Often thought of as a cross between Black Sabbath (due to their plodding, molten-heavy riffs) and Rush (due to their singer's high-pitched, Geddy Lee-esque wail), the somewhat obscure British metal outfit Budgie has influenced countless outfits, despite enduring countless lineup shifts throughout their history. The group originally formed in 1967 in Cardiff, Wales, comprised of members Burke Shelley (vocals, bass), Tony Bourge (guitar), and Raymond Phillips (drums), and by the early '70s, they'd inked a deal with MCA Records. This early lineup remains Budgie's most definitive, due to the fact that it spawned three of the group's finest albums — 1971's self-titled debut, 1972's Squawk, and 1973's Never Turn Your Back on a Friend — while the group's quirky song titles became somewhat of a trademark for the trio (such ditties as Nude Disintegrating Parachutist Woman, Hot as a Docker's Armpit, In the Grip of a Tyrefitter's Hand, and You're the Biggest Thing Since Powdered Milk). For fans of early Sabbath, the aforementioned three discs are a must-have.
Despite building a sizeable following in their homeland (while never breaking out of cult status stateside), Phillips left the group prior to their fourth album, 1974's In for the Kill!, replaced by newcomer Pete Boot, which would in turn set off a flurry of steady lineup changes over the years for the group (the only constant Budgie member from the beginning was Shelley). Further releases were issued throughout the '70s, including 1975's Bandolier, 1976's If I Were Brittania I'd Wave the Rules, and 1978's Impeckable, but each appeared to be less inspired than its predecessor. With the emergence of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement (Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, etc.), interest in Budgie appeared to be rekindled once more in England, as Budgie headlined the Reading Festival in 1980 and 1982, in addition to issuing such albums as 1980's If Swallowed Do Not Induce Vomit and Power Supply, 1981's Nightflight, and 1982's Deliver Us from Evil.
Shelley and company would remain together for a few more years before splitting up quietly by the mid-'80s (ex-members Bourge and Phillips would unite in a new group called Tredegar, issuing a lone self-titled release in 1985). But almost as soon as they disbanded, several high-profile groups began covering Budgie classics, including Metallica ("Crash Course in Brain Surgery" and "Breadfan"), Iron Maiden ("I Can't See My Feelings"), and Soundgarden ("Homicidal Suicidal"), while back in their early club days Van Halen was known to cover the title track from In for the Kill! Budgie reunited for sporadic live gigs throughout the '90s (while past members formed the similarly styled outfits Six Ton Budgie and Boot66), resulting in several archival collections being issued: the best-of compilations An Ecstasy of Fumbling: The Definitive Anthology (a double-disc set) and Best of Budgie (a single disc), as well as the live sets Heavier Than Air: Live on the BBC and We Came We Saw (the latter of which featured selections from both of their Reading Festival appearances in the early '80s). ~ Greg Prato
Band biography on Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgie_(band)
There are other artists withe same name:
2) Peter Edward Clarke, (born 21 August 1957, in St Helens, Lancashire), better known as Budgie, is an English drummer. He began his career with the Spitfire Boys and Big in Japan before playing with The Slits on the album Cut. In September 1979, Budgie joined Siouxsie and the Banshees and became a permanent member of the band until they split up in 1996.
3) Budgie - a Glasweigen Punk, Acoustic punk rock.
4) Budgie is a London, Los Angeles based hip-hop producer influenced strongly by Gospel, Soul and Funk music collaborating with artist such as The Alchemist, Action Bronson and others. With notable releases..
[ album artist=Budgie ]Holy Ghost Zone, [ album artist=Budgie ]Holy Ghost Zone II, [ album artist=Budgie ]The Good Book - Sweet Sweet Spirit [ album artist=Budgie ]The Good Book II - Chuuch Preach Tabernacle, [ album artist=Budgie ]The Ballad Of A Dopehead, [ album artist=Budgie ]Panty Soakers 0,[ album artist=Budgie ]Panty Soakers 6, [ album artist=Budgie ]Panty Soakers 5,[ album artist=Budgie ]Panty Soakers 3, [ album artist=Budgie ]Panty Soakers 2, [ album artist=Budgie ]Late Summer Soakers DX
Don't Dilute the Water
Budgie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And a hard fast time with the kicks
He ain't big when the chips are down
I bet you got a guitar lick
He turns back and rolls over
Curls up in a ball
Someday I guess we gotta find out
We're all alone
We are more than the answers
And we are here never few
Those silly things when people tell me what to do
We're alone in a dark sheet of blue
Sweet loving, sweet loving I run for cover
Stop giving your pain to me, sweet talking and liberty
You are all I could need,
Grown a thousand from my sea yeah
We must do what we must do and then in time
I will talk and I'll take my line
Sweet loving, sweet loving and run for cover
Stop giving your pain to me, sweet talking and liberty, yeah
My daddy is a bigger man
He's the lone wolf run with the pack
Ran out after living his part
And he told me to never look back
Don't dilute the water man
Look ready to beg
Someday I guess we gotta find out
We're all alone
So we'd better stand tall alright
My daddy said to me just give it a try boy
Said you ain't got a monkey on your back
I said oh I don't know why
Don't dilute the water man, don't dilute the water man
Don't dilute the water man, don't dilute the water man
Don't do it to me
The lyrics to Budgie’s “Don’t Dilute the Water” are a reflection of the struggles of individualism, self-discovery, and self-perseverance in a society that is often forceful in its conformity. The song begins with a description of a macho man with impressive physicality and strength, but when faced with life’s difficult chips, he becomes weak and vulnerable. This description is symbolic of society's expectation of masculinity, strength, and power, and how these expectations can be incredibly harmful to those who can’t live up to them. The lyrics then delve into the idea that people are more than what they seem and can transcend societal expectations. The singer dismisses the opinions of those who impose their ideas and beliefs in a kind of “dark sheet of blue” and embrace their self-discovery and individuality.
The singer describes his father as the “lone wolf run with the pack” who had a significant influence on him growing up but advised him to “never look back.” This line can be interpreted in various ways, possibly indicating that the father might have been living a life that he regretted, or he might have been a person who didn’t want to conform to societal expectations. The central theme of the song is revealed in the chorus, where the singer implores people to be true to themselves and not water down who they are to appease society. The singer’s father asks him to give it a try and not dilute the water, signifying the importance of perseverance and individualism.
Overall, the lyrics to “Don’t Dilute the Water” are a reflection of society's demands to conform and the importance of self-discovery, individualism, and the power of perseverance.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh, big man with a grip of steel
Describing a man with a firm grasp and dominance.
And a hard fast time with the kicks
He is tough and forceful in his actions.
He ain't big when the chips are down
When things get tough, he is not as impressive.
I bet you got a guitar lick
A sarcastic comment about his supposed ability to play guitar.
He turns back and rolls over
When things get too difficult, he gives up and retreats.
Curls up in a ball
Giving up completely.
Someday I guess we gotta find out
We will eventually need to face reality.
We're all alone
We must face challenges on our own.
So we'd better stand tall o.k.
We must be strong and confident.
We are more than the answers
We are complex beings that cannot be defined by simple solutions.
And we are here never few
There are many of us with unique qualities.
Those silly things when people tell me what to do
Ignoring the opinions and advice of others.
We're alone in a dark sheet of blue
We feel isolated and lost in a vast world.
Sweet loving, sweet loving I run for cover
Escaping from emotional pain and seeking comfort.
Stop giving your pain to me, sweet talking and liberty
Refusing to take on someone else's emotional burden.
You are all I could need,
Expressing dependency on someone for emotional support.
Grown a thousand from my sea yeah
Feeling a sense of growth and empowerment from within.
We must do what we must do and then in time
Making difficult decisions and waiting for the consequences to unfold.
I will talk and I'll take my line
Standing up for oneself and expressing their opinions.
My daddy is a bigger man
Describing a father figure who is strong and powerful.
He's the lone wolf run with the pack
Being independent but also a part of a group.
Ran out after living his part
Leaving once he has fulfilled his role.
And he told me to never look back
Advice to keep moving forward and not dwell on the past.
Don't dilute the water man
A warning not to mess things up.
Look ready to beg
Appearing weak and desperate.
My daddy said to me just give it a try boy
Encouragement to try something new.
Said you ain't got a monkey on your back
Assuring that there is no burden holding him back.
Don't dilute the water man, don't dilute the water man
Reinforcing the warning not to mess things up.
Don't do it to me
Asking not to be affected by someone else's actions.
Contributed by Mila O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark Ferrett
Revisited this album today,after hearing of Burke passing away.......god it is brilliant....heaven will be rocking .
Tyrone Jeff O'Reilly Ramirez
My favorite album of theirs. I love all Budgie albums though.
ATOMIC VINYL REVIEWS
Such a good grove, and that evil sounding riff is awesome ! Love Budgie !
lta6494
I know for a fact that riff is evil, because I stole it!!
Bw bwa bwa bwahaha bwahahahhahahahaa!!
I could listen to that riff progression for hours.
I really did steal it 😂
Adam Red
Ethereal and heavy in one song - the real deal. What a fuckin jam this is
Alexandre
Budgie é um êxtase para os ouvidos e pra alma!
ying luan
Rockin in the Free World............Budgie always satisfies the romantic Metallist! Burke Shelley and company were the YES of heavy rock with their countless hooks, melodies and crescendos. Frekin Awesome!!
The '62 Mathew St. 1-Man Band (Total Retro Rock)
My baby brother turned me on to this classic about 1978 or 1979, and I still love it today. It really goes through some cool changes. Cheers, '62 Mathew St. (Total Retro Rock)
Manny Ruiz
I worship Budgie. They are GOLD.
Tyrone Jeff O'Reilly Ramirez
My wife has to put up with my playlist consisting of 80% Budgie and 20% everyone else. She's not into hard rock but does have respect for these music masters.