Black Messiah (1978)

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Black Messiah" is the third track from The Kinks' album Misfits that was released on 19 May 1978. It was written by Ray Davies.[1]

Key Lyrics

Everybody got the right to speak their mind

So don't shoot me for saying mine

Everybody talking about racial equality

'Cos everybody's equal in the good Lord's eyes

But if I told you that God was black

What would you think of that

I bet you wouldn't believe it


He said the Black Messiah is gonna set the world on fire

And he's no liar, 'cos he has truly heard the word

Everybody talking about racial equality

But I'm the only honky living on an all black street

They knock me down 'cos they brown and I white

Like you wouldn't believe it

Interpretation

The lyrics of "Black Messiah" cite racial and civil differences and unrest. The lead singer is a white man who lives in an all black neighborhood. This causes unrest, with the singer claiming that "they knock me down 'cos they brown and I white". Meanwhile, a "self-made prophet" in the house next door to the singer's claims that a "Black Messiah" "is gonna set the world on fire" and "set the whole world free". At first, the white man is skeptical, but he soon changes his opinion and believes the prophet. The song criticizes the so-called "racial equality" that blacks and whites say they strive for, saying that neither race really believes in this goal wholeheartedly.[2]

Reception

Black Messiah" was released on the Misfits album, but was also released in single form. On the U.S. version of the "Live Life" single, "Black Messiah" replaced "In a Foreign Land" as the B-side. However, in Britain, "Black Messiah" became the third single from Misfits, backed with "Misfits". The single was unsuccessful, and did not chart. However, this slightly different single edit was released as a bonus track on the reissue of Misfits. Also, on the U.K. version of the Misfits album, "Black Messiah" was switched with "Live Life" in the running order, making it the third track on the U.K. album.[3]

"Black Messiah" has received mixed to negative reviews, mostly because of its lyrical content. Robert Christgau called the track "dismaying", and sarcastically remarked that "Enoch Powell would be proud."[4] Rolling Stone's Ken Emerson said that although "'Black Messiah' rightly ridicules the naive enthusiasm of white audiences for the Rastafarianism of reggae (which it travesties musically by adulterating it with Dixieland), the song raises without resolving the issue of Davies' own racism."[5]

Reference

  1. Black Messiah. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  2. Ray Davies. "Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  3. Black Messiah. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  4. Robert Christgau. "Christgau Review". Retrieved January 30, 2021.
  5. Ken Emerson. "Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on 9 December 2007. Retrieved January 30, 2021.