The original lineup was Mick Jones - guitars & vocals, Don Letts - sound effects & vocals, Dan Donovan - keyboards, Greg Roberts - drums & background vocals, Leo Williams - bass.
The group's initial incarnation, founded by Jones and film director Don Letts once played in Basement 5 (maker of The Punk Rock Movie, various Clash music videos, and later the Clash documentary Westway to the World), debuted with the 1985 release This Is Big Audio Dynamite. 1986's No. 10, Upping St. reunited Jones for one album with former Clash-mate Joe Strummer who co-produced the album and co-wrote a number of songs, but that reacquaintance soon ended. BAD supported U2 on their 1987 world tour, then followed with 1988's Tighten Up Vol. '88 and 1989 Megatop Phoenix. BAD supported U2 on the leg of their 1992 Zoo TV Tour that included Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The band changed their name to Big Audio Dynamite II for the 1990 album "The Globe", when
Don Letts, Greg Roberts and Leo Williams left to form the band Screaming Target (and later Dreadzone) and changed the name once more to Big Audio for 1994's "Higher Power". The band returned to the Big Audio Dynamite name in 1995 for the albums "F-Punk" (1995) and "Entering a New Ride" (1997) before ultimately disbanding in 1997. The band reunited in 2011.
Jones' latest projects include work with The Libertines and his own outlet with Tony James of Sigue Sigue Sputnik fame - CARBON SILICON
Contact
Big Audio Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Around up in the air
Bouncing off the walls
Getting under my hair
On the carpet in the weave
Up in trees on the leaves
Feelings flying everywhere
For what I want to say
I got to get it out
There ain't no other way
To make contact
There ain't no getting away
From how I feel today
Feelings flying around
Around up in the air
Out in the hall
And sitting in my chair
I've seen them on the train
Coming down with the rain
Feelings flying everywhere
I'm on the right track
For what I want to say
I got to get it out
There ain't no other way
To make contact
There ain't no getting away
From how I feel today
Feelings flying around
Around up in the air
Some are really small
They come from over there
Hard to ignore
I see them all the more
Feelings flying everywhere
I'm on the right track
For what I want to say
I got to get it out
There ain't no other way
To make contact
There ain't no getting away
From how I feel today
I'm on the right track
For what I want to say
I got to get it out
There ain't no other way
To make contact
There ain't no getting away
From how I feel today
I'm on the right track
For what I want to say
I got to get it out
There ain't no other way
To make contact
There ain't no getting away
From how I feel today
The song "Contact" by Big Audio Dynamite is an exploration of the overwhelming nature of emotions. The lyrics describe feelings as being everywhere, bouncing off walls, and getting under hair. They are on the carpet in the weave and up in the trees on the leaves. The singer describes how he is on the right track for what he wants to say, but he needs to get his emotions out in order to make contact with whoever he wants to speak to.
The chorus repeats the idea that there is no getting away from how he feels. The feelings are flying around and out in the hall, sitting in his chair, and on the train coming down with the rain. Some of the emotions are really small, but they are hard to ignore and he sees them all the more. For the singer, there is only one way to make contact and that's by expressing his feelings.
Overall, the song is a plea for emotional honesty and communication. The singer feels overwhelmed with the emotions he is experiencing and he needs to get them out in order to connect with someone. The song suggests that there is a physical presence to these emotions, and they can be seen and felt all around us.
Line by Line Meaning
Feelings fly around
Emotions are constantly present and surrounding me
Around up in the air
These emotions are hovering above and surrounding me
Bouncing off the walls
My emotions are energetic and causing me to feel restless
Getting under my hair
These emotions are causing irritation and discomfort
On the carpet in the weave
My emotions are ingrained in me like the fibers woven into a carpet
Up in trees on the leaves
My emotions are like leaves on a tree, present but constantly moving and changing
Feelings flying everywhere
My emotions are constantly present and constantly changing
I'm on the right track
I am confident in what I want to say
For what I want to say
I have a specific message or feeling I want to express
I got to get it out
It is crucial for me to express this message or feeling
There ain't no other way
There is no alternative to communicating my message
To make contact
To successfully communicate my message or feeling
There ain't no getting away
I cannot avoid the need to express my message or feeling
From how I feel today
I am greatly affected by my emotions and how I am feeling today
Out in the hall
Even outside of my own space, my emotions are still present
And sitting in my chair
Even when sitting, my emotions are still present and have an impact on me
I've seen them on the train
My emotions are not bound to one location and can be experienced even on the train
Coming down with the rain
My emotions are like the rain- present at times and not at others
Some are really small
Some of my emotions may be subtle and harder to detect
They come from over there
My emotions may come from unexpected sources or be influenced by others
Hard to ignore
My emotions may demand my attention and be difficult to ignore or dismiss
I see them all the more
My heightened awareness of my emotions may cause them to be more noticeable and impactful.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL GEOFFREY JONES, DANIEL DONOVAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jayson Byse
That sample halfway through (The Who) then goes acid house.......class.
bigmac2499
Pure class!
NathanWind
Every time I think I've found the best BAD song, I come across a new one. Love the Afro look Mick is sporting here.
Rik Palmer
What a band...class
Magnanao Family
Another awesome song from BAD. So fun to mix to.
Dark Mice
Most underrated band of the 2000s....
The Reality Filter
and the 80's and the 90's
Sir Jelly Beans 1st
Saw them when they were touring the first Album with the Original Line up. One spectacular Gig. The Ticket Stubb ( still have it) was numbered 101 the exact same number as my Clash Ticket Stubb ( still have also) and as everyone knows the 101rs were Strummers old Band and the Number that the Ghetto Blaster is stopped on the Boxset!
Clash connection through the Ether
1Life0Gods
Just heard this on the radio and got my bobbing my head while driving, can't believe this come out in 89. Wish I grew up in the late 80s.
Daniel Moran
You didnt miss much. The drugs were a lot better.