The two musicians formed the Long Beach Dub Allstars with Opie Ortiz (the artist who created most of Sublime's tattoos and several of their album covers)on vocals, guitarist RAS-1 and Miguel, saxophonists Todd Foreman and Tim Wu, Jack Maness and Isaiah Owens on keyboards, and finally DJ Marshall Goodman.
After releasing some singles and compilations, they released their debute album "Right Back" on DreamWorks in 1999. In 2001 they released "Wonders of the World" once again on DreamWorks.
Long Beach Shortbus was formed after the Long Beach Dub Allstars disbanded in 2003 by the two founding members from Long Beach Dub Allstars Eric Wilson and RAS-1.
My Own Life
Long Beach Dub All Stars Lyrics
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Pierces through my curtains and the sunlight burns my eyes
Telephone is ringing but I've got nothing to say
I wish that they would all just go away
The devil's knocking down my front door killing me with strife
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
All I ever wanted was to give, all I ever wanted was to live
Stars are falling down from the sky tonight
Sun is fully eclipsed and now I see the light
Everyone around me crashing down from all sides
And they say some things are never gonna change my life
If you ask me for the answers you'll get one reply
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
Want to sip on me royal tea
Let me live, oh Lord help me live
Some will win and some will lose
You never can decide what's the path you'll choose
I guess its in the way things will always be
Everybody wanna drink up me royal tea
The devil's knocking down my front door killing me with strife
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
Someone will win and some will fucking lose
You can't decide on the path you'll choose
This is how it's always gotta be
Take all my fucking royal tea, this is my life
The song "My Own Life" by Long Beach Dub All Stars explores the desire for personal freedom and autonomy in the face of external pressures and expectations. The opening lines describe a sense of disorientation and overwhelm as the world keeps spinning and demands push for attention, yet the singer feels disconnected and empty. The devil knocking at the door represents the sinister force that seeks to control and manipulate, adding to the emotional turmoil. The repeated refrain of "All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life" underscores the central theme of the song - a plea for the right to make one's own choices and follow one's own path, rather than being swayed by others' opinions or societal norms. The use of the metaphor of "royal tea" implies that the singer sees themselves as having a regal or noble lineage, yet they still feel oppressed and marginalized, unable to fully express themselves.
As the song progresses, the tone shifts from resignation to defiance. The image of stars falling and the sun eclipsed suggest a reckoning, a moment of clarity that allows the singer to see their situation for what it is. The assertion that "some things are never gonna change my life" expresses a determination to stand firm and not be swayed by others' opinions. The bridge introduces a note of vulnerability, with the singer asking for help from a higher power, yet the final lines return to a sense of strength and assertion, with the singer claiming ownership of their life and refusing to let anyone else control them.
Overall, "My Own Life" captures the struggle to assert one's individuality and resist societal pressures to conform. It recognizes the pain and frustration of feeling trapped or misunderstood, while also embracing the power of personal agency and resilience. Through its use of vivid imagery and simple yet powerful lyrics, the song resonates with anyone who has ever felt the urge to break free and live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
World is spinning round, sun is shining bright
The world is constantly changing and moving, and the sun is bright and strong.
Pierces through my curtains and the sunlight burns my eyes
The sun is so bright that even when the curtains are closed, it still pierces through, hurting his eyes.
Telephone is ringing but I've got nothing to say
Even though the phone is ringing, he doesn't want to answer it because he has nothing to say.
I wish that they would all just go away
He wants all the people bothering him to go away.
The devil's knocking down my front door killing me with strife
The devil, or problems and negative feelings, are constantly knocking at his door, causing chaos in his life.
All I ever wanted was someone to let me live my own life
He just wants to live his life how he wants to without anyone bothering him or telling him what to do.
Stars are falling down from the sky tonight
Even the stars, which are usually stable, seem to be falling apart and chaotic.
Sun is fully eclipsed and now I see the light
The sun is covered by the moon, but it helps him see things in a new light.
Everyone around me crashing down from all sides
Everyone around him seems to be falling apart and causing chaos.
And they say some things are never gonna change my life
Other people are telling him that things won't change, but he wants to believe differently.
If you ask me for the answers you'll get one reply
He has a consistent answer to all the difficult questions.
Want to sip on me royal tea
He wants to enjoy the finer things in life.
Let me live, oh Lord help me live
He's asking for help to live his life the way he wants to.
Some will win and some will lose
Life is unpredictable and some people will succeed while others won't.
You never can decide what's the path you'll choose
It's hard to predict where life will take him and what choices he'll have to make.
I guess its in the way things will always be
This is just how life will always be.
Everybody wanna drink up me royal tea
Everyone wants to enjoy the finer things in life.
Someone will win and some will fucking lose
Life is unpredictable and some people will succeed while others won't.
You can't decide on the path you'll choose
It's hard to predict where life will take him and what choices he'll have to make.
This is how it's always gotta be
This is how life will always be.
Take all my fucking royal tea, this is my life
He's willing to share the finer things in life with others, but ultimately it's his life and he's going to live it how he wants to.
Lyrics © THE BEST MUSIC COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SMITH, ERIC JOHN WILSON, FLOYD I. GAUGH IV, JACK MANESS, RUDY ARCHULETA, TIM WU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind