Forging this sound in 2001, Tub Ring has been a force of nature in the left-of-center world of music, building momentum and inertia with every day that passes. The band's first album of avant-garde pop, Drake Equation, was produced by Mr. Bungle's Trey Spruance. Since, Tub Ring has released a total of 4 albums and a DVD/B-Side double pack.
With each album charting into double digits on the CMJ Top 200, Tub Ring's music has also been featured on Fox Sports, Xbox 360's "Amp Snow Boarder 3", various MTV/MTV2 programs, Spike and Mike's Twisted Animation films, and several Mt. Dew commercials. Most recently, Tub Ring played live in the TRL room on MTV2, and was featured in the MTV reality based contest show "Dew Circuit Breakout".
Tub Ring has created an enormous underground market with their bizarre genre of spazzed pop rock, with no financial help, no manager, NOTHING... except hard work, non-stop touring, and inventive song writing with intelligent lyrics. Clocking in at over 150 shows per year from 2001 to 2009 throughout North America, Europe and Japan, there are few bands that can match Tub Ring's determination and commitment to music. Touring partners include Mindless Self Indulgence, Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Kill Hannah, Dog Fashion Disco, Clutch, Karate High School, Black Light Burns, Foxy Shazam!, and more!
www.tubring.com
www.myspace.com/tubring
Panic the Digital
Tub Ring Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Public Who Abhors Mediocrity
Finds Itself The Cure
When It Awoke We Hailed It A Miracle
Avoidance Which Is Next To Impossible
A Sermon For The Pure
Here Come The Rats, The Rats Are Gonna Find Us
With The Second Black Plague And The Hanta Disease
Here Come The Rats, The Rats Are Gonna Find Us
And The First Contamination Is The Food We Eat
So Can We Scare Ourselves, To The Brink Of Death
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic (The Digital)
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
While Information Leaked To The Media
Who Did Its Part To Fuel The Hysteria
Fear Becomes The Truth
And Though The Race Continues To Propagate
The Midday News Does Nothing Implicate
Safety Is Removed
This Is The Cancer From My Cellular Phone
That Emits Radiation Which Destroys My Brain
This Is The Cancer From My Television Screen
Which Reports The Danger While It Does The Same
So Can We Free Ourselves, From The Threat Of Death
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic (The Digital)
Go In Peace Today, Listen In Peace Today
Can We Scare Ourselves To The Brink Of Death
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic (The Digital)
Panic, Panic
Panic, Panic
The lyrics of Tub Ring's song "Panic the Digital" are a commentary on the way modern society has become obsessed with fear and panic, particularly in response to perceived threats from technology and the media. The first verse speaks to the idea that in a world where people have abandoned philosophical thinking and latched onto mediocrity, panic becomes the cure, the one thing that people feel will save them from certain doom. The second verse highlights the idea that when people become afraid, they become prone to wild, irrational thoughts and behaviors, and are easily led astray by fearmongering and misinformation.
The chorus of the song repeats the word "panic" over and over, emphasizing the idea that this emotion is at the forefront of everyone's minds. The second verse introduces the idea of the "rats," representing the unseen threats that people fear are coming to get them. The lines about contamination and the danger of food reflect the idea that even the things we consume can cause us harm. The next verse speaks to the idea that even as people try to protect themselves from danger, they continue to be bombarded by information that fuels their fear, even when there is no basis for it.
In the final lines, the song suggests that perhaps the only way to break free from this cycle of panic is to let go of our fears and anxieties about technology and the media, and instead practice a kind of peaceful listening that allows us to be present in the moment without succumbing to the chaos of the world around us.
Line by Line Meaning
When The World Abandons All Philosophy
When society no longer values the pursuit of knowledge, reason and wisdom.
A Public Who Abhors Mediocrity
A society which rejects or opposes anything that is average or inferior in quality.
Finds Itself The Cure
Believes that they are the solution to their problems.
When It Awoke We Hailed It A Miracle
When the technology first emerged, it was welcomed with enthusiasm and awe.
Avoidance Which Is Next To Impossible
It is nearly impossible to escape or avoid the negative effects of technology.
A Sermon For The Pure
A warning to the people who still believe in the purity and goodness of technology.
Here Come The Rats, The Rats Are Gonna Find Us
Metaphorically describes the dangers and negative consequences of technology.
With The Second Black Plague And The Hanta Disease
Describes the severity of the risks posed by technology.
And The First Contamination Is The Food We Eat
The primary source of harm from technology comes from the way it infects our daily lives and the activities we depend upon most.
So Can We Scare Ourselves, To The Brink Of Death
Are we capable of creating so much worry and panic that it leads us to our own destruction?
While Information Leaked To The Media
Information which should have been kept private or confidential is made public.
Who Did Its Part To Fuel The Hysteria
The media played a role in creating a sense of panic and irrational fear.
Fear Becomes The Truth
Our perception of reality is influenced by our fears and emotions, regardless of facts or evidence.
And Though The Race Continues To Propagate
Despite the dangers and risks, people continue to embrace and use technology.
The Midday News Does Nothing Implicate
The news media does not hold technology accountable or acknowledge its negative consequences.
Safety Is Removed
Technology has created new risks and dangers that have not been addressed or resolved.
This Is The Cancer From My Cellular Phone
Technology has physical and biological effects that are harmful to us over time.
That Emits Radiation Which Destroys My Brain
Cellular phones emit radiation that are dangerous to our health and well-being.
This Is The Cancer From My Television Screen
Television screens emit radiation and visual stimuli that have negative effects.
Which Reports The Danger While It Does The Same
Television screens warn us of the dangers of radiation and yet themselves emit it.
So Can We Free Ourselves, From The Threat Of Death
Is it possible for us to escape from technology and its harmful effects before it leads us to our destruction?
Go In Peace Today, Listen In Peace Today
Ironically wishes the listener a peaceful existence while highlighting the dangers of technology.
Panic, Panic
A repeated mantra to evoke a sense of fear and urgency.
Panic, Panic (The Digital)
The source of danger comes from technology, particularly digital technologies.
Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.