Occuponics: “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down”


The Occuponics perform a new version of an old gospel song whose working title at the time of this recording was “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down.” This song was taught to the group by musician Painless Parker (AKA Noam Berg) on the afternoon of November 15, 2011, as crowds of people gathered around the outside of Zuccotti Park, closed by police, and attempted to regain entry. While entry was granted to many, musical instruments were banned from the park because it was believed that sleeping bags or blankets could be concealed within them. “Pharoah, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” has since morphed into “Wall Street, Your Kingdom Must Come Down” and is regularly performed by The Occuponics because it is a powerful song that allows listeners and singers to add their own entities — persons, corporations, or social ills that happen to be on their mind at the time — to the lyrics. Here it is performed at Zuccotti Park a short time after the encampment was raided but after the park was reopened for public use.