"Lot of people a runnin' and hidin' tonight . . . a lot of people won't get no justice tonight"
First of all, let's just say what everyone's thinking: this song must've been the spring-board for Sublime's entire career. Honestly, just think of Sublime one time while listening to this song. Can't you see them as teenagers hearing this and saying, "This song is what I'm basing the rest of my life off of!"
It starts with that awesome reggae beat, but not a typical reggae beat. It sounds almost oppressive. The recurring guitar fill rocks. It's so chill, so simple--I don't smoke pot, but I'm almost tempted to light up a joint and watch a lava lamp for a couple hours talking to a fellow stoner about the end of the world. Okay just kidding (was that too detailed to just be kidding? Yikes.)
"No one will guide you through Armagideon Time"
So long as I'm just writing this off the top of my head (I have like 50 pages of junk to read before noon tomorrow and it's passed 10pm already!), this line shows more lyrical sophistication than any of my experience with Sublime. I don't really know what the song is about, but the lyrics mirror the overall feel of the song. Though it's got that hit on 2-4 reggae beat--which is often thought of as some of the most inherently joyous-sounding music around--it still manages to sound bleak, full of angst, and almost like an nomadic, reggae chant.
I'd like to think that this is a classic, societally pessimistic song--along the vein of common teenage apathy. Specifically about how young people often think that the world's out to get them--that it's set up to do that.
Long story short: melancholy reggae chant; oppressive feel; possible feeling of teenage angst bleeding through.
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4 comments:
Another great commentary! Not to be completely self-absorbed but so far my assignment of The Clash has been great. I like your sublime insight and your Sublime insight, (get it?). Sorry bad joke. Anyway, I am looking forward to your assignments.
The above comment was mine. I didn't know my wife was signed in.
Great insight. I like the long story short feature. Good writing.
Ha! I was just saying to my boyfriend that the song reminds me of Sublime - so I Googled it and found this post. I love it when the internet backs me up on these things.
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