When there's a trap set up for you In every corner of this town And so you learn the only way to go is underground When there's a trap set up for you In every corner of your room And so you learn the only way to go is through the roof Ooohoohoooh through the roof, underground And as we're crossing border after border We realize that difference is none It's underdogs who, and if you want it You always have to make your own fun And as the upperdog leisurely sighing The local cultures are dying and dying The programmed robots are buying and buying And a psycho load of freaks they are still trying trying Ooohoohoooh through the roof, underground And as the boy scouts learn to read between the lines The silver rabbits hop between their fathers' lies And boy scouts ask "Where? Where do they go?" They go to the country that they only know Just like their meanings they lay between the lines Between the borders their real countries hide The strategigo's saw their advertise Their strategy of being is one of in-your-face disguise Ooohoohoooh through the roof, underground! And when their own walls they will a-crumble, And all the systems will be discumbumbled, Around the stump of bigotry, our own [Ukrainian]. Ooohoohoooh through the roof, underground Ooohoohoooh through the roof, and underground Ooohoohoooh through the roof, underground Ooohoohoooh through the roof! Underground! [Ukrainian] Through the roof! And underground! Through the roof! Underground!



Lyrics submitted by sloathy

Track duration: 05:29

"Through the Roof 'n' Underground" as written by Eliot Ferguson, Eugene Hutz, Oren Kaplan, Yuri Lemeshev, Sergey Ryabstev

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Through the Roof 'n' Underground song meanings
Add your thoughts

21 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:I totally agree with telegramsam17. The funny and interesting thing IMO about this song is the fact that an ugly situation is presented with so joyful music. Actually, it's a pretty optimistic song, as going "through the roof and underground" sounds like an escape and the fact that "between the borders the real countries hide" gives some hope...:)
    Flag InBetweenTheLineson April 23, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not sure but would guess the song is not about what I'm about to write about: I think it's about the journey of musicians/bands journey from the underground music scene to mainstream attention in one of the most artistic way's to express that journey. I also don't hear it as "secluded freaks" but as "psychedelic freaks are still tryin, trying"! :-0 Great song and yes I found them through Wristcutters! And glad I have!
    Flag WallsTVon August 29, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I think this song is about hope, not death, about when there is a trap set up for you in every corner, you just gotta go where no one else would go, through the roof n underground...
    Flag rhe1mic2sicon August 16, 2011   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning:This song is about the decline of individual cultures under the homogenizing force of globalization and corporate-driven consumerism (mostly emanating from the worst corners of the United States but it is by no means the only culprit in this atrocity).

    Wal-Mart (under that name or any other) or Starbucks on every corner, every country. It's a depressing thing, when you think about it, that something could be the same everywhere like that.

    The whole thing reminds me strongly of what David Bowie mentioned in an interview once about his song "I'm Afraid of Americans":

    "I was traveling in Java when [its] first McDonald’s went up: it was like, “for f*ck’s sake.” The invasion by any homogenized culture is so depressing, the erection of another Disney World in, say, Umbria, Italy, more so. It strangles the indigenous culture and narrows expression of life."

    Gogol Bordello is all about global exchange & sharing of cultures, not just one manufactured commercial culture degrading, dominating or eradicating everything around it. This song is about escaping that stultifying, soul-sucking force, by going "through the roof and underground" if necessary.
    Flag telegramsam17on July 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think this song is about life. Period. Watch the world around you. see it change. See people abandon their morals and generations of men lie to their offspring. Watch the offspring wise up and move one. Watch hate devour everyone and create a society based on prejudices. Know that all of that hate though is just BS because we're all the same and all equal. And hopefully on your journey through life, you'll find people to love and have fun with.
    Flag underdogfreedomon May 30, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:Actually, after about a million listens, and thinking about why this particular song was chose for the movie, I think it's about suicide.
    The whole song basically says if you're totally effed and there's just no hope, you've gotta escape.
    And through the roof and underground?
    Through the roof seems to me to be like a floating up to heaven kind of thing, and underground, well, duh, ya know...
    Crazy.
    Flag a_melancholy_soulon November 23, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I heard it on Wristcutters (excellent, excellent movie), and I just couldn't get it out of my head. I had to get it. Love this song.
    Flag Chassant_ameon October 03, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:It's about being an outcast in a world that changes, and that no matter where you go, this will always be a problem. People's neighborhoods and cultures disintegrate because of urban sprawl or any other reason. The only places to go is to the countryside, or...to go through the roof or underground, because people havent settled there yet.

    It's also about gypsies.

    I LOVE GOGOL!
    Flag masharocks91on August 18, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This has got to be my favourite song,
    everytime I listen to it I freeze and mumble along,
    And I'm glad I finally Understand the Rusian part,
    These guys are great.
    Flag CancerousWonderlandon May 13, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:I love this song. This is where I first heard of Gogol Bordello. I feel like no matter what mood I'm in, I never really feel hesitant to listen to it. When I've had a bad day, I listen to it over and over again. And when I've had a great day, I listen to it over and over. Haa
    Flag vintagebeautyon April 18, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain