If you appreciate truly good writing, Aesop is a name you need to know. His abstract, multi-layered lyrics offer a fascinating journey for the mind.
In “None Shall Pass,” he offers a poetic critique of our decaying society, exposing the perversion of authentic self-expression in today’s hyper-political landscape. In the chorus, the statement “None Shall Pass” suggests Aesop’s defiance against society. A declaration of resistance.
“A fine sign of the wine in the swarm”
The vivid image of “the swine in the swarm” suggests we’ve all become entangled in corruption and hypocrisy, a mingling of the base and absurd that has rendered us shallow. Throughout the song, Aesop also forces us to confront the decay of urban life—its erosion of integrity, depth, and compassion.
“When a King is a whore who comply and conform”
His disdain for blind compliance is evident when he paints “the king” as a whore who conforms, reducing leaders to debased servitude in favor of financial gain. But there is a chicken or the egg question. Is the King complying and conforming to the morally corrupt masses, or to the elite? Did the general decay of society allow such a King to come into power? Or did the King’s desire for personal benefit drive him to comply to the elites, and society just let it happen? Perhaps a truly depraved leader can comply and conform to both at the same time.
“Miles outside the eye of the storm / With a siphon to lure out a prize and award/ while avoiding the vile and bizarre that is violence and war”
Our institutions have lost their dignity. The powerful, and the rich they serve, operate safely outside the wreckage they (and we) have created. The ruling classes siphon every scrap of benefit from our ruined society.
“True blue triumph is more/ Like, “Wait, let it snake up out of the centerfold”
Triumph, it seems, must snake its way out of the centerfold: creatives tired of the mainstream media’s fabricated personas can uncoil, seize their true power, and craft art that matters. Those mainstream media machine can realize their own power, their reach, and use their creativity and influence to live the true purpose of art.
“Let it break the walls of Jericho. Ready?Go!”
Breaking down the “walls of Jericho” is a Biblical reference from the Book of Joshua, where an army, inspired by divinity, circle thr fortified city of Jericho and brought down its walls. Culturally, this event has transcended its literal origins to become a powerful metaphor for the collapse of oppressive systems or seemingly unbreakable barriers. It has come to symbolize the transformative potential of collective action and faith. Over time, artists, writers, and musicians have invoked this imagery to signal moments of radical change or liberation—a turning point when long-standing power structures are dismantled, paving the way for renewal and new beginnings.
“Sat where the old cardboard city folk / Swap tales with heads, like every other penny throw.”
Meanwhile, the marginalized and poverty stricken —those cardboard city folk - are “Swapping tales with heads”. This could have so many meanings. When a coin is spinning in the air, it is in the act of doing just that. It can also mean those surviving on the streets are exchanging wisdom and knowledge of survival, “heads” could be a reference to the clever minds that run the streets - the hustlers, the outcasts. Looking for whatever small bit of fortune or luck they can grasp onto. Maybe they’re placing a bet on which polar opposite (two sides of the same coin) will win.
Song: Nine Shall Pass, 2017
Listen to the whole song on the official video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KNrB6--KBqs