My stupid theory on Government Plates by Death Grips

I believe that Government Plates is about a cyberpunk-esque dystopia where humans are slowly being turned into machines/being replaced by machines. I’ll go by a track-by-track analysis on each song to show how they fit into the narrative.

Track 1

You might think…

This song sets the stage for the concept. The glass breaking and sirens going off immediately afterwards could represent someone breaking into a building and setting off the alarms to the facility. This could be the place where the person discovers a shadow government is starting to take over humanity. Could also be a metaphor for someone hacking into a mainframe, and hence setting off “alarms”.

The first verse could be someone hacking into someone’s online account and “killing” their identity, by assuming their identity and doing some stuff, and by doing so, discovering or setting off the rise of the machines.

The second verse could be comparing the hacker or thief to a ghost hacking/breaking in using someone else’s identity (I hover above you, Life pulled out your mouth, I become you), then finding out about the shadow government’s plan/finding the information needed about that he was suspectful of (Unlawful possession…, pupils swell), and the reason why the hacker/thief is not triggering any alarms on the mainframe/building is because he has assumed a person’s identity in the mainframe’s database/building (My entrance, Hijacked no questions asked, Stretch you on like latex mask), and then the hacker/thief accidentally leaves a calling card after taking the stuff he needs from the mainframe/person via “killing” (disabling) the person’s identity in the mainframe/building.

Third verse could be the person whose identity the hacker/thief stole directly conversing with the hacker/thief (I’m not you), and identifying that the hacker/thief is scared of what might happen to him (Fear, you wear it well), with the person then referring to the destiny of the hacker/thief and the fate of humanity at large and what will happen to them in a couple of years (Here’s to your destiny, Hysterics scream help, Don’t worry in a few you’ll all be somewhere else) and then telling the hacker/thief to get ready for the shadow government’s plan (Prepare yourselves), with the hacker/thief shouting back at the person that he, as well as humanity, is free and won’t succumb to them (Freelance motherfucker)

The last hook could be that the hacker/thief is now fearful of the task ahead of him (hence why it’s spoken) and the hacker/thief discovers his apartment has been gassed as a result of him breaking in. Emerald tablet could be a metaphor for spreading the information before he is caught (as in most sci-fi movies, the hologram PDAs or whatever are usually green, and are held like tablets)

Track 2

Anne Bonny

This track divides the two sides of the resistance against the shadow government, the “Pirates” and “Hackers” (not their actual name, because they are not actually referred to at this point, nor do they get referred by this name in the album), who receive different information, hence why they become divided in their methods and ideologies.

The track starting off with “Pirate” could refer to the information getting caught by pirates, who distribute the information via torrents and to other websites.

The message sent is “Fuck kill steal shit” by the pirates to other pirates (due to the information about the shadow government’s plan getting muddled up by drugged up pirates and such, they also believe that the information is basically a free pass to hack and steal whatever they can, whether it be in real life or on the internet, because they don’t see why they have to abide by laws if the future is basically going to be apocalyptic for them), along with the pirates arguing with each other about why they are the ones sending the messages, and they start to feel like they’re tied up (caught up with this information without warning) and begin to feel on edge.

The pirates then start to do heavy drugs to cope with the reality of what is going to happen to them and try to forget the information sent to them, meanwhile also forgetting to repair the message sent by them in the first place to other pirates, which leads to multiple pirates beginning to “fuck kill steal shit” in the next song.

The info sent by the first hacker is then properly decoded by actual hackers, which leads to the next song, “Two Heavens”. But the damage done by the pirates has already begun to be noticed by the shadow government.

Track 3

Two Heavens

This song is contrasting the two ideologies of the “Pirates” and “Hackers”, with the Hackers targeting specific places that are controlled by the shadow government and occasionally messing up, as well as showing their technological prowess by stealing the shadow government’s money (Single Strike, Cadence Slip… Hella zeroes, life elixir drenched) and the Pirates stating that they simply do not care, and will harm whatever/whoever they want to get what they want (Once I’ll make you my bitch, We don’t want, we take shit…, All I need is my fix) and insult the Hackers’ for wanting freedom peacefully (Fuck your idols, suck my dick)

The hook is contrasting the methods of the Hackers and Pirates, with the Hackers using their technological prowess to get in wherever they want (I’m on my way up) and the Pirates simply killing and stealing (Pressing down on the pillow till I can’t hear you breath, for no reason, Five rings on my hand)

The second verse is the Hackers and Pirates trying to reconcile for the revolution that they are both trying to instill into humanity by comparing how screwed they both are, but secretly, the Hackers state that if they show the true information to the Pirates, they’ll run in fear (if I showed dem, they’d just run like hoes) and the Pirates also state in secret that they despise the methods of the Hackers (Fuck these pussies on hella zeroes), and finally, they both agree that they have a common cause, and if they die, they at least die free, or if they succeed, they free humanity, so in the end, there’s no downside in causing a revolution (Two heavens is all I know).

The final repetition of the hook can now be seen as the Pirates and Hackers working together.

Track 4

This is Violence Now (Don’t Get Me Wrong)

This is the track where the Hackers and Pirates begin their revolution against the shadow government, with both sides agreeing that a full-on, direct (violent) approach against the government is needed in order to succeed with their revolution (This is violence now).

So, they begin their revolution, but halfway through the song, they begin to lose (Hence why the phrase “You have been banned from the channel” plays, symbolizing that the Hackers have been hacked themselves by the shadow government). The reason why I say the revolution fails is due to the next song “Birds”, which I will explain in detail in that song. The phrase “Don’t get me wrong” could mean there’s miscommunication between the two factions due to the ban, or between the Hackers and their communication network.

Track 5

Birds

I associate the metaphor Ride uses here for birds as a metaphor for thoughts, seeing as the revolution has failed and the shadow government has installed a 1984-esque control over humanity, where people’s thoughts are being monitored, as well as what they say. “Bluebird” could be a metaphor for a radical, revolutionary thought.

The first hook could be someone who is thinking of the freedom that the future offers (I got tomorrow coming), but at the same time, hating themselves for the free thinking ideas they have (Birds, fuck you).

The first verse could be someone who has had ideas for revolution before, but they have been snuffed out by the person’s fear of the reality that he is in. The verse also refers to 1984 in in which the mains character from the book writes down memories and constantly tells himself of the past that has been erased by “Big Brother” in order to not lose his memories of what happened (I’m not trying to lose my mind, I got that attitude at all times, I’ve got this attitude at all times). The verse is also referring to black hats, which are hackers with extensive knowledge. Perhaps the subject could be referring to knowing an individual they know who could help them out with a revolution? But like all the other ideas for revolution, this idea dies out (I had a bluebird, now it’s dead).

The second hook could be a way for the subject trying to remember how life was like before the shadow government took over, or could be referring to the ideas that the person has had that could be considered dangerous, as well as referring to how dangerous life would be for him for having free thought.

The second verse could be the subject considering how short his life is, and how he needs to take the opportunity he has before it runs out, as well as him considering trying to gain power in the shadow government via normal working methods, but snuffs the idea out.

The final part of the second verse could be that the character knows that if he tries to join the shadow government, he’ll become less human if he gains status in the society, even if he tries to rebel (I got higher, I got fake). And so finally, the character decides to start a revolution with his thoughts (I got, Birds).

The final repetition of the first hook could be a defiant rallying call, or the main character now confirming his beliefs in rebellion.

Track 6

Feels Like A Wheel

This track could be taken in two ways. 1) The society who has come to accept how life is under the shadow government and wants nothing to do with the revolution, as well as accepting how repetitive life is for them or 2) The free thinkers and revolutionaries want to live life freely, and are stating how life is so autonomous and repetitive.

Track 7

I’m Overflow

This track could be that the revolutionaries and free thinkers are “overflowing” with knowledge on how to rebel against the government (I am overflow) and are starting to be silenced and killed (Undertow shots licked) and are noticing that their comrades are disappearing (Where’d he go? Federal cloaked key and locked shit), as well as the people who are accepting of the shadow government becoming addicted to entertainment/”happiness” to escape the reality of the situation, similar to the Pirates (Dopamine hot shit)

Track 8

Big House

This song is about the free thinkers and revolutionaries being arrested and locked up, particularly in Los Angeles (LA creeping under my skin). They also didn’t realize that they were being monitored (Cut off eyelid still I can’t see) and basically became dead weight to the revolution (Try to realize before dead weight) and run out of time to escape (Bout out of time speed checkmate). The characters are then having internal thoughts about how to escape, but cannot find escape off this prison island, and are then called back in to the prison. They then begin to yearn freedom from this prison and or wish to learn more about the prison so that they can escape, because they cannot find any ways of escape from the place they are examining (Nothing round here, I must see more). The characters also fear that because they’ve been in prison for so long, they can’t tell if they’ve lost their minds (So harsh in here I think I’ve gone mad, Can’t tell if I went too far). They also realize how bad the situation is because they have no way with communicating with their outside comrades, and because they’re off the radar, they can’t be found either (No map show skullfuck where I am).

Track 9

Government Plates

This song is about the shadow government’s mass mobilization of machines, hence the robotic repetition of “On your feet”, which could be a command to the machines to rise and begin to take over. This means the shadow government is no longer trying to hide their intentions of trying to take over humanity. They also state that they are “above the law”/”overlord”, and that their agents are using government plates to get away with crimes, and that they are everywhere (On location) and because they’re so powerful, they can be anywhere (I’m a corporation, Fuck location).

Track 10

Bootleg (Don’t Need Your Help)

This song could be referring to the shadow government creating artificial humans now (Bootleg) and that they’re trying to offer a deal with the revolutionaries to join them (or maybe even rogue machines/robots trying to offer help to the resistance?), but the revolutionaries and free thinkers refuse (No I don’t need your help)

Track 11

Whatever I want (Fuck Who’s Watching)

This could be the final stand between the shadow government and the resistance, and could be told through two viewpoints, that of the shadow government offering their last chance for life (Hand yourself over, remain calm, I only plan to steal, whatever I want) and in retaliation the resistance refuses and uses their catchphrase as a way of protest (Fuck who’s watching). At this point, the resistance has finally begun to forget their original purpose and are just fighting for their survival (which could be referring to “Birds” and could mean they’re finally being controlled by the shadow government?) (I lose it, I can’t remember why, No agenda, still can’t remember why, Fuck who’s watching). The resistance members are also becoming aware that they don’t actually know who their members all are (Heard you claim we’ve met before, Always forget who they are). The song is also describing how the resistance is being killed and being sold off like products (Perhaps the shadow government is using humans like slaves?) (Lay, my head in furnace, Cream, proof of purchase), as well as describing the machines who are now controlling humans (Ghost in machine). The shadow government then explains that the resistance will not win, because they are basically now under their control and how they will live under their rule (as they have forgotten their original purpose, this could mean that the resistance of free thinkers and revolutionaries is now not fighting for humanity’s freedom, but for their own survival), as well as explaining that the people who have been living under their rule have not once yet suspected anything about them (When I spit in your face, you’ll take what you can get, Not once have I been had yet). The resistance, aware of how futile their situation is, begins to commit suicide (My skull in nylon, my throat like pipe bomb). The shadow government then starts to collect some of the dead bodies for experiments (Give it give it to me till you’re all used up) and also states that the last remaining strands of resistance are now just “playing” in the shadow government’s eyes (Play play, no amuse me, don’t forget to fuck off) and finally state that they can get anything they ever want (Whatever I want). The last thing said by the shadow government is “Fuck off, and you’ll be alright”, which could be a way of them sarcastically telling the resistance to run, and they’ll be safe from them. The constant repetition of the glitched “Whatever I want” throughout the song could also be a way of describing how the resistance is being killed off (perhaps by converting them into machines?).