The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.
… Read Full Bio ↴The Crash Test Dummies is a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The band is most identifiable through Brad Roberts (vocals, guitar) and his distinctive bass-baritone voice. The band members have fluctuated over the years, but its best known line-up consisted of Roberts, Ellen Reid (co-vocals, keyboards), Brad's brother Dan Roberts (bass guitar, backing vocals), Benjamin Darvill (harmonica, mandolin), and Mitch Dorge (drums, percussion). The band is best known internationally for their 1993 single "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" and best known in Canada for the 1991 single "Superman's Song".

After a multi-year hiatus, the band returned in 2015 with a tour and the new charity single "Promised Land" which was a collaboration with Marc Mysterio[1] following up his remix of "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm".

The origin of the Crash Test Dummies is tied to the history of two Winnipeg nightspots, the Spectrum Cabaret and the Blue Note Cafe, owned by Curtis Riddell.

In the mid-1980s, Riddell joined with Brad Roberts to form the decidedly less-than-serious bar band Bad Brad Roberts and the St. James Rhythm Pigs. Over time, the band evolved into the Crash Test Dummies, a name suggested by a friend of the band who was in medical school. The diagnostic mannequin, known colloquially as a crash test dummy, was known to the public already by this time. Ellen Reid and Benjamin Darvill became permanent additions. George West, the original bass player, quit and was replaced by Dan Roberts, Brad's brother. Riddell was replaced by Vince Lambert, who was fired and replaced by Mitch Dorge just before the release of The Ghosts That Haunt Me.

After signing with BMG Records in 1991, the band signed with manager Jeff Rogers (Swell).

In the summer of 2017, the full band, except Benjamin Darvill, reunited for a show in Winnipeg and Brad Roberts went on a tour of South Africa in early 2018.

In July 2018, a reunited photo of Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, Dan Roberts, and Mitch Dorge was posted on the official Crash Test Dummies Facebook page, along with the announcement of Canadian Tour Dates for the fall.

Throughout their career, Crash Test Dummies have experimented with many different styles and genres of music. These styles include the acoustic folk rock of The Ghosts That Haunt Me, the electric alternative rock of A Worm's Life, the urban influences of Give Yourself a Hand, and the optigan-based compositions of Oooh La La!.

Crash Test Dummies recorded as a full five piece band from their debut album The Ghosts That Haunt Me until Give Yourself a Hand. At this time, the most notable instrumentation of the band's music included Brad Roberts' lead guitar, Ellen Reid's keyboards, and Benjamin Darvill's harmonica. Another notable element of Crash Test Dummies' music are the contrasting harmonies between Brad Roberts' deep lead vocals and Ellen Reid's backing vocals in the higher register.

Beginning with I Don't Care That You Don't Mind in 2001, the band's albums were recorded primarily by Brad Roberts, Ellen Reid, and a rotating roster of session musicians.

One of the biggest influences for Brad Roberts was the band XTC and Andy Partridge in particular. The band even went on to cover two of XTC's songs: "The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead" for the soundtrack to the film Dumb and Dumber, and "All You Pretty Girls" for the XTC tribute album A Testimonial Dinner.

On And On
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come with me down this ol' road
Where I got stuck and later towed
Listen to the sound of the falling rain
We just might end up stuck again

The little bird can sing and sing
The little bird knows everything
But the little bird don't bother with song

He knows that it just goes on and on and on and on

Climb up in this tree with me
The branches are big and there's plenty to see
Listen to the sound of the blowin' leaves
Feel that breeze goin' through your sleeves

The little bird can sing and sing
The little bird knows everything
But the little bird don't bother with song
He knows that it just goes on and on and on and on

Don't go followin' me no more
I'm sick of your face at my back door
Don't you listen to the bird in your head
Just remember what I said

The little bird can sing and sing
The little bird knows everything
But the little bird don't bother with song
He knows that it just goes on and on and on and on and on

Come with me down this ol' road
Where I got stuck and later towed

Listen to the sound of the falling rain
We just might end up stuck again...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Crash Test Dummies' song "On And On" paint a picture of being stuck in a never-ending cycle of life. The singer invites the listener to come with them down an old road, where they once got stuck and had to be towed. The sound of the falling rain serves as a reminder that they may end up stuck again. In the midst of the singer's frustration, they pause to appreciate the beauty of the little bird in the tree. The bird sings and knows everything, yet doesn't bother with song because it just goes on and on.

The singer invites the listener to climb up in the tree with them, and they listen to the sound of the blowing leaves while feeling the breeze. However, the peace is short-lived, as the singer eventually tells the listener not to follow them anymore and that they're sick of seeing their face at their back door. The singer warns the listener not to listen to the bird in their head and to remember what they said - that the cycle goes on and on, just like the little bird's song.

Line by Line Meaning

Come with me down this ol' road
Join me on a journey down a familiar path

Where I got stuck and later towed
Where I encountered difficulty and required assistance

Listen to the sound of the falling rain
Take in the soothing noise of precipitation

We just might end up stuck again
There is a possibility of facing similar challenges once more

The little bird can sing and sing
A small avian creature can produce delightful melodies repeatedly

The little bird knows everything
The bird understands all that occurs in its surroundings

But the little bird don't bother with song
The bird is not concerned with singing

He knows that it just goes on and on and on and on
The bird is aware that life continues endlessly

Climb up in this tree with me
Join me in ascending a plant stem

The branches are big and there's plenty to see
The tree's branches are substantial and provide ample views

Listen to the sound of the blowin' leaves
Pay attention to rustling foliage noises

Feel that breeze goin' through your sleeves
Sense the air moving through your clothing's arm coverings

Don't go followin' me no more
Stop trailing and pursuing me permanently

I'm sick of your face at my back door
I am exhausted by your constant presence near me

Don't you listen to the bird in your head
Do not heed the imaginary bird's advice within your mind

Just remember what I said
Recall and retain the message I delivered

We just might end up stuck again
We could perhaps encounter another obstacle

Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DINO ANGIOLETTI, CRISTIANO RINALDI, RICCARDO RINALDI, SHAWN ROBERTS, DAVIDE SANTANDREA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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