… 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.
The Beginning of the End
Crash Test Dummies Lyrics
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And there's flooding in the streets
And everyone is drowning
And everyone retreats
And if there ever is a time
When death becomes your friend
It is when you watch it all come down
The beginning of the end
And when the bombs begin to fall
And the fires fill the streets
And the people scream blue murder
And there's nowhere to retreat
And if there ever is a time
When death becomes your friend
It is when you watch it all come down
The beginning of the end
The beginning of the end
And when the angels begin to fall
Into their fiery hell
They knew that there would be no end
But they rang their bells
And if there ever is a time
When death becomes your friend
It is when you watch it all come down
The beginning of the end
The beginning of the end
The lyrics of Crash Test Dummies' song "The Beginning of the End" depict different scenarios where chaos and destruction prevail, with death as the ultimate outcome. The first verse presents a picture of a catastrophic flood where people are drowning, and there seems to be no place to escape. The second verse describes how bombs and fire wreak havoc and scare the inhabitants, who are helpless and frightened. The third verse talks about the angels falling from the sky and condemning themselves to damnation. In each verse, the lyrics emphasize the inevitability of death and how people, regardless of their background, will inevitably face it.
The chorus, "And if there ever is a time when death becomes your friend, it is when you watch it all come down, the beginning of the end," reflects on how death can be comforting in times of destruction and despair. The song suggests that, ultimately, all of humanity is facing a bleak future, and there's nothing anyone can do about it. The lyrics are haunting and thought-provoking, forcing the listener to consider mortality, the passage of time, and the impermanence of all things.
Line by Line Meaning
And when the rain begins to fall
When troubles or difficulties arise
And there's flooding in the streets
And the problems are widespread
And everyone is drowning
And people are overwhelmed by the situation
And everyone retreats
And people give up or run away from the problem
And if there ever is a time
If a moment comes
When death becomes your friend
When death seems like a better option than living through what's happening
It is when you watch it all come down
The moment when everything falls apart and you feel defeated
The beginning of the end
The start of a downfall
And when the bombs begin to fall
When there's a war or attack
And the fires fill the streets
And the destruction is severe
And the people scream blue murder
And the situation is chaotic and terrifying
And there's nowhere to retreat
And there's no escape from the danger
And when the angels begin to fall
When even the divine appears to be crumbling
Into their fiery hell
Into a place of destruction or suffering
They knew that there would be no end
They understood that things would only get worse
But they rang their bells
But they continued to signal hope or salvation, even in such dire circumstances
Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.