Fans noticed shortly after the release that “People’s Champ” takes multiple subtle stabs towards the United States President Donald Trump with lines like:
Well I already know
How the history books will react
You do nothing every year
But show it up on the red carpet
In a statement to “Exclaim!”,...
[Verse 1]
You’ve got no vision for the long run
You’ve got no sense of history
You’ve got the world at your fingertips
And now you have it crumblin'
[Pre-Chorus 1]
But if you look back far enough
And find the place you started
Before you held a grudge
Or the highest office
You do nothing every year
But you're showin' up on the red carpet
[Chorus]
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
And it ain’t you
[Verse 2]
I said “Give it to me straight!”
(Things got crooked)
I said “Who’s sticking around?”
(For all the heavy lifting?)
You ain’t no robin hood (Nope)
Never been to this neighbourhood (Nope)
Thought you said this would be easy?
[Pre-Chorus 2]
But I can smell it on ya
You’re some aristocrat
I said “It takes a village”
And you can’t handle that
Well I already know
How the history books will react
[Chorus]
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
And it ain’t you
[Bridge]
All my girls say
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh
All my dudes go
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh
O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh
[Verse 3]
Now here’s the official statement:
We’re street fighting on the pavement
I’m going dancing like I’m raving
There’s no service in the basement
Now I don’t mean to sound impatient
But I’ve seen the flag you’re waving
And I can see through all this fake shit
This highest office’s sitting vacant
[Pre-Chorus 3]
But if you look back far enough
And find the place you started
I promise you no charlatan
Has ever died a martyr
You do nothing every year
But you're showing up on the red carpet
[Chorus]
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
(O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
(O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
(O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh)
I’m looking for the people’s champ
(I’m looking for the people’s champ)
(O-o-o-o-o-o-o-oh)
And it ain’t you
People’s Champ was written by Arkells.
People’s Champ was produced by Eric Ratz.
Arkells released People’s Champ on Fri Apr 06 2018.
Arkells took to Twitter and asked their fans to visit this page and create annotations based on their understanding of the song.
“People’s Champ” was added to the Genius Community Playlist for April 2018.