Mental As Anything is an Australian New Wave/rock music band who, since the… Read Full Bio ↴Mental As Anything is an Australian New Wave/rock music band who, since the late 70s have released numerous albums & singles and have produced many innovative music videos. Although they have worked in a much broader musical idiom, Mental As Anything are in many respects comparable to British band Madness, in that their music is typically delivered with a quirky, ironic sense of humour and a strong visual identity. Founding members Martin Plaza and Reg Mombassa met at art school and formed the band in 1976; all of the early members became accomplished painters, with Mombassa's work in particular becoming very well known through his designs for the Mambo clothing company.

The Mentals' music is characterised by poppy, accessible and well-crafted melodies and lyrics, and almost all their work showcases their ironic, satirical and self-deprecating sense of humour. They are arguably one of the most typically 'Australian' of rock groups, with their music and their satirical, good-time image deeply rooted in the milieu of Australian suburbia, despite the fact that two key members (the O'Doherty brothers) were in fact immigrants from New Zealand. The group's art school background and visual design skills also made them pioneers of the music video form in Australia in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and their videos rank as some of the funniest and most imaginative produced in Australia at that time.

The "classic" lineup of the group, which boasted four songwriters and lasted more than twenty years, was:

* Martin Plaza (né Martin Murphy) -- vocals, guitar
* Reg Mombassa (né Chris O'Doherty) -- lead guitar, vocals
* Andrew "Greedy" Smith -- vocals, keyboards, harmonica
* Peter O'Doherty -- bass, vocals
* Wayne "Bird" De Lisle (né David Twohill) -- drums

This article continues at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mental_As_Anything

Ride
Mental As Anything Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(Martin Plaza)
I had a meeting at the junction
But my car wouldn't function
Didn't have enough for the cab
Say wouldn't it be fab
To take a bus ride...bus ride
The bus stop was down the road
And as I left my abode

I looked out upon the sea
Oh lucky me
To take a bus ride...bus ride
I climbed aboard and took a seat
Satisfied that I would meet
So many people there

And every single one was rare
On my bus ride...bus ride

Overall Meaning

The song “Ride” by Mental As Anything is about a man who is trying to get to the Junction for a meeting but his car doesn't work and he doesn't have enough money for a cab ride. Instead, he decides to take the bus and along the way enjoys the scenic journey, meeting new people and appreciating the beauty of the sea. He feels lucky to be taking a bus ride and meets many rare and interesting people on his journey. The song is upbeat and highlights how sometimes unexpected situations can lead to positive experiences.

The lyrics capture the excitement and freedom of taking a bus ride instead of relying on personal transportation. The choice to take the bus instead of a cab or personal car represents a shift in perspective towards a more communal and shared experience. The singer's perspective shifts from one of worry and stress to one of enjoyment and appreciation for what the world has to offer.

Overall, “Ride” is a song that celebrates the simple pleasures of life and challenges the notion that success can only be achieved through materialistic gains. Mental As Anything's song encourages us to appreciate the present moment and to open ourselves up to the unexpected joys of life.

Line by Line Meaning

I had a meeting at the junction
I had an appointment or engagement to attend to at a specific meeting point

But my car wouldn't function
Unfortunately, my car failed to work or operate as needed

Didn't have enough for the cab
I was unable to afford a taxi or car service

Say wouldn't it be fab
Wouldn't it be fantastic or great if...

To take a bus ride...bus ride
To travel by bus means of transportation

The bus stop was down the road
The location where I needed to catch the bus was situated at a distance away

And as I left my abode
As I departed from my place of residence

I looked out upon the sea
As I gazed outside my view was the ocean

Oh lucky me
I was fortunate to have such a view

I climbed aboard and took a seat
I entered the bus and sat down comfortably

Satisfied that I would meet
I was content that I would arrive at my intended destination