Thievery Corporation – Is It Over? lyrics

The song and video is essentially about the dreams, shadows and fragments (all memories) of a world that held hope but has gone astray. It asks the question Is it over?, meaning is that dream over, or is that hope over. The character in the bird mask is Judex, the earliest version of the dark hero The Shadow, who also was the pre-cursor to the character Batman. They all represent vigilante justice fighting against forces of exploitation, mostly by the wealthy or by criminals. They use magic, misdirection and guile, and sometimes force to defeat their enemies. The Judex character, dressed in affluence, walks down the hallway of a mansion, to a marble stairway, where he (or she) finds a dove , apparently dead. The dove could represent peace, love, hope and perhaps the presence of God. Judex picks it up and walks into a room represented by wealth, perhaps bankers, business persons, all dressed in tuxedos and gowns at a social event. He stops in front of a wealthy couple on a couch and the dove comes alive and flies away--magic, maybe peace flying away or hope coming alive again. The man claps, signaling amusement at Judex. Then the music begins with Nyabinghi drums, representing the pulse of God, resistance to oppression, etc. Judex begins a rhythmic hypnotic dance, produces a lit match (representing possible revolution or violent resistance), then uses magic to turn the match into a flower, and gives it to the woman. Maybe she is the key, the key to Judex not exacting vigilante revenge, maybe to that dream of a world re-surging. She begins to visibly mouth the words to the song, to the disappointment of the man, who takes the flower and tosses it on the table. He is no longer interested or amused. The woman, however, is mesmerized by Judex. Judex continues the dance, mostly for the woman, and when the man shows his disdain, Judex gives him a look like, who the f--k are you? Don't test me. Judex continues the dance and as the song ends, casually walks away. A brilliant and subtle song and video by Thievery Corporation. Judex? Wow.