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.
Song on the Times
Chumbawamba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
While I unfold the treatment of the poor upon this land
For nowadays the factory lords have brought the labour low
And daily are contriving plans to prove our overthrow
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
There's hundreds that are starving for they can't get food to eat
And if they go unto the rich to ask them for relief
They bang their door all in their face as if they were a thief
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
Alas how altered are the times, rich men despise the poor
And pay them off without remorse, quite scornful at their door
And if a man is out of work his Parish pay is small
Enough to starve himself and wife, his children and all
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
So to conclude and finish these few verses I have made
I hope to see before it's long men for their labour paid
Then we'll rejoice with heart and voice and banish all our woes
Before we do old England must pay us what she owes
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
Chumbawamba's "Song on the Times" is a powerful protest song that highlights the mistreatment of the poor in England and Ireland during the industrial revolution. The song draws attention to the conditions of laborers which contracted the factory lords to keep their positions safe by undermining the social conditions of the poor. The first verse mentions how the factory lords have brought down the laborers and are planning to overthrow them. The "sons of freedom" are called upon to take a stand and fight back against the injustices of the wealthy.
In the second verse, the song shifts its focus to Ireland, where people are starving because they cannot afford food. The rich and powerful ignore their pleas for help and slam their doors on them. This blatant disregard for their fellow human beings is what motivated the author to write the song. The song declares the world seems upside down because the poor are treated like thieves in the country, and the wealthy are the ones who oppress them.
The third and final verse brings attention to the fact that the rich are paying the poor in the society with the utmost disrespect, quite scornfully. The poor are left to fend for themselves, and the meager amount they receive is not enough to feed their families. The song ends with a note of hope, with the author looking forward to the day when laborers will be paid for their work, and all their woes would be banished. Before this happens, England must pay its dues to the sons of freedom.
Line by Line Meaning
You working men of England one moment now attend
Listen up, hard-working men of England
While I unfold the treatment of the poor upon this land
I will reveal how unfairly the poor are treated in this country
For nowadays the factory lords have brought the labour low
The owners of factories have lowered wages and mistreated workers
And daily are contriving plans to prove our overthrow
They are constantly coming up with ways to keep us down and quell any unrest
There's different parts in Ireland, it's true what I do state
It's a fact that there are various regions in Ireland
There's hundreds that are starving for they can't get food to eat
In many areas, people are starving because they cannot access food
And if they go unto the rich to ask them for relief
When they seek help from the wealthy, they are met with closed doors
They bang their door all in their face as if they were a thief
Their requests for aid are treated as if they are committing a crime
Alas how altered are the times, rich men despise the poor
It's disheartening how the wealthy now have disdain for the less fortunate
And pay them off without remorse, quite scornful at their door
They pay them as little as they can get away with and do so with contempt
And if a man is out of work his Parish pay is small
When a man is jobless, any help he receives from the government is meager
Enough to starve himself and wife, his children and all
It's not enough to provide for himself, his spouse, or kids
So to conclude and finish these few verses I have made
In conclusion, I'll end these lines that I've created
I hope to see before it's long men for their labour paid
I dream of a day when workers are paid fairly for their hard work
Then we'll rejoice with heart and voice and banish all our woes
We'll celebrate and be free of the troubles we're facing
Before we do old England must pay us what she owes
But first, England needs to make amends for the wrongs it has inflicted on us
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
So wake up, fellow advocates of freedom! The world is a crazy place
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
The poor are treated as criminals whether they're in rural or urban areas
Contributed by Julian V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@patriciapawestri1628
Song on the Times
You working men of England one moment now attend
While I unfold the treatment of the poor upon this land
For nowadays the factory lords have brought the labour low
And daily are contriving plans to prove our overthrow
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
There's different parts in Ireland, it's true what I do state
There's hundreds that are starving for they can't get food to eat
And if they go unto the rich to ask them for relief
They bang their door all in their face as if they were a thief
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
Alas how altered are the times, rich men despise the poor
And pay them off without remorse, quite scornful at their door
And if a man is out of work his Parish pay is small
Enough to starve himself and wife, his children and all
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
So to conclude and finish these few verses I have made
I hope to see before it's long men for their labour paid
Then we'll rejoice with heart and voice and banish all our woes
Before we do old England must pay us what she owes
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
@patriciapawestri1628
Song on the Times
You working men of England one moment now attend
While I unfold the treatment of the poor upon this land
For nowadays the factory lords have brought the labour low
And daily are contriving plans to prove our overthrow
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
There's different parts in Ireland, it's true what I do state
There's hundreds that are starving for they can't get food to eat
And if they go unto the rich to ask them for relief
They bang their door all in their face as if they were a thief
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
Alas how altered are the times, rich men despise the poor
And pay them off without remorse, quite scornful at their door
And if a man is out of work his Parish pay is small
Enough to starve himself and wife, his children and all
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
So to conclude and finish these few verses I have made
I hope to see before it's long men for their labour paid
Then we'll rejoice with heart and voice and banish all our woes
Before we do old England must pay us what she owes
So arouse! You sons of freedom! The world seems upside down
They scorn the poor man as a thief in country and in town
@Skiamakhos
I love the vocal harmonies in this. It's like honey for the ears. :-)
@wesmatron
If I knew all those years ago, whilst bemoaning the over-playing of tub-thumping, that this band were such a great folk band I'd have listened more. I have some catching up to do.
@fredbush1536
i agree .i am only now hearing this now and i love it
@simonball5746
Tubthumping was annoying, but I think they deserved that pay day
@gameofadages6847
The fact that this song is actually more important now than ever (see Christian Smalls, fired amazon warehouse worker from Staten Island, for example) offers a glimpse into how overwhelmingly effective capitalist propaganda has become.
@Matthew-Anthony
Do not confuse corporatocracy with capitalism, and ABOVE ALL, do NOT support socialism.
@l_ndonmusic
@Matthew Anthony “no!! When capitalism does bad stuff that’s not real capitalism!!”
@Matthew-Anthony
@L_ndon musicCapitalism is an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately or corporately owned and development occurs through the accumulation and reinvestment of profits gained in a free market.
Corporatocracy is an economic, political and judicial system controlled by corporations or corporate interests. The concept has been used in explanations of bank bailouts, excessive pay for CEOs, as well as complaints such as the exploitation of national treasuries, people, and natural resources. It has been used by critics of globalization, sometimes in conjunction with criticism of the World Bank or unfair lending practices, as well as criticism of free trade agreements.
World banks and massive corporations (which are mostly run by Democrats in the United States) using their money to influence government in order to receive favorable treatment has nothing to do with free markets. Research the legal cartel theory.
@beautifulflower2044
That Smalls just successfully organized his warehouse is a thing of beauty. Truly, the future is unwritten.