making a statement
What are Childish Gambino’s This Is America lyrics, what is the meaning behind it and what is the Jim Crow pose?
THIS Is America is the latest song from Childish Gambino, who is the alter ego of Donald Glover.
The track has already gone viral, but what is it about and what exactly are the lyrics?
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What are Child Gambino This Is America lyrics?
Bridge – Childish Gambino and Young Thug
We just wanna party, Party just for you
We just want the money, Money just for you
I know you wanna party, Party just for me
Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame, We just wanna party (yeah)
Party just for you (yeah), We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (you),I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for me (yeah), Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin'), Dance and shake the frame (you)
Chorus: Childish Gambino
This is America
Don't catch you slippin' up, Don't catch you slippin' up, Look what I'm whippin' up
This is America (woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up, Don't catch you slippin' up, Look what I'm whippin' up
Verse 1: Childish Gambino, Blocboy JB, Slim Jxmmi, Young Thug, & 21 Savage
This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy), Look at how I'm livin' now, Police be trippin' now (woo)
Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (word, my area), I got the strap (ayy, ayy), I gotta carry 'em
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh), Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo), Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag, Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad, Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah (yeah)
I'm so dope like yeah (woo),We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh)
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What's the meaning behind This Is America?
There have been a number of theories about what This Is America is about.
The video sees Glover dancing while a riot takes place around him.
Some fans believe he is taking on the police and referring to Stephan Clark, who was shot dead after police thought he was armed – but just had a phone on him.
The lyrics read “this a celly / that’s a tool”, while in the video black men are filming the chaos on their mobile phones. A tool is another word for a gun – or some think he is trying to point out how important phones are at documenting things in this day and age.
The video also references Black Lives Matter, the Charlottesville protests, terrorism and much more.
What is the Jim Crow pose?
Jim Crow was a racial caricature that was known for exaggerated poses and facial expressions.
The character was created by Thomas D Rice and was based on a folk trickster named Jim Crow.
At the start of the This Is America video, Glover appeared to be evoking the character.
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Why does Donald Glover call himself Childish Gambino?
Childish Gambino is Donald's stage name when performing as a musician and rapper.
He revealed during an interview with Jimmy Fallon in 2011 that he got the name from an online name generator for the Wu Tang Clan while at college.
Under this name he has released three full-length studio albums, including 2016's Awaken, My Love! and the gold-certified Because the Internet in 2013.
Awaken, My Love saw Donald Glover nominated for five Grammy Awards including Album Of The Year and Record Of The Year for Redbone.
He's also released numerous E.P's and 'Mix Tapes' between each album, and has appeared on tracks with fellow musicians Chance the Rapper, Rudimental and Ariana Grande.
It was during his single Sunrise that he announced that the rumour he was Danny Glover's son was false, saying in one lyrics: "Donald Glover, no relation / Always working, no vacation."
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