Read the lyrics for Gorillaz’s new song Damascus. Explore the meaning behind the words from Yasiin Bey and Omar Souleyman for your karaoke and singalong sessions.
The lyrics for Gorillaz’s “Damascus” present a rich tapestry of cross-cultural dialogue and travelogue imagery, designed for engagement and interpretation. The words, traded between American rapper Yasiin Bey and Syrian singer Omar Souleyman, move between English and Arabic, inviting a global audience to listen closely. The repeated phrases “Shipped from Damascus” and “Point Nemo” establish central motifs of journey and remoteness. Point Nemo, the oceanic pole of inaccessibility, contrasts sharply with the ancient, populated city of Damascus, creating a lyrical tension between a known cultural hub and the most isolated spot on Earth. This duality frames the entire track.
gorillaz the mountain
Yasiin Bey’s verses weave observations on modernity and tradition. Lines like “Turkish coffee, Starbucks, get off” and “New brand news and an old school voice” highlight a friction between authentic culture and globalized commercialism. His refrain of navigating “waves in the dark no map” with “stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back” suggests a journey guided by intuition and ancestral knowledge rather than technology. The chorus, with its mantra-like repetition of “New arrivals, fresh arrivals,” functions as both a declaration of the song itself and a broader commentary on migration and the constant flow of ideas and people. Bey’s steady, confident delivery makes these complex themes accessible for singalongs, embedding philosophical questions within a rhythmic flow.
Omar Souleyman’s contributions in Arabic add deep layers of emotional and cultural context. While a full translation reveals classic themes of love, regret, and perseverance common in his folk tradition, the very presence of the language within the Gorillaz universe is significant. Phrases like “Hush Habibi, it’s time to make noise” serve as a bridge, directly addressing the listener and calling for celebration and voice. The lyrics avoid a single narrative, instead offering evocative fragments that listeners can connect themselves. This structure makes the song ideal for karaoke and group participation, where the energy of the call-and-response and the blend of languages become a shared experience. The post-chorus shoutouts—“D.A. in the place,” “Souleyman in the place”—solidify the track as a celebratory testament to collaboration itself.
Produced by Gorillaz, James Ford, Samuel Egglenton, Remi Kabaka Jr
December 12, 2025
1 song, 4 minutes
℗ 2026 Kong
Lyrics
[Intro: 2-D, Yasiin Bey]
Sunday, monday
Tuesday, wednesday
Thursday
I crashed out on thursday
I crashed out on thursday
And friday is [?]
Fresh, fresh, fresh
Tapped down in the radio (Fresh)
D.A. in the place is so (Fresh)
Souleyman in the place, you know
Making noise every place we go (Fresh)
[Verse 1: Yasiin Bey, Omar Souleyman]
كل يوم عين بعينه باكير وينه وينه
Shipped from Damascus, Nemo Point
The fantasy is real, feel free, enjoy
كل يوم عين بعينه باكير وينه وينه
New brand news and an old school voice
Hush Habibi, it’s time to make noise
راحت مني ندامه ان ماني مذبحين
Here to navigate the waves in the dark no map
Stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back
راحت مني ندامه ان ماني مذبحين
Hallelujah, Hallah, follow, Yalla
Turkish coffee, Starbucks, get off
Here to navigate the waves in the dark, no map
Stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back
Know where I’m headed and I be where I’m at
That’s the way it is and it’s like
[Chorus: Yasiin Bey]
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New
[Verse 2: Yasiin Bey, Omar Souleyman]
Shipped from Damascus, Nemo Point (Fresh)
The fantasy is real, feel free, enjoy (Fresh)
New brand news and a soulful voice
Hush Habibi, it’s time to make noise (Fresh)
Follow, Yalla, Hallelujah, Hallah (Fresh)
Turkish coffee, Starbucks, you’re corny (Fresh)
Navigate the waves in the dark, no map
Stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back (Fresh)
[Arabic] (Fresh)
Big ship from Damascus, Point Nemo
Inspiration moving in stere-er-eo
[Arabic]
Yes, super fresh as I’m known to be (Fresh)
See a real cool ruler don’t overheat, fresh
[Arabic] (Fresh, fresh)
I say Hallelujah, Hallah, Yella, Yalla (Fresh)
Turkish coffee, Starbucks, you’re corny (Fresh)
[Arabic] (Fresh, fresh)
See me navigate the waves in the light and the black (Fresh)
Stars in the heavens and a breeze on my back (Fresh)
Say Hallelujah, Yella, Yalla (Fresh)
Turkish coffee, Starbucks, you’re corny (Fresh)
Know where I’m headed and I be where I be (Fresh)
They got it how they got it but not like
[Chorus: Yasiin Bey]
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
New arrivals, fresh arrivals
[Post-Chorus: Yasiin Bey]
D.A. in the place is so (Fresh)
Dante in the place is so (Fresh)
Souleyman in the place, you know (Fresh)
Making noise everywhere he go (Fresh)
Tapped down in the radio
D.A. in the place is so
Dante in the place, it go (Fresh)
Souleyman in the place, you know (Fresh)
(Fresh)
