Tom Waits and Massive Attack: A Powerful Return to Political Music
The landscape of protest music has received a visceral jolt with the collaboration between trip-hop pioneers Massive Attack and the legendary Tom Waits. Marking a significant return for both artists, their new track, “Boots on the Ground,” serves as a searing critique of political greed and the human cost of warfare. For Massive Attack, this represents their first new music in more than a decade, while Waits returns to the recording studio for the first time since his 2011 album, Bad as Me.
“Boots on the Ground”: A Modern Protest Anthem
Delivered in his signature gravelly rumble, Tom Waits uses “Boots on the Ground” to target the disconnect between political leadership and the soldiers who execute their orders. The lyrics specifically lash out at federal officials, with Waits singing: “Now who the hell are these federal pricks?/ Hiding in the senate like a bloated ass tick/ Air conditioned f***stick loafers/ Sittin in a room full of army posters.”
The song delves deeper into the dehumanization of combatants, framing soldiers as disposable tools for those in power. Waits posits that politicians “campaign up all the blood they can draw,” suggesting that a soldier is merely “clay” to be molded and eventually discarded.
Visuals of Resistance
The impact of the song is amplified by a companion video featuring imagery from the photographer thefinaleye. The visuals bridge the gap between international conflict and domestic struggle, juxtaposing recent anti-ICE demonstrations in the United States with Black Lives Matter protests. These protests were sparked by the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on May 5, 2020, grounding the song’s anti-war sentiment in contemporary human rights crises.
A Career Defined by Political Sentiment
While “Boots on the Ground” is a standout recent effort, it fits into a broader pattern of politically tinged work in Tom Waits’ extensive catalogue. At 76, Waits has spent decades documenting upheaval and turmoil, frequently focusing on themes of trauma, greed, and the cyclical nature of violence.
His exploration of these themes extends beyond traditional songwriting. In a project titled “Wireless” (also known as the Visualizer), Waits presents an anti-war video featuring a poem he wrote, produced, and read titled “The Silence Waits.” In this work, he adopts a guttural, drill-sergeant bark to convey a raw and visceral emotional experience.
Key Takeaways
- Significant Return: “Boots on the Ground” marks Massive Attack’s first new music in over ten years and Tom Waits’ first since 2011.
- Political Targets: The lyrics specifically criticize Senate officials and the exploitation of soldiers for political gain.
- Visual Context: The accompanying video links anti-war sentiment to anti-ICE and Black Lives Matter protests.
- Multidisciplinary Approach: Waits continues his anti-war advocacy through both music and spoken word poetry, such as “The Silence Waits.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who collaborated with Tom Waits on “Boots on the Ground”?
Tom Waits collaborated with the Bristol-based trip-hop collective Massive Attack, who formed in 1988.
What themes are prevalent in Tom Waits’ political music?
His work frequently explores anti-war sentiment, the cycles of violence, greed, and trauma.
What is “The Silence Waits”?
“The Silence Waits” is a War 1 poem written, produced, and read by Tom Waits, featured in an anti-war video called “Wireless” (or the Visualizer).