Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: hip-hop
Song Meaning of “The Guillotine” by The Coup
‘The Guillotine’ by The Coup tells a powerful story of justice and insurrection. The song speaks to the feeling of oppression that many people around the world have felt, depicting a harrowing and looming metaphorical blade that has been used as a means of oppression for many centuries. It suggests that in order to move past a repressive system, drastic measures must be taken.
The lyrics paint a picture of a society where the wealthy are able to maneuver and exploit those beneath them, while the oppressed remain voiceless and unrepresented. In order to overcome the injustice, the song advocates collective action in the form of a dramatic revolt. The guillotine is used as a powerful metaphor for the way the current system needs to be overthrown if liberation is to be possible.
The song speaks to the need for those in power to be held to account, and also the need for those who are oppressed to take a stand and challenge the status quo. The message of ‘The Guillotine’ is one of hope and optimism, that it is possible to stand up and demand justice, no matter what the cost may be.