Oil is the second track from Gorillaz' eighth studio album Cracker Island. The song features American singer, songwriter, and producer, Stevie Nicks.
Before being released as part of Cracker Island, the song was uploaded to Gorillaz' official YouTube Topic channel on the 23rd of February along with Tormenta, before being privated until the next day only a few minutes later.
Background[]
“ | That contrast of hearing Stevie’s voice over a Gorillaz track is amazing. I think my wife, who’s also my manager, had come up with the idea. We’d have these conversations with Damon: Who could we bring in to this project? Who does he know? Who do I know? I had been working with Stevie and become really good friends with her. Damon was very excited, he couldn’t even believe that was a possibility. I think Stevie was just very moved by it. She loved the lyrics and she took it very seriously, really wanted to do the best job. Stevie’s just so cool. She’s always listening to new music, she’s in touch with everything that’s happening and just so brilliant as a person. I love her dearly. | „ |
~ Greg Kurstin, Apple Music |
Oil was recorded sometime in 2021 and was co-produced by Remi Kabaka Jr. and Greg Kurstin. The track was originally supposed to feature the singer Julian Casablancas to sing vocals, but due to scheduling issues it wasn't possible.[1]
The song was first played live on the Gorillaz World Tour 2022, on October 5th, 2022. The track was released on February 24th, 2023 along with a visualizer.
Lyrics[]

Letter by 2-D given to Stevie Nicks thanking her for taking part in the song
[Verse 1: 2-D]
Then I put my codes in the machine
But the world I found was made of faulty dreams
(Of faulty dreams)
I was on my own there, in the psychic silence
I was looking out for some other kite to
Fly out of the doldrums and recall the log
From the early database of your love
(Of your love)
[Chorus: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
Fairy-like companions to the dark maths that catapult
Us into imagined worlds, seems a mockery remote
[Verse 2: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
Interlocking cluster bombs, "Like drum and bass," I thought
Close the wells of poison, fill them up with love
[Bridge: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
I was on my own there, I was all alone
I got lost, intangible, but that's thе place you reach when
You can't hеlp yourself anymore and the madness comes
You'll be falling into the bass and drum
(Bass and drum)
[Chorus: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
Fairy-like companions to the dark maths that catapult
Us into imagined worlds, seems a mockery remote
[Verse 3: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
'Cause I got no choice in it and I'm not so cold
I could look you in the eye and not recall
(And not recall)
[Outro: 2-D & Stevie Nicks]
Don't think that my heart is a sad affair without you
Individual actions change the world
Fill them up with love
Lyric Video[]
Visualiser[]
Gorillaz - Oil ft. Stevie Nicks (Official Audio)
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Trivia[]
- This song can be heard in the 2024 American comedy film 'Ricky StanickyW'.
- Oil is the sixth song that was performed live on the Gorillaz World Tour 2022 before its official release, with the others being Cracker Island, Silent Running, New Gold, Skinny Ape and Possession Island.