Boots On The Ground is a collaboration between Massive Attack and Tom Waits. Announced on April 16th, this is Massive Attack’s first release since the 2024’s Medicines San Frontieres fund-raising single Ceasefire, and Waits’ first new recording since 2011’s Bad For Me. The 76-year old Waits raising himself out of what appeared to be retirement. Illustrating, without a doubt, how strongly he feels about the song’s subject matter. 

A clanking music concrete collage, the track echoes the anger of Waits’ Hell Broke Luce. Its lyrics delivered in the voice of a cranky carney barker, and aimed directly at current events in America. Sung from a “soldier’s” point of view, describing its protagonist as a public servant, and blurring the border between peace keeping and invading forces. Protector and murderer. 

The streets of Minneapolis are intentionally evoked, but the piece’s warnings are far broader. While the distracting, distorting mirror of social media would like to keep us  all focused on the U.S. of A., elsewhere, powers that be everywhere are also shoring up, anticipating economic collapse and social unrest. 

For me, the song paints / cements parallels between I.C.E., and their quotas, and the scalp hunters that inhabit the hell of Cormac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian. A lawless, merciless militia. Where targets / victims become indiscriminate, initially to make up the numbers, and then to eliminate anyone who gets in their way. 

Rough, raw, potent, profane, I listened to the song last night on repeat.* Wondering, as food and resources seem poised to sky rocket, how long can I hole up with my hoarded cans of tuna and hold on for help. At what point, what will it take, for the horrified who feel powerless to be incensed into action? Sitting here, wasting time, waiting for someone else to take the lead. I don’t want to believe that it’s already too late. 

Massive Attack & Tom Waits’ Boots On The Ground can be purchased from Play It Again Sam.

*Still reeling after recently reading Paul Lynch’s brutal Prophet Song.