Band members include John Pandit (aka Pandit G) (turntables), Deeder Zaman (aka Master D) (vocals) and Aniruddha Das (aka Dr Das) (bass), later joined by Steve Chandra Savale (aka Chandrasonic) (guitar and adf mastermind), Sanjay Tailor (aka Sun-J) (midi, soundeffects), and Bubble-E (dancer).
Master D left the band in 2000, shortly after that the band was joined by new members:
Pritphal Rajput (aka Cyber) (dhol, tabla), Rocky Singh (drums), MC Spex (vocals), MC Lord Kimo and Akhtar Ahmed (aka Aktarv8r) (vocals), the latter recruited from the band's ongoing education project ADFED.
In 2005 with the release of 'Tank' the band was joined by Ghetto Priest. In August 2007 Asian Dub Foundation started playing with two new vocalists, Al Rumjen (previously with King Prawn) and Aktarv8r returned after MC Spex was asked to leave the band. In November and December 2007 Asian Dub Foundation recorded a new album, Punkara, that was released in spring 2008. The current line-up of the band consists of Chandrasonic, Sun-J, Al Rumjen, Cyber, Aktarv8r, Pandit G and bassist Martin Savale (C-Sonic's brother).
They describe their sound as a mix of "...hard ragga-jungle rhythms, indo-dub basslines, searing sitar- inspired guitars and 'traditional' sounds gleaned from their parents' record collections, shot through with fast-chat conscious lyrics."
Most of their lyrics are politically oriented.
Sites: YouTube.
Oil
Asian Dub Foundation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How did we get to this?
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
(We want your oil)
The villages are mined the contracts been signed
We'll tell you one more time
(We want your oil)
Supply no longer guaranteed we demand security
Running out of Texas tea
(We want your oil)
We're the children of the CIA we want somewhere new to play
Better get right out of the way
(We want your oil)
Civilization birth nerve center of the earth
Welcome to our new turf
(We want your oil)
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
(We want your oil)
Smart bomb with more brains than the President
Blipping and bleeping as they target residents
Of market squares and hospital wards King rat is safe in the wings of the hawk
While King rat is safe in the wings of the hawk
Watch me now
Beat seeking missile gonna blast yer mind out
Bomb for peace I'm gonna burn your eyes out
I'm covering my ears don't wanna receive it
I'm trembling in fear say me can't believe it
Inspector defector arms dealer revealer
Document leaker over here Mr.Speaker
I spin refugee like Mohammed Ali
Me say no Iraqi ever called me Paki
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
A secret never to be told always to be sold
Digging up the Black gold
(We want your oil)
Petro junkies must be fed Going Barefoot in the head
S.U.V's and warheads
(We want your oil)
Tearing up formalities there is no neutrality
Welcome to reality
(We want your oil)
Ignore treaties line by line
Little countries fall behind
The lunatics will lead the blind
(We want your oil)
The lunatics will the blind
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
How did we get to this Lord?
How did we get to this?
The lyrics to Asian Dub Foundation's song Oil are a scathing commentary on the devastating effects of greed and power in the quest for oil. The repetition of "How did we get to this Lord?" throughout the song emphasizes the disbelief and horror at how far humanity has fallen in its pursuit of this finite resource. The lyrics highlight the exploitation and destruction of impoverished villages in the quest for oil, as well as the disregard for human lives in the form of bombs and targeting of innocent civilians.
The lyrics also criticize the political leaders and arms dealers who profit from this industry, portraying them as ruthless and self-serving, and the lack of international cooperation in enforcing treaties to prevent such actions. The song concludes with the sobering realization that the pursuit of oil has led to a world where the "lunatics will lead the blind."
Overall, the lyrics of "Oil" serve as a warning against the dangers of our overdependence on oil, and the catastrophic consequences that result from the pursuit of profit at all costs.
Line by Line Meaning
How did we get to this Lord?
Asking how we got to the current situation of fighting for control over oil resources
How did we get to this?
Repeating the previous line
(We want your oil)
Expressing the demanding desire for control of other countries’ oil resources
(We want your oil)
Repeating the previous line
The villages are mined the contracts been signed
Referring to the violent exploitation of oil resources in impoverished communities via signed contracts
We'll tell you one more time
Indicating that their demand for oil control is not negotiable
Supply no longer guaranteed we demand security
Demanding power over oil exploitation to secure the supply of oil
Running out of Texas tea
Reinforcing the need for other countries' oil resources as the traditional oil sources are becoming scarce
We're the children of the CIA we want somewhere new to play
Claiming the role of the CIA in the quest for new oil resources
Better get right out of the way
Threatening anyone who opposes their desire to control other countries' oil resources
Civilization birth nerve center of the earth
Referring to the current centers of civilization that require tremendous amounts of oil to operate
Welcome to our new turf
Declaring that the group has taken over control of other countries’ oil resources
Smart bomb with more brains than the President
Depicting the advanced technology in use in oil conflicts compared to the intelligence of Presidents at the time
Blipping and bleeping as they target residents
Depicting the detachment of sophisticated weaponry and its unconcern for innocent civilians
Of market squares and hospital wards King rat is safe in the wings of the hawk
Describing a corrupt system where the leaders profit while the rest are killed or left injured
While King rat is safe in the wings of the hawk
Repeating the previous line to emphasize the selfishness and corruption of the leaders
Beat seeking missile gonna blast yer mind out
Describing the brutality of war and its effects on society
Bomb for peace I'm gonna burn your eyes out
The irony of bombing for peace is highlighted, with the negative effects it has on people
I'm covering my ears don't wanna receive it
Not wanting to hear about the harsh realities of war and oil conflict
I'm trembling in fear say me can't believe it
Experiencing fear and disbelief at the injustice of oil conflicts as a common citizen
Inspector defector arms dealer revealer
Referring to the corrupt players involved in the oil conflicts
Document leaker over here Mr.Speaker
Revealing the secrecy that surrounds the decisions made around oil conflicts
I spin refugee like Mohammed Ali
Comparing the treatment of refugees to Muhammad Ali's famous boxing style
Me say no Iraqi ever called me Paki
Highlighting the reality of racism, and how it divides people unnecessarily
A secret never to be told always to be sold
Expressing the hidden truth and corrupted state of oil conflicts
Digging up the Black gold
Referencing the extraction of oil, also known as ‘black gold’
Petro junkies must be fed Going Barefoot in the head
The idea that people who are addicted to oil must be appeased, even if it is detrimental to society
S.U.V's and warheads
Highlighting the use of resource-hungry SUVs and weapons of war in oil conflicts
Tearing up formalities there is no neutrality
Disregarding peaceful solutions in oil conflicts, there is no middle ground or neutrality for parties involved
Welcome to reality
Face the true nature of oil conflicts, and the brutal reality of controlling oil resources
Ignore treaties line by line
Disregarding international treaties designed to resolve issues around oil conflicts
Little countries fall behind
The small countries that are left behind in the wake of oil conflicts and its aftermath
The lunatics will lead the blind
Describing the chaos and surrealism of oil conflicts, where irrational leaders lead ignorant citizens
(We want your oil)
Repeating the previous lines to emphasize the message that Asian Dub Foundation’s song wants to deliver
The lunatics will the blind
Repeating the previous line while changing the tense to indirect speech, and the subject to the plural form for emphasis
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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