I'm not a big music fan and before right now I had no idea who Iyah May was. Journalist Sam Husseini shared her recent song "Karmageddon" as a transcript and embed on his substack, and now I'm sharing it with you. I think the line "a circus for humanity's decline" sums up our current situation about as well as any of the essays I've read as the dreadful year 2024 morphed into the much-dreaded 2025.
From the description posted with the video:
While ‘Karmageddon’ has sparked significant conversation and controversy, Iyah has stood her ground. She refused to compromise her vision when asked to change a key lyric line, leading to the end of her contract with her manager. She chose to walk away from her record label and now, fully independent, Iyah continues to carve her own path as an artist. Her fearless approach is shaped by her unique perspective as a qualified medical doctor, having worked on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An Australian doctor during the pandemic now succeeding as a nymphet rapper? All part of the circus.
Husseini compares this particular song to another indie anthem that went viral: "Rich Men North Of Richmond". (I blogged about that one and a contemporaneous astroturf offering here in August 2023.) Anthony Oliver focused on the domestic economy that is failing most in the U.S. but his song also predated Israel's genocide in Gaza. Iyah May, who comes from a part of Oz I've heard described as "like your Deep South," has written her protest song with a more international focus, combining the Hindu/Buddhist concept of karma with the Christian concept of Armageddon, the war to end all wars/human life of the planet.
[Intro]
I open up my phone on a Monday mornin'
Starin' at my screen, I'm tired and a little lonely
Mr. Musk, he said some s***, the lefts are angry
Twitter wars and Gaza, man, it's overwhelming
Maybe that's how life becomes when[Verse 1]
People less important than a profit line
No one cares about your dreams, just pay your tax on time
Keep scrollin'
Hold me near to you now[Verse 2]
Gender, guns, religion, and abortion rights
You better pick a tribe and hate the other side
Keep scrollin'
(But did you see Taylor live?)[Chorus]
Man-made virus, watch the millions die
Biggеst profit of their lives
Herе's inflation, that's your prize
This is KarmageddonTurn on the news and eat their lies
Kim or Kanye, pick a side
Cancel culture, what a vibe
This is KarmageddonCorporations swear they never lie
Politicians bribed for life
More than war, it's genocide
This is KarmageddonWelcome to the chaos of the times
If you go left and I go right
Pray we make it out alive
This is Karmageddon[Verse 3]
It's fashion week, celebs lose ribs
Balenciaga, how's the kids?
Just ask Drake, he's losing beef
Kendrick killed him in his sleep[Verse 4]
Diss tracks about beatin' up your queen
While women dyin' doesn't cause a scene
While we're fed all these distractions
Kids are killed from Israel's actions[Bridge]
I'ma speak my mind
Sick to death of all these crazy lies
A circus for humanity's decline
We just want a peaceful life
Give the people back their rights
And I've still got a beef
Cause Fauci's laughin' and we've been asleep
And WHO's a liar and it's runnin' deep
Big pharma finna eat
They a devil, make 'em weak[Chorus]
Man-made virus, watch the millions die
Biggest profit of their lives
Here's inflation, that's your prize
This is KarmageddonTurn on the news and eat their lies
Kim or Kanye, pick a side
Cancel culture, what a vibe
This is KarmageddonCorporations swear they never lie
Politicians bribed for life
More than war, it's genocide
This is KarmageddonWelcome to the chaos of the times
If you go left and I go right
Pray we make it out alive
This is Karmageddon
Source: Newsweek
Some right-wing influencers have concluded from this song that May is "on their side." Agree or disagree?
