Every so often I come across a pop song so catchy that I can't stop listening to it, but with lyrics so terrible that I hate myself every time I press play. Such is the case with "Timber" by Pitbull and Ke$ha.
Since I can't seem to stop listening to this bizarre song, which I can only assume is about sexy lumberjacks felling trees in dance clubs, I've decided to do the next best thing: wildly re-interpret it using theological language that has almost no connection to the intended reality of the song. Follow me as we over-interpret, under-interpret, make associations based on the most tangential of evidence and generally wreck Holy Havoc on this pop music phenomena.
This is Bad Music Theology.
(If you must, you can listen to the song here, but I wouldn't.)
[Ke$ha]
It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget
As the song begins, Ke$ha sets the stage for our tale. She serves as a type of Greek chorus, foreshadowing the epic confrontation we are about to witness. “It’s going down” she announces. She tells us that our movement and dancing are imperative for this will be a night we won’t remember and this bodily act of worship will be required.
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Here we find the hallelujah-call of the dance floor being repeated again and again. Interspersed are repeated mentions of the word “timber.” But to what does this word refer? I can only suggest that it is a reference to the wood idols and altars that will fall in the presence of the Lord.
[Pitbull]The bigger they are, the harder they fall
These big-iddy boys are dig-gidy dogs
I have 'em like Miley Cyrus, clothes off
Twerking in their bras and thongs, timber
Face down, booty up, timber
That's the way we like to–what?–timber
I'm slicker than an oil spill
She say she won't, but I bet she will, timber
As Elijah once served as a prophet and interlocutor for the Lord, here Pitbull takes his place as the prophet of the Almighty. Clearly this song is a reinterpretation of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18.
He mocks the size and scope of the clergy opposing him, rejoicing in the victory he will claim over the “big-iddy boys” and “dig-gidy dogs.” Next he mocks the way in which he will reveal the failures and faults of their gods in the face of the Lord. He finds them to be “Twerking in their bras and thongs,” clearly a reference to their priestly vestments and the sandals which shod their feet.
He repeats the word “timber” over and over again, reinforcing the way in which their idols and altars of wood will fall. The “say she won’t,” but the ever-confident prophet Pitbull, “bet she will.” Timber indeed.
Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Pitbull offers these false prophets one final chance. He allows them to call upon their gods a final time, to try and wake them. He calls after them to “swing your partner round and round” for this is the “end of the night” and “it’s going down.” Even after they initially fail, he allows them “one more shot, another round.”
[Ke$ha]It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget
It's going down (it's going down), I'm yelling timber
You better move (you better move), you better dance (you better dance)
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget (you won't forget)
Once more our Ke$ha, our Greek chorus, returns to reinforce the message to the audience. The moment of anticipation has come, the audience should be on its feet to “move” and “dance.” She repeats the call, building the tension of the story. Tonight is a night they will not want to forget!
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Hallelujah for the Lord is coming to conquer the false gods and the false prophets
[Pitbull]
Look up in the sky, it's a bird, it's a plane
Nah, it's just me, ain't a damn thing changed
Live in hotels, swing on planes
Blessed to say, money ain't a thing
Club jumping like LeBron now, Volí
Order me another round, homie
We about to clown. Why? 'Cause it's about to go down
Here we find Pitbull in his prophetic role speaking on behalf of the Almighty. He beckons us to “look up in the sky.” And what do we find there? Is it a bird, a plane (clearly a prophetic anachronism)? No, “it’s just me” the I AM and “ain’t a damn thing changed.”
He mocks the luxury of the false prophets who “live in hotels” and “swing on planes,” for in the eyes of the Lord “money ain’t a thing.” He asks his “homie,” who one assumes to be his prophet Pitbull, to “order another round.” This can only be an order to pour out the water to be used in the sacrifice because “it’s about to go down.”
Swing your partner round and roundEnd of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Swing your partner round and round
End of the night, it's going down
One more shot, another round
End of the night, it's going down
Pitbull offers the sacrifice, swinging round and round in celebration at the presence of the Lord. It is now “going down.” The moment of the Lord’s presence has arrived
[Ke$ha]
It's going down, I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance
Let's make a night you won't remember
I'll be the one you won't forget
It's going down (it's going down), I'm yelling timber
You better move, you better dance (you better dance)
Let's make a night (let's make a night) you won't remember
I'll be the one (I'll be the one) you won't forget (you won't forget)
Ke$ha returns once again to lead the audience in exalting the greatness and majesty of the Lord. He has conquered the false prophets and proved himself to the mighty. It has gone down. We are yelling timber! Move! Dance!
Wooooah wooooah (hey), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah wooooah (timber), wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah, wooooah (it's going down)
Wooooah (timber), wooooah (you won't forget), wooooah (timber)
A final round of exultant “Hallelujahs” from the dance floor! Amen.
Ben Howard is an accidental iconoclast and generally curious individual living in Nashville, Tennessee. He is also the editor-in-chief of On Pop Theology and an avid fan of waving at strangers for no reason. You can follow him on Twitter @BenHoward87.
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Image Credits:
Image #1 via Eva Rinaldi
Image #2 via Peter Neill
Image #3, a Greek Orthodox Icon
Image #4 via Eva Rinaldi
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