"The Dripping Tap" is an 18-minute psychedelic rock epic by Australian band King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, released in 2022 as the lead single from their twentieth studio album, Omnium Gatherum123. The song stands out as one of the band's most ambitious and celebrated tracks, both musically and thematically.
Composition and Recording
- Origins: Initially conceived during sessions for 2019’s Fishing for Fishies, the song was shelved and later revived after COVID-19 lockdowns, when the band could finally record together in person14.
- Structure: The track is a sprawling jam, built from extended studio improvisations that were later edited into a cohesive piece15. It features multiple tempo and mood changes, with relentless guitar riffs, motorik rhythms, and bursts of harmonica and organ15.
- Musical Style: Critics describe it as a blend of krautrock-inspired "motorik" beats, drop D Mixolydian guitar work, and energetic, ever-evolving jams reminiscent of bands like Can156.
Lyrics and Meaning
- Central Metaphor: The "dripping tap" serves as a powerful metaphor for persistent, ignored problems—most notably, environmental neglect and the slow, relentless drain of natural resources78.
- Themes: The lyrics highlight frustration with apathy and inaction, especially from those in power ("the suits in charge"), and warn of the consequences of ignoring looming crises782.
- Refrains: Lines like "our futures hanging on by a thread" and "with our heads in the sand" underscore a sense of collective denial and impending disaster782.
- Environmental Focus: The song is widely interpreted as an ecological anthem, calling attention to humanity's tendency to overlook or superficially address environmental issues while time and resources slip away83.
Reception and Legacy
- Critical Acclaim: The song has been praised for capturing the band's renewed creative energy post-lockdown and for its exhilarating, unpredictable structure1.
- Live Favorite: "The Dripping Tap" has quickly become a staple of the band's live shows, celebrated for its intensity and the communal energy it generates among fans4.
- Chart Performance: It reached #11 on both the US Alternative and Rock Digital Song Sales charts1.
Key Details Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard |
| Album | Omnium Gatherum (2022) |
| Length | 18:17 |
| Genre | Psychedelic rock, krautrock, garage rock |
| Composition Style | Extended jam, multiple tempo changes, motorik rhythm, harmonica, organ, guitar solos |
| Lyrical Themes | Environmental neglect, frustration, apathy, consequences of inaction |
| Notable Lyrics | "The dripping tap won’t be turned off by the suits in charge of the world..." |
| Chart Performance | US Alt. Digital Song Sales #11, US Rock Digital Song Sales #11 |
"The Dripping Tap" is both a showcase of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard’s musical prowess and a pointed, metaphorical critique of societal complacency in the face of environmental crisis, delivered through an ecstatic, ever-shifting jam182.
