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.
Speed of Light
Asian Dub Foundation Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a spring in my step but a heavy heart
Appointments and deadlines sprout up like weeds
Can't tell what I want from what I need
Find a place in my head that's less wrong than right
No more living, living at the speed of light
It's been 10,000 years since we first walked upright
Built a home, built a lamp that will tell day from night
Take from this world that was made
Before it's chewed up and spat up on the way
In a world that's forever inventing the wheel
Look for guilty and changing that's gotta stay real
Find a place in my head that's less wrong than right
No more living, no more living at the speed of light
And if you follow the whims of the man at the top
End up stealing and dealing and losing their blood
Chasing and chasing a dream you once had it's mad
See the circles you ran
Gonna run to the city of permanent joy
All deadlines fall victim and time is destroyed
By the place in my head that's less wrong than right
No more living, no more living at the speed of light
You sell the freedom at gunpoint I ain't gonna buy
You shout in my ear i just stare at the sky
From the place in my head that's less wrong than right
I ain't living, I ain't living at the speed of light
In the song "Speed of Light" by Asian Dub Foundation, the lyrics depict the fast-paced, hectic nature of modern life, which leaves people with little time to reflect on what truly matters. The song suggests that we should break away from the constant grind and find a place in our heads that is less wrong than right. The devil on the singer's shoulder represents the temptation to succumb to the fast-paced lifestyle, while the heavy heart signifies the toll that it takes on one's emotional well-being. The appointments and deadlines that sprout up like weeds reflect the never-ending demands of modern life, which leave us feeling overwhelmed and confused.
The lyrics also touch on the theme of sustainability and taking care of the environment. The song suggests that we should take from the world that was made before it's chewed up and spat up on the way. The wheels of progress are incessantly turning, but we need to find a way to keep things real and make a positive difference in the world. The song warns against the dangers of blindly following those in power, who may end up leading us down a path of destruction.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a devil on my shoulder making me dance
I have an inner voice that encourages me to do things that may be considered bad, but I can't resist the temptation.
There's a spring in my step but a heavy heart
I am enthusiastic about life, but at the same time, I feel sad and burdened by the responsibilities that come with it.
Appointments and deadlines sprout up like weeds
My schedule is constantly filled with tasks and responsibilities that seem to appear out of nowhere and multiply quickly.
Can't tell what I want from what I need
I am struggling to differentiate between what I truly desire and what I need to do to survive and be responsible.
Find a place in my head that's less wrong than right
I am searching for a space in my mind where my thoughts and actions align with my true values and beliefs.
No more living, living at the speed of light
I am tired of living my life at a fast pace and want to slow down to enjoy the present moment.
It's been 10,000 years since we first walked upright
Humanity has been on this earth for thousands of years and has made significant progress in various fields.
Built a home, built a lamp that will tell day from night
We have created homes to live in and devices to help us differentiate between day and night.
Take from this world that was made
We have the ability to benefit from the resources that exist on earth.
Before it's chewed up and spat up on the way
We need to take advantage of the resources in the earth before they are exhausted and degraded through our use.
In a world that's forever inventing the wheel
We live in a society that is always progressing and innovating.
Look for guilty and changing that's gotta stay real
We need to seek out and promote change that is grounded in reality and ethical principles to avoid guilt and corruption.
And if you follow the whims of the man at the top
If you blindly obey the leader without questioning their motives or actions.
End up stealing and dealing and losing their blood
You may end up engaging in unethical behavior that harms others or even yourself.
Chasing and chasing a dream you once had it's mad
Pursuing a dream without questioning whether it still aligns with your true values and beliefs is irrational.
See the circles you ran
You will begin to notice that you have been stuck in an endless cycle of unfulfilling pursuits.
Gonna run to the city of permanent joy
I will make an effort to find a place or state of mind where I can be content and happy forever.
All deadlines fall victim and time is destroyed
When I am in this state of contentment, deadlines and time constraints lose their power and hold over me.
You sell the freedom at gunpoint I ain't gonna buy
I refuse to let anyone coerce me into giving up my freedom by using violence or the threat of violence.
You shout in my ear i just stare at the sky
I won't let anyone's words or actions distract me or influence me against my better judgment.
I ain't living, I ain't living at the speed of light
I refuse to live my life in a hurried and stressful manner and prefer to take my time to enjoy every moment.
Contributed by Hannah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Andrés 🌵
Something i love from this band is that they make real music
Mark Ottewell
Really great song, but do miss deeder. Was fortunate to see the original line up on the community music tour, utterly brilliant!
Jojoselavi
I really love the style of this song!!
Gingko Biloba
straight to the soul!! fucking masterpiece
carthaginian
God ,I love this song!
Orhans Muddi
Rigth! One of the best songs ever!!! Adore it so much
Swiggle Mc Jiggle
Every musician has some kind of influence. We grow up listening to music and decide what we like as we grow older and those of us who chose to make music have artists who have insipred and influenced them.
anaatope
i love this song!! :D thank u!! ADF a topeee!!!
Petr Kurfürst
"Place in my head that's less wrong than right..." Sometimes you just have to make choices that aren't easy.
Charlie Richardson
It's an asian/african/punk fusion! seen em twice...awesome!