People’s Champ Lyrics
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?
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
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)
(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
About
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 reactYou do nothing every year
But show it up on the red carpet
In a statement to “Exclaim!”, Max Kerman said,
We’re all looking for leadership that is benevolent and generous, and truly has the will of the people in everything they do, we’re comforted every day by the people in our neighbourhood who go the extra mile for their community — especially when they don’t have to. We love that person. This song is about the opposite of that: it’s about the guy who acts like Robin Hood, but is the farthest thing from it. But that’s OK: look around and you’ll find people’s champs all around ya.
The track was announced on April 4th, 2018 through a 30-second teaser on the bands' social media. While the name of the song had not officially been released at the time of the announcement, Indie88 pointed out that:
a piece of sheet music with the title ‘People’s Champ’ flashes for a second during the video.
The song was promoted by Bell Canada after the announcement of a free show at Younge-Dundas Square on April 5th.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
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.
- 3.Relentless
- 6.People’s Champ
- 9.Company Man
