“The People” by Jim Jones
There are many different sentiments – and even historical references – being relayed in Jim Jones’ “The People”. But what it all ultimately boils down to is this. Jones and like-minded individuals are quite pissed off with the killing of George Floyd, at the hands of members of the Minneapolis Police Department. Indeed they perceive the incident as being part and parcel of the long-standing systemic unjust discrimination which African-Americans have faced in the United States.
In fact as you, the reader, are probably well aware, many parts of the country have been embroiled in protests as a result of that incident, even as of the release of this track. And it is said activities – or the ideological spirit behind them – which “The People” is largely based on.
More to point is Jim’s assertion that the aforementioned individuals are ready to meet force with force. To a certain degree, they consider George Floyd, in the aftermath of the event, as being a “legend” and “icon”. And to them, his death will act as a catalyst for change in the current unjust system.
Primary Sentiment of “The People”
So the underlying sentiment is that “the people” are not going to let this current situation die down easily. Rather, in namedropping civil rights icons “Malcolm” X and “Martin” Luther King, the vocalist perceives these current protests as perhaps being symbolic of a “revolution”. In other words, he is hoping that they will lead to some type of permanent change and long-standing justice for African-Americans.
“Mama, I can’t breathe”
Facts about “The People”
Jim Jones wrote this emotional tune and left its production to music producer Harry Fraud.
On June 4th, 2020 (a little over a week after Floyd’s death), Jones wrote and released this song.
The song samples Birdy’s 2011 cover of Cherry Ghost’s hit song “People Help the People“.
In the course of the song, Jones disses President Trump. He calls him a “Mother#^@%*&”. And this is in response to the President’s racist-inspired tweet following Floyd’s death.
