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
Sudden Impact!
Big Audio Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each grunt and groan took literally some tired old rock star's fantasy
Suburbia is such a drag, bargain nightmares in a bag
Newspapers sell disaster and sin, and when the dust storm comes they say the Devil rides in
Party down, eat your friend, be -movie stories never end
Rock the house, shoot your mum, cheap thrills wrapped up in bubblegum
Get down, burn the cat, the hardcore life is where it's at
Burnt out case from the neighborhood, converge one night deep in the wood
The bat from hell arrived that night to make that picnic outtasite
Satanic rights to a tune they knew well to make the party rock like hell
Hold tight the ride begins, macho men with pimply skin
Party down, eat your friend, be -movie stories never end
Rock the house, shoot your mum, cheap thrills wrapped up in bubblegum
Get down, burn the cat, the hardcore life is where it's at
Love boat, sub attack, beware of sudden impact
Come fly with me, talk to the trees, the dust storm doesn't always please
That's the gamble inside your head, let's play something else instead
Hide and seek for a shock, I can see right through that rock
Bang, you're dead the shit is real, someones scored a bum deal
Party down, eat your friend, be -movie stories never end
Rock the house, shoot your mum, cheap thrills wrapped up in bubblegum
Get down, burn the cat, the hardcore life is where it's at
Love boat, sub attack, beware of sudden impact
Teenage shrinks are all confused at the spread of drug abuse
Meanwhile down at the games arcade the latest candies are displayed
Guess what our kids got really cheap, the stuff that puts the elephants to sleep
Not paradise but blown to hell, they took their sabbath tapes as well
Party down, eat your friend, be -movie stories never end
Rock the house, shoot your mum, cheap thrills wrapped up in bubblegum
Get down, burn the cat, the hardcore life is where it's at
Love boat, sub attack, beware of sudden impact
The lyrics to Big Audio Dynamite’s "Sudden Impact!" depict a society in which people are living mundane lives and seeking thrills wherever they can find them. The song's title itself denotes a sudden and potentially catastrophic event that can occur without warning. Lines like "suburbia is such a drag" and "bargain nightmares in a bag" paint a picture of a society that is in need of excitement and is willing to indulge in dangerous activities just to feel something. The lyrics are a critique of the media that sensationalize events like dust storms, making people believe that the devil is riding in on them.
The second verse talks about a gathering in the woods, where people have come to escape their monotonous lives. However, the event ends up being a chaotic mess, with people indulging in drugs and unleashing their wild side. The last verse talks about the alarming world of drug abuse and addiction among teenagers. The lyrics indicate how these teenagers are turning to dangerous drugs like those given to elephants to escape their mundane lives.
Overall, the lyrics to "Sudden Impact!" are a commentary on how society may indulge in dangerous activities to escape the monotony of life. The lyrics are a warning about the dangers of drug addiction and irresponsible behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Listening to a metal music prank that leads straight to the bank
Listening to a song that is a commercialized version of edgy metal music
Each grunt and groan took literally some tired old rock star's fantasy
The exaggerated noises made in the song are just fulfilling an old rock star's cliché fantasies
Suburbia is such a drag, bargain nightmares in a bag
Living in an unchanging, dull suburban environment where everything is cheap and low quality
Newspapers sell disaster and sin, and when the dust storm comes they say the Devil rides in
The media perpetuates fear and negativity, and people often blame their problems on external forces like the Devil
Party down, eat your friend, be-movie stories never end
Embracing a reckless party lifestyle inspired by violent B-movies
Rock the house, shoot your mum, cheap thrills wrapped up in bubblegum
Creating chaos and destruction for fun, while also indulging in superficial and cheap pleasures
Get down, burn the cat, the hardcore life is where it's at
Adopting a lifestyle of extreme and dangerous behavior is what is considered cool and desirable
Love boat, sub attack, beware of sudden impact
Referencing various violent and dangerous scenarios as exciting and thrilling
Burnt out case from the neighborhood, converge one night deep in the wood
A group of people who have lost their purpose meet in a secluded area
The bat from hell arrived that night to make that picnic outtasite
An evil force descends upon their gathering to make it unforgettable
Satanic rights to a tune they knew well to make the party rock like hell
Performing a satanic ritual to enhance the energy of their party
Hold tight the ride begins, macho men with pimply skin
The wild ride is about to begin, and it's populated with immature and stereotypical men
Come fly with me, talk to the trees, the dust storm doesn't always please
Encouraging listeners to embrace a psychedelic and hallucinatory experience in nature instead of the negativity in society
That's the gamble inside your head, let's play something else instead
Life is a risky game, and it's better to find a different path to take
Hide and seek for a shock, I can see right through that rock
Playing games to provoke and shock is transparent and unimpressive
Bang, you're dead the shit is real, someones scored a bum deal
The consequences of dangerous behavior can be lethal, and someone will ultimately pay the price
Teenage shrinks are all confused at the spread of drug abuse
Mental health professionals are struggling to understand and address the widespread drug use among young people
Meanwhile down at the games arcade the latest candies are displayed
While adults are worrying about drugs, kids are being inundated with marketing for unhealthy and addictive junk food
Guess what our kids got really cheap, the stuff that puts the elephants to sleep
Children have easy access to harmful and powerful drugs that can knock out even the largest animals
Not paradise but blown to hell, they took their sabbath tapes as well
The world is not a perfect utopia, and things can quickly take a turn for the worse. Even beloved music can be lost in chaos
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON LETTS, GREG ROBERTS, MICHAEL GEOFFREY JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Micah Winston
on The Battle Of All Saints Road
honky's should be: honkies
Also, like Eek-a-mouse's song, I think the last line should be "Wa-Do-Dem", not "Wadda dem"