Vibrate
Mr. Scruff Lyrics


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Sham
Yeah, you can call me that
As I walk with the Luddites and my crusty axe
I'm a whole lot removed from the Domini Pax
The pacts with the church and the new poll tax
I haven't got the pox, I've turned twenty-eight
My mate's thirty-one but he's dying from the plague
Life's a bitch right now and I can still hear the hills
Resonate
Watch my carbon vibrate mate

And I'm way down the mine
In another lifetime
But I don't how this canary keeps chirping
And my lungs are tight
When you've got to keep working
What's the point in life
There's a hundred miners here in the union
March through the manor while the owner takes communion
I'm going in to get my wage for last year
Plus a big bag of food
One of them big chandeliers
I affect the state and affect the earth
And pass my spirit on again
Until it's triggered by a birth
I resonate
You Resonate
I say echo
You vibrate

I'm in this for a better life
Staying clever
Got the soldiers on the hop
Slept in the oak tree
Raided a crop
They probably think I'm catholic
'Cause of my name
I caught the King's deer
They were giving me fame
And they heard about my antics
Up at the castle
When I didn't pay my taxes
Down came the hassle
They burnt my village and my family at the stake
I felt the whole ground shake
Why?
'Cause spirits resonate
They want my pagan head
Turn the hunters in my band and that's as good as it gets
We affect
You affect
Everybody move your molecules
From your nails to your follicles
Vibrate

It's eighteen fifty-six
I'm at the workhouse with my bundle of sticks
These people think I'm nuts
But they won't complain
When their lives get better cause of my campaign
Sabotage man with the Guy Fawkes precedent
Burn the city hall - smoke out the residents
Make a mark in my town and adjust my standard of living
Till my pitchfork rusts
Change the chain
Unchain all hands
Latter-day Scargill
I'll affect this land
I come in peace
From a small piece of dark
And I'm going back soon




So for now I'll make marks
Vibrate

Overall Meaning

The song Vibrate by Mr. Scruff is a powerful commentary on the struggles of common people throughout history. The lyrics are divided into three verses, each one taking place in a different time and place, but all of them sharing the common theme of oppression and resistance. In the first verse, the singer Sham introduces himself as a Luddite, a member of a movement of English textile workers who protested against new industrial machinery that threatened their jobs in the early 19th century. Sham is proud of his resistance to the Church and the government and his commitment to the land and the old ways of life. He speaks of his friend dying from the plague and his own struggles as a miner, working in dangerous conditions and facing exploitation from the mine owner. But even in all this hardship, Sham finds a way to resonate with the earth and with other people. He talks about carbon vibration, a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things and the power of sound to move us.


In the second verse, Sham becomes a medieval outlaw, a Robin Hood figure who steals from the rich and redistributes wealth to the poor. He faces persecution from the authorities and ultimately suffers a great loss, the burning of his village and his family. But he also learns the power of spiritual resonance, how the energy of one person can affect others and create a ripple effect throughout time.


In the final verse, Sham is alive in the Victorian era and is fighting for the rights of the underprivileged in a workhouse. He uses his wit and knowledge of history to sabotage the ruling class and improve the lives of the working people.


Throughout the song, Mr. Scruff highlights the power of resistance, solidarity, and collective action to change the course of history. The theme of vibration is used as a metaphor for the interconnectedness of all things and the power of sound to move and motivate us.


Line by Line Meaning

Sham
The singer is introducing themselves and acknowledges that 'Sham' is a nickname they go by.


Yeah, you can call me that
The singer confirms that they are fine with being addressed as 'Sham'.


As I walk with the Luddites and my crusty axe
The singer is saying that they associate with the Luddites and carry an old, worn-out axe.


I'm a whole lot removed from the Domini Pax
The artist is saying that they do not share the beliefs of the Domini Pax (the peace of the Lord), which is a Christian concept.


The pacts with the church and the new poll tax
The artist is saying that they are also not in agreement with the church's deals and the new poll tax.


I haven't got the pox, I've turned twenty-eight
The singer confirms they are not diseased, and they are currently 28 years old.


My mate's thirty-one but he's dying from the plague
The singer's friend is 31 years old and is currently suffering from plague.


Life's a bitch right now and I can still hear the hills
Despite the hardship, the artist can still 'hear the hills,' indicating a strong connection to nature.


Resonate
The artist repeats the word 'resonate' which ties back to the previous line about hearing the hills. It can also relate to vibrations and energy.


Watch my carbon vibrate mate
The artist is asking the listener to observe as their energy and essence vibrates or resonates.


And I'm way down the mine
The singer is now describing their current physical location.


In another lifetime
The artist feels as though they are living in a different era or time period.


But I don't how this canary keeps chirping
The canary in the mine is a warning signal for danger, but it keeps singing which confuses the singer.


And my lungs are tight
The singer is struggling with breathing due to the conditions in the mine.


When you've got to keep working
Despite the challenges, the singer has to keep working in the mine to sustain their livelihood.


What's the point in life
The artist expresses a momentary existential crisis, questioning the purpose of life when faced with such difficulties.


There's a hundred miners here in the union
The artist is acknowledging the presence of a large number of miners in the union.


March through the manor while the owner takes communion
The miners are protesting and marching through the wealthy areas, while the owners of the land are involved in religious ceremonies.


I'm going in to get my wage for last year
The singer is going to collect their overdue payment from the mine for the previous year.


Plus a big bag of food
As part of their payment, the artist is collecting a large bag of food.


One of them big chandeliers
The artist is jokingly suggesting that they are going to take a chandelier as payment for their work, which is unlikely but emphasizes the lack of fairness in the system.


I affect the state and affect the earth
The artist acknowledges their own influence in shaping the state they live in, and the impact they have on the environment.


And pass my spirit on again
The singer believes in the transfer of energy and essence from one individual to another, even after death.


Until it's triggered by a birth
The new birth can activate and pass on the energy/essence of the previous individual.


I resonate
The singer repeats the word 'resonate,' which relates to their belief in energy and essence transfer.


You Resonate
The singer extends the idea of resonance to the listener and others in the world.


I say echo
The singer is encouraging others to respond and reflect their energy back to them.


You vibrate
The artist encourages others to vibrate or resonate their own energy and essence.


I'm in this for a better life
The artist is fighting for a better future and improved quality of life.


Staying clever
The singer is saying that they will stay smart to get to where they want to be.


Got the soldiers on the hop
The singer has managed to outsmart and gain an advantage over the soldiers.


Slept in the oak tree
The artist has had to resort to sleeping in a tree, due to their current situation.


Raided a crop
The artist has potentially stolen food from a farm to survive.


They probably think I'm catholic. 'Cause of my name
The artist's name might be similar or derived from a Catholic name, causing others to assume that they are Catholic.


I caught the King's deer
The singer has poached a deer belonging to the King's hunting area.


They were giving me fame
The artist's actions have given them a reputation and some recognition.


And they heard about my antics
Others have become aware of the singer's behaviours/actions.


Up at the castle
The singer's antics have possibly been around the castle area, where royalty and nobility reside.


When I didn't pay my taxes
The singer has not complied with the tax system, which has possibly led to trouble with authorities.


Down came the hassle
As a result of not paying taxes, the artist is now facing some trouble or problems.


They burnt my village and my family at the stake
The artist's actions have led to significant consequences, with their family and village being burned at the stake, likely for their involvement in pagan practices or for not following the norm.


I felt the whole ground shake
The singer experienced a significant and impactful event that affected them on a deep level.


Why?
The singer questions why their actions have led them to such a tragic situation.


'Cause spirits resonate
The artist suggests that their pagan or spiritual beliefs may have played a role in the events that occurred.


They want my pagan head
The authorities or those in power may have a desire to capture or punish the artist for their non-conforming beliefs and actions.


Turn the hunters in my band and that's as good as it gets
If the hunters who are on the artist's side capture them, that may be as good as the situation gets for the artist.


We affect
The singer emphasizes the idea that actions and energy can impact the world and others around them.


You affect
The artist includes the listener and others, highlighting that everyone can make a difference.


Everybody move your molecules
The singer is encouraging people to create vibrations and energy by doing things and taking action.


From your nails to your follicles
The singer is suggesting that every part of the body can contribute to vibrational energy.


Vibrate
The singer ends with a repetition of 'vibrate,' emphasizing the importance of energy and vibration in life.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ANDREW MICHAEL CARTHY, JOSEPH GARNET CHRISTIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@kevinkirklen

This song goes way deep and hard. Vibrate from one form to the next. Who with me

@kevinkirklen6667

i know this song from some crazy CD i got from American Eagle Outfitters in high school. it's still a banger.

@JJ-lr2wn

Lol dude I know which cd you are talking about, I was in HS too and I thought I got it from a Hollister 😂, thanks for reminding me where I copped it!

@mbcr3648

Me too!

@coffeejabberwocky

Met Scruff loads at his nights in Manchester. Guys absolutely lovely!

@Adrian-cw8yu

Wow....... I finally found this song hahaha! thanks for the upload G

@MrTmoneyUK

Still dope

@zellodine4708

Fuck yes. Loving this!

@bannock3111

this one's a bop, i can imagine peter griffin dancin' to this one

@Mc4King

Dope

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