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.
Top of the World
Chumbawamba Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spoke of a time long ago
Laughed ourselves daft on that Saturday
Singing here we go
I'm a taxi driver
I'm a postal worker
I'm an office cleaner
I'm a striking docker
I'm a Zapatista
I'm a pop singer
I'm a winner
(Chorus)
I'm a winner baby
I'm a winner baby
Olé olé olé olé
Top of the world
I'm on top of the world
Olé olé olé olé
Top of the world
I'm on top of the world
I'm a brick layer
I'm an ex-miner
I'm a single mother
I'm a bus driver
I'm a political prisoner
I'm a print worker
I'm a footballer
I'm a winner
(Repeat chorus)
Words on a postcard from far away
Spoke of a time long ago
Laughed ourselves daft on that Saturday
Singing here we go
(Repeat chorus)
In Chumbawamba's song "Top of the World," the lyrics speak of a time long ago where people from different professions and backgrounds came together to laugh and sing. The repetition of the phrase "I'm a" followed by various professions, such as taxi driver, office cleaner, ballet dancer, and political prisoner, suggest that the song aims to celebrate diversity and the different roles individuals play in society. Additionally, the use of the phrase "I'm a winner" at the end of each verse and chorus reinforces the idea that everyone has something to contribute and should be valued for their unique skills and experiences.
Furthermore, the mention of a Zapatista, a leftist revolutionary group in Mexico, highlights the song's political undercurrent. The inclusion of the Zapatista suggests that the songwriters may be advocating for anti-capitalist ideals and a rejection of traditional power structures. The repetition of the phrase "Olé olé olé olé" throughout the song reinforces the celebratory tone and creates a sense of unity and solidarity among the different professions mentioned.
Overall, Chumbawamba's "Top of the World" is a song that celebrates diversity and encourages individuals to recognize their own value and worth. The repetition of the phrase "I'm a winner" at the end of each verse and chorus reinforces the idea that everyone has something to contribute and should be valued for their unique skills and experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
Words on a postcard from far away
Receiving a message from a distant place, reminding us of a past time
Spoke of a time long ago
The postcard mentions a period in the past
Laughed ourselves daft on that Saturday
Had a great time and laughed all day on that weekend
Singing here we go
Singing and ready to take on the world
I'm a taxi driver
I have an occupation as a taxi driver
I'm a postal worker
I work for the postal service
I'm an office cleaner
I clean offices for a living
I'm a striking docker
I am a dock worker who is on strike
I'm a ballet dancer
I am a professional ballet performer
I'm a Zapatista
I am part of the Zapatista movement
I'm a pop singer
My career is that of a popular music artist
I'm a winner
I have succeeded in what I do
I'm a winner baby
I am confident in my accomplishments
Olé olé olé olé
Cheering and celebrating my success
Top of the world
Feeling on top of the world and successful
I'm a brick layer
I am a mason who builds structures with bricks
I'm an ex-miner
I used to work in the mines but no longer do
I'm a single mother
I am a mother raising a child on my own
I'm a bus driver
My profession is that of a public transportation driver
I'm a political prisoner
I have been imprisoned for political reasons
I'm a print worker
I print materials for a living
I'm a footballer
I am a professional soccer player
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: CHRISTOFER KAYE WELTER, DANIEL LUIS DELACRUZ, DARRYL MATTHEWS MCDANIELS, JOSEPH WARD SIMMONS, KARL MAURICE DENSON, KYLE MCDONALD, MILES MASON DOUGHTY, OGUER OCON, RYAN C. MORAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TypicalRussianGuy
I'm a taxi driver,
I'm a postal worker,
I'm an office cleaner,
I'm a striking docker,
I'm a ballet dancer,
I'm a Zapatista,
I'm a pop singer,
I'm a winner,
I'm a winner baby.
Sounds like the hymn of a porn actor.
@userdetails1
Fun fact- England asked Chumbawamba if they wanted to make this an official England song for the 98 world cup, Chumbawamba declined, not wanting to dedicate it to just one nation.
@sheilaburrowes9081
Yeah, they were limp-wristed open-borders Marxists for sure. Shame, but at least they made (deeply ironic) bank on their "anti-capitalist" politics, because in terms of raw musical talent and technical ability, they were a dime-a-dozen pub band (particularly by British standards). I wonder if they would've gotten anywhere at all in the industry without "Tubthumping" and a small, diehard fanbase of ideological fellow travelers.
(The other big irony I always experienced with them was that their music was remarkably populist and undisruptive in its sensibilities, for a band with such a putatively disruptive outlook. But I suppose they could just justify that with the "Dadaist" label. You can justify any incongruity, even in the integrity of your own ideology, by labelling it "Dadaist". They were also the paragon of the "educated [upper-]middle-class white elite using trust funds to support dumb 'fuck you, dad' causes" archetype. But I don't want to rag on you or them too hard when all you did was post an interesting fact, sans value judgement.)
@vladimirlazarev2267
Nevertheless, my amnesia issues to me a song with this melody but the following lyrics:
"Ole-ole-ole-ole, cup of the world, this is cup of the world!"
@-Devalny-
Thanks, didn't know that story.
Well, if they would accept, of sure that track would been more famous with more business in the years for them. But to chose at that way, his honor will still forever! 🤟😉
@vivekmanutd
Can never forget 98 world cup. Nostalgia.
@cosmicbarrilet86
Nice memories from World Cup 1998. This world cup was my childhood. Cheers from Uruguay
@AbadyonYT
Chumbawamba's hits are timeless.
@anthonyowolabi
This guy is everything . Nice childhood memories. Fifa 98!! The touch on the ball of Dennis against Argentina.
@Qandeel
Probably the best football song ever!
@bellidoify
RIP Maradona🙏