On 7th July 2012 Chumbawamba announced their impending breakup before the end of the year. Their very last concert was given at the Leeds City Varieties. At this show former members of the band, such as Harry Hamer and Danbert Nobacon made their appearance. At this theatre, Chumbawamba already performed 'Big Society!' with radical theatre company Red Ladder.
The last EP of the band was released April 8th, 2013, when Margaret Thatcher passed away. The Margaret Thatcher EP 'In Memoriam' is a 5-track sound collage featuring a few small songs, which could only be pre-ordered. It was mailed to all who pre-ordered on that very day.
Early years (1982-1991)
The band was formed in 1982 from two other bands based in Yorkshire, The Passion Killers and Chimp Eats Banana. They released a series of albums (such as Pictures of Starving Children Sell Records and the a capella album English Rebel Songs) and singles on their own Agit-Pop label before moving to One Little Indian in the early 90s.
One Little Indian (1991-1997)
On One Little Indian, Chumbawamba released three albums, Slap!, Shhh, and Anarchy, on which influences of techno music are noticeable. The songs for these albums were written in a period when dance culture was thriving and the band were also influenced by it. The music had turned into a more popular sound, which they emphasized was to spread the message more effectively. Touring for Anarchy, the concert at Leeds was recorded for the live album "Showbusiness!".
The last album released on One Little Indian is Swingin' with Raymond (1995). The albums first six songs are about (the right to) love and ends with seven songs loaded with hate (in the broadest sense of the word: it includes a song about anorexia nervosa).
The EMI years (1997-2000)
Anarchy or not, the band signed to EMI by 1997. At EMI, Chumbawamba had brief mainstream success, with the singles Tubthumping and Amnesia, taken from Tubthumper. Like Slap! and Shhh, the album was noticeably influenced by techno music. The new Chumbawamba fans needed for an overview, EMI might have thought. So Uneasy Listening, a compilation of work from 1986-1998 was released by 1998.
This move alienated much of the anarchist punk scene that yielded Chumbawamba in the 80's. To their former cohorts, this new Chumbawamba -one that licensed songs for commercials and signed to a major label- was different than the one that took part in the Fuck EMI compilation record a decade before. In 1998, Scottish punk band Oi Polloi put together a 7 band compilation EP with other bands like Riot/Clone and Bus Station Loonies in response. The name of the record was "Bare Faced Hypocrisy Sells Records(The Anti Chumbawamba EP)" as a nod to Chumbawamba's first record. Chumbawamba responded by noting that even the smaller labels they had worked with were capitalist by definition and were often only driven by profit. They added that, with the help of good lawyers, they were doing what the Sex Pistols had done two decades earlier – what punk had initially set out to do before it was beset by righteous puritans looking for "a new set of rules", as the band put it. But also, in the words of Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon, they "needed things to change", needed to "shake things up". According to the band, "even radical politics can get stagnant and repetitive." Much of the profits from the album were donated to radical groups, pirate radio stations, community organisations and anarchist projects.
By 2000, the album WYSIWYG was released, being entirely different from previous work (and thus defying the idea that the band just wanted to make commercial hits): a 22-track soundscape, comprising rock, folk, country and pop music. It includes a cover of the Bee Gees song New York Mining Disaster.
Return to independance (2002-2010)
In 2002, Chumbawamba formed their own label again, now naming it Mutt Records. On this record label, they released Readymades, followed by the world music influenced Un (2004). These two albums brought Chumbawamba to what it is now: a folk group.
Since 2005, the band decided it would be better to turn into an acoustic band. The line-up has changed to: Boff Whalley, Lou Watts, Jude Abbot and Neil Ferguson (former producer of the band). It was this line-up that released the fully acoustic album A Singsong and a Scrap on the small UK Folk and Folk-Rock label NoMasters by 2006. The album uses more traditional instruments and features English Folk artists such as Coope, Boyes & Simpson and Andy Cutting. In 2007 followed by the live album Get On With It.
In 2008, another No Masters album, The Boy Bands Have Won, was released. It contained 25 tracks of new acoustic material, some derived from traditional folk, such as Charlie. It also had guest performances by, amongst others, the Oyster Band on Hull or Hell and Roy Bailey on Word Bomber. It's this album where Phil Moody joined Chumbawamba as accordionist and vocalist.
The third album that Chumbawamba recorded on NoMasters, ABCDEFG, was released. The album is cut from very much the same cloth as the The Boy Bands Have Won, but is richer in sound. ABCDEFG stands for every note in the Western music scheme, and the album itself is about the power that music can bring to communities (Voices, That's All) and deliver to people in struggle (Wagner At The Opera). It's the first Chumbawamba album fully dedicated to music matters, though Shhh (1991) preceded this release, criticising pop culture.
On ABCDEFG, next to the five Chumbas, (amongst others) Ray Cooper plays cello and harmonica, Belinda O'Hooley plays the piano and Jo Freya plays alt and tenor saxophone.
Former members of Chumbawamba
Apart from the moment that Chumbawamba changed from electric band to acoustic band, Chumbawamba's line-up has changed several times after its first gig at January 8th, 1982.
Danbert Nobacon: Singer and keyboard player of the band, famous for wearing the brick suit, and for throwing a jug of water over UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott who showed up at the Brit Awards. He's still making music, see Danbert Nobacon and the Pine Valley Cosmonauts.
Dunstan Bruce: Vocalist, bass and saxophone player, percussionist and turntablist of the band.
Alice Nutter: Singer and percussionist of the band, famous for the drunk nun act she performed during live shows. Now writing scripts for radio, tv and theatre pieces.
Harry Hamer: Singer, drummer, programmer and percussionist of the band.
Mavis Dillon: Dillon did vocals, trumpet, french horn and bass for ten years, until he was replaced by Jude Abbot by 1995.
Paul Greco: Bass guitar, entered the band by 1992. He was replaced by Neil Ferguson in 1999.
Other former members include Coby Laan, Simon Commonknowledge, Midge (former Chimp Eats Banana) and Diane. There were actually loads of band members, especially in the early years. An extensive band history can be found at the Chumbawamba FAQ.
Give the Anarchist a Cigarette
Chumbawamba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bobby! Who?
For god's sake, burn it down
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of...
Give the anarchist a cigarette
'Cause that's as close as he's ever gonna get
Give the anarchist a cigarette
Bobby just hasn't learned it yet
Give the anarchist a cigarette
The times are changing, but he just forgets
Give the anarchist a cigarette
He's gonna to choke on his harmonica, Albert
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of...
Give the anarchist a cigarette
A candy cig for the spoiled brat
Give the anarchist a cigarette
We'll get Albert to write you a cheque
Give the anarchist a cigarette
He'll be burning up the air in his personal jet
Give the anarchist a cigarette
You know I hate every Popstar that I ever met
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of...
Give the anarchist a cigarette
Burn, baby, burn
Burn, baby, burn
Give the anarchist a cigarette
Burn, baby, burn
Burn, baby, burn
Give the anarchist a cigarette
Burn, baby, burn
Burn, baby, burn
Give the anarchist a cigarette
Burn, baby, burn
Burn, baby, burn
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of help
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Every fire needs a little bit of...
The lyrics to Chumbawamba's song "Give the Anarchist a Cigarette" are a call to action for revolutionaries who want to burn down the oppressive systems that hold them back. The song is about the need for collective action, and how no change can come about without help from others. The verses repeat the message that nothing ever burns down on its own, and that every fire needs a little bit of help.
The chorus, "Give the anarchist a cigarette," is a metaphor for rebellion and the desire for change. The anarchist represents those who want to burn down the old system and create something new. The idea of giving them a cigarette is like giving them the spark they need to start a fire. The lyrics also reference the inability of Bobby and Albert to understand the need for revolution, and the anger towards pop stars who profit from the very systems that need to be dismantled.
Overall, "Give the Anarchist a Cigarette" is a powerful and provocative call to action for those who want to see real change in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Albert! Who?
Introducing Albert, the anarchist protagonist of the song
Bobby! Who?
Introducing Bobby, who hasn't learned how to be an anarchist yet
For god's sake, burn it down
An exclamation of frustration and a call to action against the corruption and oppression in society
Nothing ever burns down by itself
Society won't change unless we take action and fight against it
Every fire needs a little bit of help
We need to do something to spark change and ignite a revolution
Give the anarchist a cigarette
A symbol of rebellion and a call for empowerment
'Cause that's as close as he's ever gonna get
Anarchists are constantly restricted and oppressed by the dominant powers
Bobby just hasn't learned it yet
Bobby is not yet fully committed to the cause of anarchy
The times are changing, but he just forgets
Despite society changing, Bobby still clings to old ways of thinking
He's gonna to choke on his harmonica, Albert
A playful jab at Albert for his anarchist tendencies
A candy cig for the spoiled brat
A sarcastic reference to how anarchists are often seen as childish or immature
We'll get Albert to write you a cheque
A sarcastic suggestion that Albert has money to waste on helping Bobby become a true anarchist
He'll be burning up the air in his personal jet
Anarchists are often stereotyped as privileged and wealthy, which is ironic given their anti-capitalist beliefs
You know I hate every Popstar that I ever met
A general disdain for mainstream popular culture and the capitalist system that breeds it
Burn, baby, burn
A call for the destruction of the oppressive system
Nothing ever burns down by itself
A reminder that change won't happen on its own
Every fire needs a little bit of help
We need to actively work towards revolution and change
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUDITH ABBOTT, DUNCAN BRUCE, PAUL GRECO, DARREN HAMER, NIGEL HUNTER, ALICE NUTTER, LOUISE WATTS, ALLAN WHALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind