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.
On eBay
Chumbawamba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
they struck the museum like a hurricane.
All of our culture, it´s dead and it's gone,
from Babylon baby back to Babylon.
There´s stuff you find along the way and stuff you leave behind,
and it all in ends up as stuff that you can buy.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
In old Bagdhad they´re dursting off the antiques;
it's the fourteenth guernica we´ve had this week.
I got twenty-five dollars for a Persian vase.
Hold the critique. I think I´ll go large.
That stuff inside your houses and that stuff behind your eyes,
well it all ends up as stuff that you can buy.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
They´re building a tower of wrappers and cans,
and now we speak in language that we all understand
t-t-t-t-t-tongue tied and starry eyed -
it´s the ancient history of old school ties.
There´s stuff dressed up as truth and then there´s stuff dressed up as lies
and it all ends up as stuff that you can buy.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
Chumbawamba's song "On eBay" is a commentary on the commodification of culture and history. The lyrics mention Mr. Kokoschka, an Austrian artist associated with the Expressionist movement, who is probably being used as a symbol of high culture. The second line of the verse, "they struck the museum like a hurricane," suggests an attack on culture, which has resulted in the loss of history, from "Babylon baby back to Babylon." The line reinforces the belief that history tends to repeat itself, and humanity has gone backward.
In the chorus, "On eBay - from Babylon back to Babylon," the band alludes to the fact that through the site eBay, we are buying items with significant cultural and historical value. The song paints a bleak picture of how these items can be reduced to mere commodities, sold for profit without much consideration for their cultural significance. The second verse details the commercialization of history where the antiques from Baghdad are dusted off and 'sold' for a price. The singer declares, "Hold the critique. I think I´ll go large," which suggests that even the artist is not immune to the lure of making a quick buck.
The final verse links consumerism to language and culture. The "tower of wrappers and cans" alludes to the nature of urbanization and the loss of traditional ways of living, along with the linguistic homogenization that follows. The song concludes by stating that "it all ends up as stuff that you can buy." This line perhaps reinforces the view that the commercialization of culture is a significant threat to humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Mr. Kokoschka, it just happened again -
Address to someone (Mr. Kokoschka), describing how something bad (unspecified) happened again.
they struck the museum like a hurricane.
The museum was hit hard (like a hurricane), presumably by something or someone destructive.
All of our culture, it´s dead and it's gone,
All the culture that the singer and their community valued is destroyed and lost.
from Babylon baby back to Babylon.
A play on words that suggests the destruction of culture has come full circle, from the ancient city of Babylon to the present day.
There´s stuff you find along the way and stuff you leave behind,
During life's journey, there are things you acquire and things you give up or abandon.
and it all in ends up as stuff that you can buy.
Regardless of how it was acquired or lost, everything eventually becomes a commodity that can be bought and sold, reduced to its monetary value.
In old Bagdhad they´re dursting off the antiques;
In Baghdad, people are cleaning and uncovering (dusting off) old antiques or artifacts from their culture's past.
it's the fourteenth guernica we´ve had this week.
Guernica is a famous artwork depicting the horrors of war. The line implies that there have been many similar artworks (or copies) discovered recently.
I got twenty-five dollars for a Persian vase.
The artist sold a valuable piece of cultural heritage (a Persian vase) for a relatively small amount of money.
Hold the critique. I think I´ll go large.
The artist doesn't want to hear any criticism of their decision to sell the vase for a profit. They plan to do more of the same in the future.
That stuff inside your houses and that stuff behind your eyes,
The material possessions and mental/emotional experiences that make up one's life.
well it all ends up as stuff that you can buy.
Regardless of its meaning or personal significance, everything people have or experience is ultimately reduced to its monetary value.
They´re building a tower of wrappers and cans,
People are constructing something (a tower) out of disposable items like wrappers and cans, perhaps as a commentary on consumer culture.
and now we speak in language that we all understand
Consumption and commerce have become the universal language that unites people, transcending geographical and cultural boundaries.
t-t-t-t-t-tongue tied and starry eyed -
The singer is overwhelmed or dazzled (starry-eyed) by the current state of things, and perhaps hesitant or stuttering (tongue-tied) to express their thoughts about it.
it´s the ancient history of old school ties.
The associations or connections one has with previous eras or social groups can influence how one views and participates in the present.
There´s stuff dressed up as truth and then there´s stuff dressed up as lies
People manipulate or obscure the truth for various reasons, some more sincere or nefarious than others.
and it all ends up as stuff that you can buy.
Regardless of its truth or falsity, everything people say or believe can be commodified and sold to others.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
The repeated chorus reinforces the idea of the cyclical nature of cultural destruction and commodification, from Babylon to the present day and back again.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
The repeated chorus reinforces the idea of the cyclical nature of cultural destruction and commodification, from Babylon to the present day and back again.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
The repeated chorus reinforces the idea of the cyclical nature of cultural destruction and commodification, from Babylon to the present day and back again.
On ebay - from Babylon back to Babylon.
The repeated chorus reinforces the idea of the cyclical nature of cultural destruction and commodification, from Babylon to the present day and back again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JUDITH ABBOTT, DUNCAN BRUCE, NEIL FERGUSON, DARREN HAMER, NIGEL HUNTER, ALICE NUTTER, LOUISE WATTS, ALLAN WHALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@billybull7419
Mr Kokoschka, it just happened again (sad, so sad)
They struck the museum like a hurricane (sad, so sad)
All of our culture, it's dead and it's gone (sad, so sad)
From Babylon, baby, back to Babylon (sad, so sad)
There's stuff you find along the way and stuff you leave behind
And it all ends up as stuff that you can buy
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
In old Baghdad, they're dusting off the antiques (sad, so sad)
It's the fourteenth Guernica we've had this week (sad, so sad)
I got twenty-five dollars for a Persian vase (sad, so sad)
Hold the critique, I think I'll go large (sad, so sad)
That stuff inside your houses and that stuff behind your eyes
Well, it all ends up as stuff that you can buy
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
They're building a tower out of wrappers and cans (sad, so sad)
Now we speak in a language that we all understand (sad, so sad)
T-t-t-t-toungue-tied and starry-eyed (sad, so sad)
It's the ancient history of old school ties (sad, so sad)
There's stuff dressed up as truth and then there's stuff dressed up as lies
And it all ends up as stuff that you can buy
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
On eBay, from Babylon back to Babylon
@pegzley
...first time I heard this song in Africa in 2010 and it was epic. Botswana , Khubu Island , I'll never forget.
@sixpillarsarts
As an Iranian, I thank you for this song.
@zachcloutier3111
Ever since I was 9 years old this has always been one of my favorite songs.
@diegoburnham6985
This song hits like a nostalgia bomb tbh
@ondrasynek9572
Song od my childhood🥰
@diegoburnham6985
WHY IS THIS NOT ON SPOTIFY!?!?
@vaniadark3289
No 🥺, sad so sad
@zandrayuririagomez
Tampoco esta en Apple Music 😢
@williamz7011
It is? Not only is, but has been since I started using Spotify in 2019. The "Un" album has never not been on Spotify as far as I know. At least in the USA anyway
@robertalarm7188
@@williamz7011in the uk it only came on a few months ago