Mental
Dub War Lyrics


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Killing dis and killing dat
Whicha gun or with a knife
Strangulation out your light
Me no man no trouble
Me no man a strife
Live it good and live it right
Crazy people in the community
Murder in the backyard
Mental it's really mental
Too much murder in the backyard
Cain slew abel the very first murder
After dat it got worster and worster
All the old boy a pop on a pop
Lick lick lick lick lick lick shot
In your front or in your back
They don't care they ain't got no mercy
Compassion blood thirsty
Bomb construction
Forest destruction
Pollution
Volcano eruption
What's it gonna be like in 2033
Will we see the extinction of every species




Including you
And including me

Overall Meaning

The song "Mental" by Dub War is an intense commentary on the senseless violence that plagues many communities around the world. The lyrics evoke a sense of chaos and despair, with constant references to killing and murder, and the overwhelming feeling that things are spiraling out of control. The song opens with the lines "Killing dis and killing dat, whicha gun or with a knife" which suggest that violence is rampant and can be perpetrated in various ways. The chorus "Murder in the backyard, mental it's really mental, too much murder in the backyard" further reinforces the idea that the senseless acts of violence have become a part of ordinary life, and are no longer shocking or surprising.


The song also touches on the broader issues of environmental destruction and impending ecological disaster. The lines "Bomb construction, forest destruction, pollution, volcano eruption" present a bleak picture of the state of the world, where humans have caused significant damage to nature, leading to the irreversible consequences such as climate change and natural disasters. The song ends with a prophetic question, "What's it gonna be like in 2033, will we see the extinction of every species, including you, and including me?", highlighting the urgent need to address the environmental crisis before it's too late.


Line by Line Meaning

Killing dis and killing dat
Casual elimination of people without remorse.


Whicha gun or with a knife
Different methods of killing. Guns vs knives.


Strangulation out your light
Killing someone by choking them till they pass out.


Me no man no trouble
I am not the type of person who seeks trouble.


Me no man a strife
I am not a confrontational person.


Live it good and live it right
Live a peaceful, innocent life.


Crazy people in the community
There are mentally unstable individuals in the society.


Murder in the backyard
Homicides happening nearby or in the vicinity.


Mental it's really mental
The situation is truly insane.


Too much murder in the backyard
There are too many homicides happening nearby or in the vicinity.


Cain slew abel the very first murder
The killing of Abel by Cain is the oldest recorded homicide.


After dat it got worster and worster
The situation kept deteriorating with time.


All the old boy a pop on a pop
The elders have become killers too.


Lick lick lick lick lick lick shot
Refers to the sound of repeated gunfire.


In your front or in your back
People will kill you regardless of how you stand aligned to them.


They don't care they ain't got no mercy
The killer does not care about showing compassion or mercy.


Compassion blood thirsty
The killer seeks blood and enjoys the act of killing.


Bomb construction
Buildup of explosives for lethal purposes.


Forest destruction
Clearing up the forests for other purposes resulting in a loss of natural resources.


Pollution
Contamination of the environment and natural resources.


Volcano eruption
A metaphor suggesting that society has already reached a boiling point.


What's it gonna be like in 2033
What is the future going to look like in terms of violence and environmental degradation?


Will we see the extinction of every species
Is humankind destroying the environment in such an intense rate that we could see the extinction of every species including humans?


Including you
It's not just about others, but it also pertains to the life of the person listening to the song.


And including me
The songwriter is not immune to the catastrophic future they are suggesting.




Contributed by Madison V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@LaMortDeLaMusique

I see Earache are making the most of Dub War's reunion

@antonstefanov2146

Big ups to whoever mixed this album, I remember when I got this on tape and was super stoked to hear what's inside. They were experimental and new sounding and most importantly they were in a league and style of their own.

@fashisti1

AMAZING SONG , , UNDEATHABLE! ;-) PERFECT !!

@philjohnson5669

Brilliant band - saw them supporting New Model Army...a few years ago.

@roberttepala725

Fantastic.

@user-id4rh2je8e

MENTAL
DUB WAR

@wispa1a

Benji.
Such a nice guy lol.

@andrewvare3173

Got turned onto Dub War when they were soundtracked for a surf video awhile back. They in my mix in heavy rotation ever since.

@Mythrium15

The singer in the video is from Skindred I think?

@LaMortDeLaMusique

Mythrium15 This iwas his first band, waayy back in the 90s. After Dub War broke up he was briefly in a band with Robert Trujillo called Mass Mental (who are ongoing) and guested on Soulfly's first album before forming Skindred around the turn of the century.

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