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
James Brown
Big Audio Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You just don't understand unless you been through it"
Hey yeah!
Hey yeah!
Awh!
I got soul, dress got holes
Got a brand new van, gun and Cherokee
Driving fast like flashes past, the cops are chasing me
Hot-pants, she looked fine, she said that she was mine
She was cute, torched my suit and that's the bottom line
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
On my trail, car chase boogaloo
FBI, CIA, and the Russians too
Kicking down the door, couldn't take no more
When I'm about there is no doubt that papas' word is law
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
"Life can be bright in America
If you can fight in America
Life is all right in America
If you're all-white in America"
High speed chase on my case
Radio ahead
A.P.B. after me
They said, I shot the bed
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
Shooting up her mink ("Get the hell out of the car!"), gunshots in the air
Jump back my car ("Get out of the car!"), goodfoot out of there
Roadblock ahead, try to flag me down ("Drop to your knees!")
Soul power and miles per hour ("Drop to the ground"), feet don't touch the ground
'Cause I got soul, dress got holes
Intent to kill, but she loves me still
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
Hey yeah!
'Cause it's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
Keep goin'
I got soul, I'm Superbad
Living in America sure does drive you mad
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell (hey yeah!)
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
Bullets hit the wheel, riccochet could sweat
Talking loud, black 'n' proud, said, papa don't mess
Can you walk the line, rookie read my rights
Million hits did the splits, this is dynamite!
Funky time behind, road block up ahead
Driving fast flashes past, Superbad, I said
Papa's on the run with a cherokee and gun
People need a hit when you're chasing number one
It's a man's man's world in America
Jump back in my cell (hey yeah!)
Please please please in America
Slipping into hell
"I got you"
"I'm sorry"
The song "James Brown" by Big Audio Dynamite is about a man who is on the run from the law. The lyrics are a narrative describing his situation and the pressure he feels from trying to escape. The chorus suggests that the American justice system is biased towards men, but it's also a commentary on the "American Dream."
The singer is being chased by different law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, CIA, and Russians. He's driving fast in his brand new van with his gun and Cherokee. He's also in a relationship with a woman who torched his suit but is still by his side. The song's message is that the law is not always fair and that America's obsession with material success can lead people to make life-altering decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I can't say exactly what did happen
I cannot provide specific details about what occurred
You just don't understand unless you been through it
Without experiencing it, it can't be fully understood
I got soul, dress got holes
I possess soul despite my worn-out clothing
Got a brand new van, gun and Cherokee
I own a recently-purchased van, a firearm, and a jeep model called a Cherokee
Driving fast like flashes past, the cops are chasing me
I'm quickly evading law enforcement, similar to how lightning-quick bolts of light disappear
Hot-pants, she looked fine, she said that she was mine
A woman who looked great with hot-pants said she was mine
She was cute, torched my suit and that's the bottom line
She was adorable and burned my clothes, which ends the story
It's a man's man's world in America
America is a male-dominated country
Jump back in my cell
I am returning to my jail cell
Please please please in America
I'm begging for mercy in America
Slipping into hell
Falling into an undesirable state
On my trail, car chase boogaloo
Someone is pursuing me, resulting in a car chase filled with boogaloo music
FBI, CIA, and the Russians too
The FBI and the CIA, as well as the Russians, are pursuing me
Kicking down the door, couldn't take no more
Individuals broke down the door and reached their limit
When I'm about there is no doubt that papas' word is law
While I'm there, without a doubt, my dad's word is final
Life can be bright in America
Life in America can be hopeful
If you can fight in America
Only if you're willing to fight in America
Life is all right in America
Life is satisfactory in America
If you're all-white in America
Only if you're Caucasian, then life is good in America
High speed chase on my case
I'm apprehended and engaged in a high-speed pursuit
A.P.B. after me
All cars in the area were notified of my location
They said, I shot the bed
They accused me of not telling the truth
Shooting up her mink ('Get the hell out of the car!'), gunshots in the air
The woman gets out of the car, and shots are fired into the air and her mink coat
Jump back my car ('Get out of the car!'), goodfoot out of there
I quickly re-entered my car and sped away
Roadblock ahead, try to flag me down ('Drop to your knees!')
There's a roadblock, and they demand that I stop and get down on the ground
Soul power and miles per hour ('Drop to the ground'), feet don't touch the ground
I hit the ground with soul and speed, and my feet barely touch it
'Cause I got soul, dress got holes
I'm confident because of my soul, despite my worn-out wardrobe
Intent to kill, but she loves me still
Despite me trying to hurt her, she remains in love with me
Living in America sure does drive you mad
Living in America can make you go insane
Bullets hit the wheel, riccochet could sweat
Bullets deflect off the wheel, making it challenging to maintain control and causing one to sweat
Talking loud, black 'n' proud, said, papa don't mess
Speaking boisterously while being Black and proud, while telling my father not to mess around
Can you walk the line, rookie read my rights
The officer asks if I can follow their commands, and they read me my rights since I'm a newcomer
Million hits did the splits, this is dynamite!
We received a million views during my split, and it was fantastic!
Funky time behind, road block up ahead
Funky times occurred earlier, and I've encountered a roadblock ahead
Papa's on the run with a cherokee and gun
My father has escaped and is on the run with a Cherokee and a gun
People need a hit when you're chasing number one
When you're leading the pack, people need to follow you
'I got you'
I understand
'I'm sorry'
I apologize
Contributed by Christopher W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
AndyMatts44
For anyone not familiar with this song and video, this came out in 1989. In 1988 James Brown pretty much hit the low point of his life after being arrested and having to serve time after leading the police on a PCP-fueled high speed chase in two states..... which is the backdrop for car chase going on in the video.
Esau Calderón Elizalde
James Brown was very upset with this video
SiliconOnSapphire
God Bless Big Audio Dynamite And the Mighty Clash for inspiration.
George M
I didnt realize the significance of what they were doing until down the line.....all i knew was that it was fresh and good.
Alfred Light
My first cd listed as DDD. Also my favorite BAD album. It seems like history doesn’t agree with me but this album was my jam in 1989!
John stitt
My fav too. I owned all their albums.
cee gee
That programmed snyth melody goes hard!
Geeb
i bought megatop pheonix at release and i love it every bit as much today if not more
Indie Ground
My favorite BAD album and one of my favorite album
Chuck T
I'm pretty sure I have the CD I bought back when this came out. Killer album