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
The Bottom Line
Big Audio Dynamite Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a new dance that's going around
When the hits start flying you gotta get down
All the young people dance round the square
That old time groove is really nowhere
When you reach the bottom line
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for
A dance to the tune off economic decline
Is when you do the bottom line
Nagging questions always remain
Why did it happen and who was to blame?
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for
They've been doing it down at the zoo
And I can show ya here's what to do
All of the States and over UK
Even the Soviets are swinging away
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for
The road ahead's clear as a motorway
Give us this day our daily bread and send us on our way
Perchance to dream or take a holiday
Romeo oh Romeo
You gotta have your say
So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything you want is yours
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't know what you're waiting for
So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything you want is yours
Part two, part two
I'm gonna take you to part two part two
The first stanza of the song describes the excitement of the new dance fad that's going around. People are dancing around the square and having a great time, but at the same time, the old groove is nowhere. This might be an allusion to the state of the music industry at the time when the song was released in 1985. Big Audio Dynamite was trying to create a new sound that was different from the norm, and the song encourages people to keep moving forward even when things seem to be going downhill. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of picking yourself up and climbing when you reach the bottom. It's all about not giving up and pushing through while striving for success.
The second stanza talks about how the new dance craze is happening at the zoo, and the Soviets are even getting in on it. This might be a nod to the global popularity of music and dance regardless of language or culture. The third stanza mentions the road ahead being clear as a motorway, and how we all need our daily bread to survive. Romeo is also mentioned, perhaps as a metaphor for individuality and speaking up for oneself. The overall message of the song is to keep moving forward and not let the struggles of life hold you back.
Line by Line Meaning
The horses are on the track
The race has begun
There's a new dance that's going around
A new trend is surfacing
When the hits start flying you gotta get down
When trouble starts, you must react quickly
All the young people dance round the square
Young people enjoy following the latest craze
That old time groove is really nowhere
The past ways no longer have the appeal they once did
When you reach the bottom line
When you hit rock bottom
The only thing to do is climb
The only way is up
Pick yourself up off the floor
Don't give up
Don't know what you're waiting for
Take action
A dance to the tune off economic decline
A strategy for survival during tough times
Is when you do the bottom line
It's time to face reality
Nagging questions always remain
The unknown causes and blame still linger
Why did it happen and who was to blame?
The search for answers continues
They've been doing it down at the zoo
Even the animals have picked up on this trend
And I can show ya here's what to do
I can lead the way
All of the States and over UK
Everyone across the globe
Even the Soviets are swinging away
Even those in Communist Russia have embraced this trend
The road ahead's clear as a motorway
The path forward is straightforward
Give us this day our daily bread and send us on our way
We ask for the basic necessities of life and for guidance on our journey
Perchance to dream or take a holiday
Maybe we can take a break or indulge in some luxurious fantasies
Romeo oh Romeo
An allusion to the famous romantic play by Shakespeare
You gotta have your say
Everyone deserves to speak their mind
Anything you want is yours
You can achieve your goals
Part two, part two
The story will continue
I'm gonna take you to part two part two
There's much more to come
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: PETER ROBERT JONES, KURT HANS LINOTNER, CHARLES VERNON MARSHALL, CHRISTOPHER ROY MARSHALL, DAVID JOHN MOLL, GLEN ROBERT SHELDON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sebigrippen
"The Bottom Line"
The horses are on the track
Theres a new dance that`s going around
When the hits start flying you gotta get down
All the young people dance round the square
That old time groove is really nowhere
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up of the floor
Don`t know what you`re waiting for
A dance to the tune of economic decline
Is when you do the bottom line
Nagging questions always remain
Why did it happen and who was to blame?
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up of the floor
Don`t know what you`re waiting for
They`ve been doing it down at the zoo
And I can show ya heres what to do
All of the States and over UK
Even the Soviets are swinging away
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up of the floor
Don`t know what you`re waiting for
The road aheads` clear as a motorway
Give us this day our daily bread and send us on our way
Perchance to dream or take a holiday
Romeo oh Romeo
You gotta have your say
So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything you want is yours
When you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up of the floor
Don`t know what you`re waiting for
So when you reach the bottom line
The only thing to do is climb
Pick yourself up off the floor
Anything you want is yours
Part two - Part two
I`m gonna take you to part two part two
@NETOMAN47
The Bottom Line
Big Audio Dynamite
Los caballos están en la pista
The horses are on the track
Hay un nuevo baile que está dando vueltas
There's a new dance that's going around
Cuando los golpes comiencen a volar tienes que bajar
When the hits start flying you gotta get down
Todos los jóvenes bailan por la plaza
All the young people dance round the square
Ese ritmo de los viejos tiempos realmente no está en ninguna parte
That old time groove is really nowhere
Cuando llegas al fondo
When you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
No se lo que estas esperando
Don't know what you're waiting for
Un baile al ritmo del declive económico
A dance to the tune off economic decline
Es cuando haces la línea de fondo
Is when you do the bottom line
Las preguntas persistentes siempre quedan
Nagging questions always remain
¿Por qué sucedió y quién tuvo la culpa?
Why did it happen and who was to blame?
Cuando llegas al fondo
When you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
No se lo que estas esperando
Don't know what you're waiting for
Lo han estado haciendo en el zoológico
They've been doing it down at the zoo
Y puedo mostrarte esto es lo que debes hacer
And I can show ya here's what to do
Todos los estados y más del Reino Unido
All of the States and over UK
Incluso los soviéticos se están alejando
Even the Soviets are swinging away
Cuando llegas al fondo
When you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
No se lo que estas esperando
Don't know what you're waiting for
El camino por delante está despejado como una autopista
The road ahead's clear as a motorway
Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día y envíanos en camino
Give us this day our daily bread and send us on our way
Tal vez para soñar o tomarse unas vacaciones
Perchance to dream or take a holiday
Romeo oh Romeo
Romeo oh Romeo
Tienes que dar tu opinión
You gotta have your say
Así que cuando llegues al fondo
So when you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
Todo lo que quieras es tuyo
Anything you want is yours
Cuando llegas al fondo
When you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
No se lo que estas esperando
Don't know what you're waiting for
Así que cuando llegues al fondo
So when you reach the bottom line
Lo único que puedes hacer es escalar
The only thing to do is climb
Levántate del suelo
Pick yourself up off the floor
Todo lo que quieras es tuyo
Anything you want is yours
Parte dos, parte dos
Part two, part two
Te llevaré a la segunda parte
I'm gonna take you to part two part two
Fuente: LyricFind
Compositores: Peter Robert Jones / Kurt Hans Linotner / Charles Vernon Marshall / Christopher Roy Marshall / David John Moll / Glen Robert Sheldon
Letra de The Bottom Line © O/B/O Apra Amcos
@leokimvideo
I have always felt this band is very under-rated. They don't do any dud songs and always did MTV friendly video clips.
Seeing the boomboxes on the shoulders of people, ahh the memories
@badbadmanly903
leokimvideo several songs are about movies or current events in the late 80s. E=mc2 is about the movie Performance starring Mick Jagger.
@Blondiee10
Just saw 'Rush' on Mtv classic...we should revolt until they make Mtv classic back into real Mtv (with VJs, 120 Minutes, Headbanger's Ball, etc) except with nothing past 2010 - the year music died
@leonward1081
Eyyyy hello leokimvideo. Didn’t know you would be here, redback spider person.
@williamboutilette8947
Oh HELL YEA WAAY !!!
JUST Making haven't heard this in 20yrs
@markmcgrath8051
Simply
@cooldudicus7668
This is one of the best songs to crank up when you are feeling sad, blue, or overwhelmed. Just turn it up, relax, and enjoy this song. It is that simple.
It has helped me and I am sure many other people get through tough times.
@1959TheBear
Witnessed a Judge sentence double murder, 2 life without parole. Defense will fight it and it will go on from 3 year to maybe 2 more. The children of the murdered parent NEED CLOSURE. I drank myself into oblivion and then took 3 valium. I am still trembling those poor children. The judge gave the murder a 5 minute talk about good things he can still do with his life in prison. UMMMM the defense Lawyer JOB. Victims should NOT have to hear that from the Judge who was to deliver justice. BUT it continues. you bet I want to get called for jury duty. I will be escorted out the building yet again. I repeat you this they would not know justice if it FUK em all night. best wish 2023.
@bruzalejandro2575
Muy cierto ,siempre he sentido eso
@peggie7126
THanks. 1111 I had a massive stroke in 2020. So I have some challenging days! Thanks, friend.