Dirty Costello captures the essential elements of the COVID-19 period through the song “Pandemic.” The song’s lyric summarizes a moment in history where there was fear, worry, frustration, and resilience. Costello fuses together personal emotions while blending in social and political problems. He does not capture just the virus; he emphasizes on the bigger issues that came with the pandemic such as mental health and racial injustice.

“Pandemic” repeatedly repeats “political chains,” articulating the feeling of being suffocated by government decisions and policies made. Dirty Costello challenges the world’s leaders and addresses their controversial choices. He mentions Donald Trump and Sir Tom Moore as the face of the juxtaposition between controversy and heroism during the crisis.

The referencing of George Floyd and Steven Lawrence serves as the tip of the iceberg. By mentioning them, Dirty Costello anchors the pre-pandemic movements such as the Race riots serving as a reminder that the pandemic was more than a health crisis.

The desperation elicited through the use of terms such as “Will it ever end” serves as an anchor to the undelivered promise of soothing the anxieties voiced. The powerful message captures the explosive nature of the injustice of the modern age. Dirty Costello gives a deep and reflective piece that transforms a significant moment into a masterful piece of literature.