One of the most rock & roll acts out there, Barry Ashworth’s merry band of reprobates — the unstoppable Dub Pistols — are staying true to form with their sixth long-player. It’s called ‘White Lines’, although Barry is keen to stress that the title isn’t some sort of blatant drug reference. “It’s about the number of white lines we see on motorways and at airports when we’re travelling around all the time,” he says.
Bass. The Dubs continue to be one of the busiest bands on the circuit. Seemingly no music festival is complete without their riotous blend of ska, dub, hip-hop, electro, breakbeat, punk and drum & bass. Good times are guaranteed when the Dub Pistols blaze in to fire up the joint, and they’ll party all night — if you let them — until the motorway sun comes up with the morning light.
Over the years the Dubs have earned their ticket to ride the white line highway — and if you aren’t already hooked, baby, it’s nobody else’s fault. They originally grew out of the DJ sound system that Barry Ashworth started with cohort Jason O’Bryan in the mid-90s.
Along with contemporaries the Chemical Brothers and Fatboy Slim, the Dubs initially surfed the late ‘90s big beat wave with tracks like ‘Cyclone’, ‘Westway’ and ‘There’s Gonna Be A Riot’ before swerving into the more political ‘Six Million Ways To Live’ album after the Millennium and their first hook-up with unforgettable Specials frontman Terry Hall.
The procession of guest vocalists who’ve joined them in the intervening decade or so reads like a roll call of urban legends. UK hip-hopper Rodney P, late reggae great Gregory Isaacs, Freak Power man Ashley Slater, Beats International’s Lindy Layton, acid house original Justin Robertson, the sweet tones of Horace Andy, UK rapper Akala, TK from New York, Red Star Lion from the West Indies, Dan Bowskills… the list goes on. Despite these top collaborators, they’ve somehow still managed to remain a cohesive unit, and it’s for their riotous sense of fun, entertainment value and tireless ability to make crowds jump that the Dubs have carved a niche for themselves. Verily, they’re something of a phenomenon.
‘White Lines’ is more of a party album than the conscious vibes of previous LP ‘Worshipping The Dollar’, and also has its fair share of top-notch guests. Reggae don Earl 16, eminent hip-hopper Seanie T,Dark Horizon, Rodney P in-demand rhymer Serocee — as well as regulars TK, Darrison, Sir Real, Ashley Slater and Barry Ashworth himself on vocals — all make an appearance, as well as the dubwise horns of Tim Hutton.
Six Million Ways To Live
Dub Pistols Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Superior deluxe rap status
To carry that mattress with no bounce
A sharp cactus, blanket
Leavin' scratches across the atlas
Buildin' above civilians
Takes two looks to recognize the villain
Three-sixty degrees like a roller rink
That's how my life moves upon a solar ring
Try so hard my soul to sing,
But still my pen moves on to bolder things
Can't hang like a soldier around you
He who can't compete against|a flowing thing
Blood is the life through the mainframe
Keepin' on top of stray slayings
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give, yo So we grab mice
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live - Six million
Six million ways to live - Six million
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
'Cause there's six million ways to live
Six million ways to live
How you livin', power driven to the maximus,
Passionate Innocent to where the action
Is a small fraction of the population
Holding down his occupation
It's wrong concentration
A simple conversation
I'll listen to the rhythm
Sometimes we don't agree
But not afraid to talk about it openly
I took it overseas to lock it down totally
Package it like groceries You take it to the apex
Even straight brothers golden
To my peeps across the ocean
Brother you sober or stay smokin'
Down-Down to earth or stay floatin'
Flood gates about to break open
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give, yo So we grab mice
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live - Six million
Six million ways to live - Six million
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
'Cause there's six million ways to live
Six million ways to live.
The first verse of Dub Pistols's "Six Million Ways to Live" describes the various ways that people choose to live their lives. From living lavishly to sleeping on a cactus and a blanket, the song speaks to the diversity of experiences that exist in the world. The lyrics also mention the idea of villains hiding in plain sight and the quickness with which a person's heart can sink. The verse ends with a comparison to a 360-degree roller rink, describing the constant movement and progression of life.
The chorus repeats the phrase "six million ways to live," emphasizing the vast array of possibilities that exist. The second verse focuses more on the individual, describing someone who is driven and passionate and not afraid to have open conversations with others. The lyrics also mention taking something overseas to make it successful and the importance of staying grounded even as one rises to success. The final chorus reiterates the theme of limitless potential and the idea that there are "six million ways to live" beyond the limitations of "misery and mathematics."
Overall, the song conveys a sense of optimism and encourages listeners to embrace their own unique paths in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Six million ways to live, we live lavish
There are many ways to live life, and we choose to live in luxury
Superior deluxe rap status
We are proud of our high status in the rap industry
To carry that mattress with no bounce
We are strong and can handle any challenge without faltering
A sharp cactus, blanket
We are tough and prickly, but we also offer protection and warmth
Leavin' scratches across the atlas
We travel widely and leave a mark wherever we go
Buildin' above civilians
We are rising above the ordinary and achieving greatness
Takes two looks to recognize the villain
We are unapologetic about being different, and it takes people time to understand us
Two blinks to make your heart sink
We are powerful and can make a strong impression in just a moment
Three-sixty degrees like a roller rink
Our lives are dynamic and ever-changing, like a roller skating rink
That's how my life moves upon a solar ring
We are constantly evolving and moving forward in life
Try so hard my soul to sing,
We are deeply passionate about our art and strive to make a meaningful impact
But still my pen moves on to bolder things
We are always pushing ourselves to grow and take on new challenges
Can't hang like a soldier around you
We don't fit into mainstream society or conform to norms
He who can't compete against a flowing thing
We cannot be held back and always move forward in life
Blood is the life through the mainframe
Music is our life and runs through our veins
Keepin' on top of stray slayings
We are always alert and ready to tackle any challenges that come our way
Whole lot to give, yo So we grab mice
We have a lot to offer and we grab opportunities as they come
How you livin', power driven to the maximus,
We are driven to succeed and live life to the fullest
Passionate Innocent to where the action
We are passionate and authentic, and always involved in what's going on around us
Is a small fraction of the population
We are part of a smaller, specialized group within society
Holding down his occupation
We are committed to our craft and work hard at it
It's wrong concentration
We are focused on our goals and committed to seeing them through
A simple conversation
We are open-minded and willing to listen to others
I'll listen to the rhythm
We are always attuned to the beat and pulse of life
Sometimes we don't agree
We may not always see eye to eye with others
But not afraid to talk about it openly
We are willing to have difficult conversations and share our views openly
I took it overseas to lock it down totally
We have taken our music and message to the world and are fully committed to it
Package it like groceries You take it to the apex
We present our music and message in a smart, strategic way and aim for the top
Even straight brothers golden
We are inclusive and welcome all kinds of people to enjoy our music
To my peeps across the ocean
We have friends and fans all over the world
Brother you sober or stay smokin'
We don't judge people for their habits or lifestyle choices
Down-Down to earth or stay floatin'
We are grounded and authentic, but also open to new experiences and ideas
Flood gates about to break open
We are on the verge of a major breakthrough and things are about to get big for us
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BAQUI ABDUSH SHAHEED, BARRY ASHWORTH, JAMES SHEFFIELD DEWES, JASON O'BRYAN, TK LAWRENCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nezhabachawi1008
Lyrics:
Six million ways to live, we live lavish
Superior deluxe rap status
To carry that mattress with no bounce
A sharp cactus, blanket
Leavin' scratches across the atlas
Buildin' above civilians
Takes two looks to recognize the villain
Two blinks to make your heart sink
Three-sixty degrees like a roller rink
That's how my life moves upon a solar ring
Try so hard my soul to sing,
But still my pen moves on to bolder things
Can't hang like a soldier around you
He who can't compete against|a flowing thing
Blood is the life through the mainframe
Keepin' on top of stray slayings
Stayin' strong so I maintain
Through the snow of rain
Plus the growing pain
Did someone leave a glowing stain?
It evaporates my flow's a burning flame
In a bit it freeze so just relax a bit
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give, yo So we grab mice
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live - Six million
Six million ways to live - Six million
How you livin', power driven to the maximus,
Passionate Innocent to where the action
Is a small fraction of the population
Holding down his occupation
It's wrong concentration
A simple conversation
I'll listen to the rhythm
Sometimes we don't agree
But not afraid to talk about it openly
I took it overseas to lock it down totally
Package it like groceries You take it to the apex
Even straight brothers golden
To my peeps across the ocean
Brother you sober or stay smokin'
Down-Down to earth or stay floatin'
Flood gates about to break open
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give, yo So we grab mice
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live - Six million
Six million ways to live - Six million
'Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
'Cause there's six million ways to live
Six million ways to live
Six million pieces is the puzzle that I'm tryin' to solve
Over the years evolved
Thought we'd never fall
Invincible, on any instrumental
I live like the Count of Monte Cristo
Point blank out the pistol
Dub it while I rip through you
I got more important things
Holding championship rings
If not for the bling
It fall apart like everything
I live this way for a while
Cut the strings and the seams
We on to better things
We on to better things (things, things)
Still livin' (livin', livin', livin')
Still chillin' (chillin', chillin', chillin')
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give yo, So we grab mice
Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live (Six million)
Six million ways to live (Six million)
Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Six million ways to live
Six million ways to live
Six million ways to live
Six-Six-Six million ways to live life
Boy, there's six million ways to live life
Whole lot to give yo, So we grab mice
Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Oh, there's six million ways to live (Six million)
Six million ways to live (Six million)
Cause there's six million ways to live lavish
Beyond all the misery and mathematics
Six million ways to live
Six million ways to live
@benlowman3991
Who out there is still vibing to this track 20yrs later? I am, fosho!
@_StrayCat
Она у меня на стоит на рингтоне
@justinstewart1828
Six millions ways to live 2021 to 2022
@la_joya_presa_club
😂😂😂😂
@MsCode01
This my track listen to this since 2004 is epic!!!!! Greetz from switzerland
@wichaithor8274
Yeah me too ❤ lit
@mocssounds1396
still a dope song 14 years later
@hibjuchoudhury4726
Best song of the last two decades
@nicuneculai
this is one of the most realist songs...i love it
@Nithralas
Six Million ways to live Choose one