Busdriver guested on upward of 20 singles, and by 2001 he could no longer be contained by guest spots, releasing his first full-length, Memoirs of the Elephant Man (1999). There were just as many detractors as supporters for his singular style, which was so densely packed it made his chosen name seem a reference for multiple-personality disorder, and the lo-fi production also left more listeners scratching heads than nodding them.
His next album, This Machine Kills Fashion Tips (2002), continued in a similar manner before being trumped by better production and more focused rhymes on Temporary Forever the same year. Joined by another West Coast avant-garde MC, Radioinactive, and the breezy, fractured pop of electronic producer Daedelus, Busdriver released yet another odd puzzle piece in 2003, The Weather. Fear of a Black Tangent followed on Mush in 2005. After moving to Anti-/Epitaph, the rapper issued RoadKillOvercoat, which featured production from Nobody and Boom Bip. His second Anti- release, Jhelli Beam, appeared in 2009. In 2010 he put out a full-length mixtape of unreleased gems and illegal remixes called Computer Cooties. It was released as a free album. 2010 saw Bus toiling over a new album that will shock fans and confuse the unconverted into unwilling servitude. It is called Beaus$Eros and was released on February 21, 2012 on Fake Four. Beaus$Eros forgoes the lightening-speed rhyming that defined his style in favor of a diverse, off-kilter brand of pop and post-hip-hop.
Wormholes
Busdriver Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wood pulp But there's an uninterrupted tissue
Windows, outside, wormholes Between you and what cannot be
I'm an early-90's anachronism
Some kind of pan-African fitness gym
A lost class action petition
See I'm the reasoning behind your kid's slam dancing and ransacking the kitchen and den
Fast rapping pinned under a fish's fins
I excuse the shenanigans of your dissonant binge on the aesthetic of yesteryear
See cause I too thought it was cool how they would cower
Before Action Jackson's cinnamon skin
That was when the cost of an extra set of ears
Was a critical listen to my follow-up
And you allowed me to stock your pantry with my bottled muck
Staff at retail outlets cry on their sleeves
Radio programmers dry-heave
And you, the smart buyers, run at high speeds
Into a mile-high corporate sponsored silver screen
With a children's theme ad campaign
I've watch the tormented saunter through the madman's game room and said, "go ahead"
Give your body to the iron cervix as spare parts
But there's a flying circus in your impaired heart
And yet you put a for-sale sign under your Stargate
And I did an amphibian advance simian dance on an Indian res because the city is dead
And no one wants to hear me retrace my ancestry from a transatlantic boat cruise
They want to hear my frantic energy diffuse through ProTools
Wormholes Out of natural law, dimension jumper
Wood pulp
Windows, outside, wormholes Dissolve castle walls and end numbers
Wormholes Draped with fuchsia, it's a faint future
Wood pulp
Windows, outside, wormholes It's a 90's throwback in a b-boy's suit on a tiny coat rack
And so I'm flushed down the wormhole
Like a dump chute with a b-boy's jump suit as church clothes
Speaking post-dated psychobabble that has yet to be cultivated
I'm a free-floating spermicidal tadpole
Or am I the meaning of your prior god
Re-enacted by actors reading dialogue
An unquantifiable sum
That's sold in a used rap section
A track selection deleted from your iPod
But I carefully cleaned your eyes with swabs
I was your seeing-eye dog
And you've never been loved before 'til I ruptured the core
Screaming that the sky's been robbed
Pre-warn the deformed body of work
With free-form choreography quirks
That the salesmen have date-raper pick up lines
And I have a wastepaper basket with fish guts and time constraints
I'm not contractually bound to make you happy and round
The song "Wormholes" by Busdriver features the artist's unique style of rap which touches on themes of nostalgia, time travel, and social commentary. The first few lines of the song, "It's easy to see that there's something wrong, but there's an uninterrupted tissue / Between you and what cannot be" suggest that there are underlying problems, but there are barriers preventing society from addressing them. The lyrics also touch on Busdriver's identity as an early-90's anachronism and his appreciation for the aesthetics of the past. Through his fast-paced lyrics, he critiques mainstream media and corporate sponsorship, and encourages listeners to pursue their own unique paths.
Throughout "Wormholes," Busdriver uses metaphors to describe his experiences and observations. In the line "I'm a free-floating spermicidal tadpole," he seems to be expressing the feeling of being powerless and insignificant in a society that can be hostile towards individuals who are different. He also mentions "wormholes," "dimension jumper," and "flying circus" which could be interpreted as references to time travel and the ability to see things from a different perspective. The final line of the song, "I'm not contractually bound to make you happy and round," seems to be a statement of independence and artistic freedom, suggesting that Busdriver will continue to express himself authentically no matter what the expectations of the industry may be.
Line by Line Meaning
It's easy to see that there's something wrong
There are obvious issues present
But there's an uninterrupted tissue
Despite the issues, there is a consistent element
Between you and what cannot be
There is a barrier between what can and cannot be achieved
I'm an early-90's anachronism
I am out of place, from a previous era
Some kind of pan-African fitness gym
Similar to a gym, but with a focus on African culture
A lost class action petition
A legal action that has been abandoned or forgotten
See I'm the reasoning behind your kid's slam dancing and ransacking the kitchen and den
I am the driving force behind reckless behavior and rebellion
And you're glad I happened in a distant then
You appreciate that my influence was in the past, rather than the present
Fast rapping pinned under a fish's fins
Rapping in a fast, frenzied manner, like a fish trapped under a net
I excuse the shenanigans of your dissonant binge on the aesthetic of yesteryear
I forgive your excessive behavior related to nostalgia
See cause I too thought it was cool how they would cower
I was also impressed with the intimidation tactics of previous generations
Before Action Jackson's cinnamon skin
Before the fame of an African American action hero
That was when the cost of an extra set of ears
That was when paying attention was more valuable
Was a critical listen to my follow-up
It was necessary to pay close attention to my next work
And you allowed me to stock your pantry with my bottled muck
You accepted my low-quality product
Staff at retail outlets cry on their sleeves
Store employees are upset about my music
Radio programmers dry-heave
Radio stations dislike playing my music
And you, the smart buyers, run at high speeds
Intelligent consumers avoid my music
Into a mile-high corporate sponsored silver screen
Consumers are drawn to large, commercial products
With a children's theme ad campaign
Marketing targeted towards young viewers
I've watch the tormented saunter through the madman's game room and said, "go ahead"
I have witnessed those who are suffering walk into danger without protest
Give your body to the iron cervix as spare parts
Submit yourself to a dangerous and deadly environment
But there's a flying circus in your impaired heart
Despite the danger, there is a sense of whimsy and excitement within you
And yet you put a for-sale sign under your Stargate
You are willing to give up opportunity and adventure for the sake of money
And I did an amphibian advance simian dance on an Indian res because the city is dead
I danced on indigenous land because I found it to be more lively than the city
And no one wants to hear me retrace my ancestry from a transatlantic boat cruise
No one is interested in my family history from generations ago
They want to hear my frantic energy diffuse through ProTools
They want to hear my music with high energy and advanced technology
Out of natural law, dimension jumper
Moving between different dimensions in a supernatural way
Dissolve castle walls and end numbers
Breaking down barriers and ending numerical systems
Draped with fuchsia, it's a faint future
The future is uncertain and obscure
It's a 90's throwback in a b-boy's suit on a tiny coat rack
A reference to a previous era, displayed in a particular style
And so I'm flushed down the wormhole
I am falling into an unknown and unpredictable situation
Like a dump chute with a b-boy's jump suit as church clothes
Falling in a way that is uncomfortable and unsuitable
Speaking post-dated psychobabble that has yet to be cultivated
Speaking about the future in a way that is not yet developed
I'm a free-floating spermicidal tadpole
I am aimless and destructive
Or am I the meaning of your prior god
Am I the new spiritual guide?
Re-enacted by actors reading dialogue
Presented in a theatrical, scripted manner
An unquantifiable sum
Something that cannot be easily measured or summed up
That's sold in a used rap section
My music is sold in a discounted and unappreciated section
A track selection deleted from your iPod
My songs are not kept on personal playlists
But I carefully cleaned your eyes with swabs
I opened your eyes to a new perspective with great care
I was your seeing-eye dog
I guided and led you towards greater understanding
And you've never been loved before 'til I ruptured the core
You have not experienced true love until I entered your life
Screaming that the sky's been robbed
Protesting against an injustice, perceived or real
Pre-warn the deformed body of work
Prepare for an unpleasant or problematic creation
With free-form choreography quirks
Using spontaneous and unconventional movements
That the salesmen have date-raper pick up lines
Salesmen use manipulative tactics to make a sale
And I have a wastepaper basket with fish guts and time constraints
I have limited resources and a difficult situation
I'm not contractually bound to make you happy and round
There is no obligation to please others
Writer(s): Regan John Farquhar, Alfred Darlington
Contributed by Camilla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Erin BeepBeep
Why don't they have this album on Spotify? It happens to be my favorite of his and they have all his other albums on there! Go Busdriver go!
kyoto graphic
I don't use spotify, but it appeared on my streaming stuff when it was added to bandcamp, so it might be on spotify too now
mathlab22
Rocket! I am taking a rocket! I am packing a suitcase! Hey, look out moon!
Razsteroid
Gotta listen in 3D
Luther Manhole
Most underrated song of the most underrated artist of any genre. I hope that Busdriver achieves immortality and is the only person in the history of anyone to do so
uuarman
Dat quality. Good upload.
CML AIO
Okie listen here. I listened to this song once while I was high on a drug called DOB and holy fuck this was so special. The drug alters your perception of timing in music so it sounded so different. Please do your research and I'm not encouraging the use of illegal drugs but if you can, get some DOB/DOC and listen to your favorite music while you experience the effects of this psychoactive. It will absolutely blow your mind.