Capitalism, communism and surrealism: How Joshua Idehen used a washing machine to critique society
I will openly admit that I was a lyrics-first music fan. I’ve always been mesmerised by what the word can do, be it in rhyming formats or the spiralling circles of storytelling—it was the door that opened up a world of music adoration for me. As I got older and understood the world better, that transferred into the mastery of hip-hop, where the lyricism was foregrounded and celebrated for being more dense.
Over time, I’ve understood that nuance isn’t always in quantity. Nuance isn’t always in complexity, either. Sure, I will lap up a novel like a piece of music any day of the week, but I know now that doesn’t always guarantee merit. When words fire over a song like a scatter gun, sometimes it’s not as painful as one succinct shot.
But when I heard the first line of Joshua Idehen’s ‘Mum Does the Washing’, well, I thought it was perhaps neither. If anything, it felt like a gentle tickle, designed for nothing more than making you laugh. But as every line unravelled with the same opening statement, the undoubted brilliance of what Idehen had achieved became apparent.
Every facet of modern society is bundled into a basket and thrown in the washing machine, forming the landscape in which Idehen’s metaphors are placed. The first victims of his observations are capitalism and communism, structurally described through the mundane household chore: “Capitalism: Your mum washes does the washing / You pay her a dollar. You get her to do your mates washing / Your mate pays you 50 dollars / Communism: Your mum does the washing. You do the washing / Every night you salute a picture of your dad”.
Over the top of an arpeggio, Idehen continues, bringing every fibre of modern society into play with equal parts humour and venom. Through this, he highlights the simple absurdity of our societal pillars, how unjust, corrupt and hypocritical they all are. Somehow, all rebuttals of nuance and context are dismissed, for his lines are so unflinchingly accurate that they seem to elude any counterargument put against them.
The arpeggio spirals and the ridiculousness never ends, transitioning from the philanthropic—“Patriarchy: Your mum doesn’t exist / The washing is mysteriously done”—to the outright humorous: “Narcissism: You look good in the clothes your mum washed / Surrealism: The washing does your mum”.
Its almost childlike structure lends itself to boredom and simplicity, yet it’s a song that defies all convention and logic. You’re utterly compelled by every line and find yourself subjected to anticipation, wondering what wicked corner Idehen will turn next with his washing machine analogies.
Because it’s not about double-entendres, alliteration or personification, it’s about intent, proving brevity has more of a place in lyricism than complexity. “Through my own reading and learning, I’ve begun to see the beauty in the set of words that I have,” he told Crack, adding, “It’s not necessarily about all the words I know. It’s about the words I’m comfortable using and how I use them to express myself.”
It’s the sort of song that lends itself to unfair calls of a sequel, with the next household appliance being eyed up as a humorous follow-up. But that’s not the point. The point is that the irreverence of the song has introduced us to one of music’s most underrated lyricists, and wherever he takes us next, we ought to be paying attention.
