The group has, in a short space of time, created a strong fan base. Their debut album
Moving has enjoyed mass airplay on National radio stations and television across South Africa.
Tiago Paulo and Paulo Chibanga regularly play for Tumi and the Volume. 340ml is part of the exciting, new alternative music movement growing in popularity amongst the youth of South Africa and share similar musical visions to African Funk and Soul vocalist MXO, as well as eclectic rap and poetry outfit Tumi and the Volume.
Their music has been described by leading South African journalists as an elaborate musical cocktail. Their inclusion in the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2005 line-up is well deserved and undoubtedly eagerly anticipated by their growing number of fans, who flocked to see them open for American conscious Hip Hop Group, the Black Eyed Peas, in late 2004.
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The Other Side
340ml Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Structures with a story to tell
From the other side
On a race I can see trapedations tripping over hurdles of time.
Thousand lifetimes in your skylines witnessing the struggles outside.
Monumental corporations of a movement 'til the summer day time.
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
Six blocks over, eyes over my shoulder, pavement puzzle pieces fit just right.
On the other side
On the other side
On the other side
on the other side
Now I count my steps and hold my breath 'til the next ride.
And coming round the corner walk towards her she's beautiful.
Got my ticket ready, rock and steady on the way home.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio. X 5
The song "The Other Side" by 340ml is an abstract representation of a city, specifically the skyscrapers and structures that make up the city. The lyrics personify the buildings, giving them stories to tell and struggles to witness, as if they are living beings. The reference to the "other side" refers to a parallel world that exists within the city, a world that is difficult to access and navigate. The singer seems to be on a journey through this world, counting his steps and holding his breath until he can hitch a ride on the "back of the giant cat" to the studio.
The chorus of the song repeats "Feel my soul's coming down with fever, burning holes in wooden floor, still I've got no place to go." This repetition creates a haunting and desperate mood, emphasizing the difficulty of navigating and finding one's place in the city.
Overall, the lyrics of "The Other Side" create a vivid and surreal image of a city and the struggles of its inhabitants to navigate and find a sense of belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Skyscaper phantom city
This city is full of tall buildings and stories that are never told.
Structures with a story to tell
These buildings have been witness to many struggles over the years.
From the other side
But these struggles are only seen from a certain angle, from the other side.
On a race I can see trapedations tripping over hurdles of time.
I can see people struggling and racing against time to overcome obstacles and succeed.
Thousand lifetimes in your skylines witnessing the struggles outside.
These buildings have been here for so long that they have witnessed the struggles of many generations of people outside.
Monumental corporations of a movement 'til the summer day time.
These buildings are the symbols of a movement that has lasted for a long time, until today.
Feel my soul's coming down with fever,
burning holes in wooden floor,
still I've got no place to go,
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio.
I am feeling restless and stuck, but I find a way out by hitching a ride on the back of a giant cat.
Six blocks over, eyes over my shoulder,
pavement puzzle pieces fit just right.
On the other side
On the other side
On the other side
on the other side
Now I count my steps and hold my breath 'til the next ride.
As I walk six blocks over, I feel the pieces of the pavement fit together just right. I am on the other side and I hold my breath until I find my next way out.
And coming round the corner walk towards her she's beautiful.
As I turn the corner, I see a beautiful woman walking towards me.
Got my ticket ready, rock and steady on the way home.
I am ready to go back home, feeling confident and steady with my ticket in hand.
I hitch your ride on the back of the giant cat on its way to the studio. X 5
I repeat the line about hitching the ride on the giant cat five more times, emphasizing the importance of finding a way out.
Contributed by Caleb A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.