds if you will.
So when are they going to make the other slur islands? Can’t wait for the black one or Asian one 🙂
it’s not a slur idiot
It’s a slur of those its directed at feel it is, which they do, racist bi-ch
Cults?
Like the “anti-racist” anti-white one that ended with child abuse and mass suicide?
Jonestown be what Gorillaz strive for?
Cults like Jonestown?
I think he is used cracker as in cracked, like those who once went with the narrative and are now seeing through it. We have been force fed lie after lie, on almost every level. People are slowly waking up, but even look above. The fighting, the division, its on purpose. The people claiming to be anti-racist are usually the ones who only see skin color.
I agree. This song gives me hope that im not the only one who feels like American society is cultish.
Yet missed the grouch Marx quote at the end of the song, “Blessed are the Cracked, for they shall let in the light.” Cracked, Crazy.
Damian really is running outta juice, hes letting the black anti-white cults of hollywood write for him these days, whatever pays big i guess.
Jeez, those comments are something else. I don’t know just how privileged one has to be to say there is hardly any racism anymore. Anti-white? Seriously? If there are still people straight out denying the trouble nonwhite people go through ie when dealing with governmental institutions or systemic issues in general there is obviously not enough awareness. This reactionary „you want to be against whites!!1!1“ is such a joke. As if white people out of everyone ever had a reason to fear mass eradication due to skin color. The only reason there is such an „uproar“ is the growing awareness that there has been an unfair treatment resulting in an effort to reach a point of evenness in treatment and the loss of such privileges grows an irrational fear that the thing others had to go through will now happen to them.
Here comes the magical P word that allows you to sound intelligent and sweep away all the crackers and their stupid ideas.
“ As if white people out of everyone ever had a reason to fear mass eradication due to skin color”.
Really, bro? Polish we’re persecuted by nazis exactly for them being polish. Jews have more of a reason to be angry than you or any other race if you want to make it a competition. Human nature curses us all no matter the color of skin. Native Americans raped and pillaged each other all the time. Blacks are more racists against blacks. Every fucking nation and society in the past all had slaves – it was a thing. It sucked im sure. Get the fuck over it – we are not there anymore.
The people complaining about how bad they have it have the opportunity to make them selves in the US at least. I know of plenty of successful “non-white” people to prove it. The only racism that is real are the ones who blame others’ skin tone for their own situation. Don’t blame society, blame yourself.
Seems like they don’t get this song is about them.
The white supremacist theory isn’t impossible, but I’m inclined to look right past that since Damon is very British. Author’s context is always one of the first things you start with.
British are racist against black people too.
it’s literally just a song. Why is there so much controversy on it!?!?!? I get that America has some issues, it’s racist, it’s a fake paradise, freedom is never free, etc. But this is literally just a song! Why can’t we just appreciate the imagination behind the sounds in it? I could care less about the words cause I honestly only listen to music because of the sound.
The fact that people that being anti-racist is anti-white says a lot about how they think about themselves. Or that the people ending racism are the ones with all the money as opposed to the ones proliferating it.
Absolutely amazing song, probably my favorite Gorillaz song. 2nd being Dare.
I would love to see a return to this direction of it after the album is out in full.
This song, lyrics, and video make me think of Little St James Island ~ AKA EPSTEIN ISLAND.
Good to see the actual meaning. I visualize the old Wicker Man movie every time I hear it.
This song speaks about the crush / decline of the Western Civilization. The entire album is quite melancholic and sad, same as the first song (great rhythm, but very sad lyrics). D2 is the voice of the West who is crying for help. “We have all the resources, but we are still sad…, somehow we lost our souls….” Kali Yuga is ending , so is the Western Civilization. But, still, there is a hope for many of us, if we try to reconnect with our spiritual side, since it is our basics.
this is a song either about the j00s or the Charles Manson cult. Both ways the song is racially motivated, therefore Gorillaz hates the blapipo and/or the long-nosed ones.
Based