Originally comprised of Martin Atkins (label-owner/Pigface founder) and Bob Dog (former member of Evil Mothers), with a little help from Lee Fraser (Sheep on Drugs) and a few others. The basic premise was to take underground songs and compose them as Bhangra tunes using sitars and drums as the basic instruments. According to the bands page on the Invisible website other parts included, "instruments (both real and imagined) such as stringed things, vibes, toy pianos, tempuras, dijeridus, shakuhachis, sarods, and violins."
Taking a page from the music journals of the Moog Cookbooks versions of "popular grunge" tunes of the early nineties or the symphonic versions of seventies' rock hits, their first release, "Music To Download Pornography By," included songs from bands/artists such as Nine Inch Nails, Soft Cell, Jane's Addiction and Gary Numan. Each track a mellow, middle-eastern influenced version of it's original. If you love "Been Caught Stealing," "Head like a hole" or "Smells like teen spirit," but just aren't in the mood to 'rawk out' then this album is perfect for your home opium den enjoyment. Sit back, smoke-up and enjoy.
But that's not all. Atkins decided for their follow-up, they would ask their fans for feedback and suggestions for tunes to be re-worked next. Without being the proverbial fly on the wall, i'm not sure how the decision was made, but instead of covering various artists, they decided that a tribute to the Sex Pistols would be an appropriate sophomoric effort. They took "Never Mind the Bollocks" as well as the song "My Way" (a Frank Sinatra tune that Sid Vicious covered in "The Great Rock n' Roll Swindle") and gave them the Opium Jukebox work-over. Some tunes are not even recognizable, but all are worthy of a good lazy Sunday afternoon (or late Saturday night smoke-out) listen.
Evidently, the idea has grown since its one-off inception. After these first two "re-creations" Bob Dog and Atkins (along with help from some other friends in the business, including Ozzy Osbourne), have also produced tributes to Black Sabbath ("Bhangra Bloody Bhangra") and the Rolling Stones ("Sticky Bhangra"). Each one is a kind tip of the hat to the respective artists in gratitude for their contributions to music as we know it, as well as a completely new creation itself worthy of everyone's attention...go out and buy one of these now.
Ball Of Confusion
Opium Jukebox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why, because of the color of their skin.
Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Rap on, brother, rap on.
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout love thy brother is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
humiliation, obligation to our nation
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today (yeah, yeah)
The sale of pills is at an all time high
young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Cities aflame in the summer time, and oh the beat goes on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors,
Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul,
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve ev'rything, and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today. (yeah, yeah)
Fear in the air, tension ev'rywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatle's new record's a gas,
and the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation,
and the band played on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors, mod clothes in demand,
population out of hand, suicide too many bills, hippies movin' to the hills
People all over the world are shouting end the war and the band played on.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today
Let me hear you, let me hear you, let me hear you
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today
The lyrics of Opium Jukebox's song Ball of Confusion speak to the chaos and confusion present in the world during the time period in which the song was written. The opening lines talk about people moving in and out, which is attributed to the color of their skin. The writer asserts that there is no hiding from this reality, and the only solution is an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. The lyrics then bring attention to politicians who promise to set people free but only use love thy brother as a tool for manipulation.
The remaining lyrics of the song touch on different aspects of society that are in turmoil, including the rise in the sale of pills, the high rate of unemployment, and the summer riots. It also touches on tax deductions, gun control, and the sound of soul music. All of these things contribute to the ball of confusion that is the world today. The lyrics often repeat the phrase "and the band played on," which could be interpreted as a metaphor for society ignoring the problems that are present.
Overall, this song provides a broad commentary on the state of the world during the time in which it was written. It acknowledges the injustices and confusion present in society while also highlighting the lack of action being taken to address these problems.
Line by Line Meaning
People movin' out, people movin' in.
People are constantly moving, some leaving while others are entering new places and spaces.
Why, because of the color of their skin.
The reason behind people's movements or lack thereof can be attributed to racial discrimination and prejudice.
Run, run, run, but you sho' can't hide
People try to escape their problems and situations, but they cannot completely avoid them.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
The concept of revenge, making someone suffer equally for the wrongs they have done, is strongly prevalent.
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Politicians use promises of freedom and liberty to gain votes and approval from the public.
Rap on, brother, rap on.
Keep speaking your truth, brother, keep speaking out against injustice and oppression.
Well, the only person talkin' 'bout love thy brother is the preacher
The only individual invoking the biblical teaching to love thy neighbor as oneself is the preacher, while others are not keen on following such a philosophy.
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
It appears that only teachers have the desire and passion for education and imparting knowledge, while the students and society at large have lost interest in learning.
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration, aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
Society is grappling with the conflicting concepts of separation and unity, showcasing the struggle between determination and frustration, demanding either demonstrations or integration while frequently submitting to humiliation, and ultimately finding obligation to the nation during difficult times.
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today (yeah, yeah)
The world is nothing but a chaotic mess of competing ideologies and interests, leading to confusion and uncertainty for people across the globe.
The sale of pills is at an all time high
The consumption of pharmaceutical drugs has reached unprecedented levels.
young folks walkin' 'round with their heads in the sky
Many young people are optimistic and idealistic, with sky-high aspirations and lofty goals.
Cities aflame in the summer time, and oh the beat goes on
During the hottest summer months, many cities are plagued with destruction and chaos, yet the world continues to spin on its axis.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
The world is on the brink of destruction, yet the politicians are more focused on providing tax breaks.
City inspectors, bill collectors,
Individuals tasked with inspecting and upholding the law are combated by the constant bills and collections they have to take care of.
Evolution, revolution, gun control, the sound of soul,
Society is witnessing both natural and societal changes, with the evolution of ideas and people leading to revolution and calls for gun control legislation, all while the sound of soul music continues to echo across the world.
Shootin' rockets to the moon, kids growin' up too soon
As mankind seeks to explore outer space, many children are being forced to grow up too quickly and assume adult responsibilities.
Politicians say more taxes will solve ev'rything, and the band played on.
Political candidates push for more taxes to solve every societal problem, yet the band continues to play music, almost as if ignoring the world's issues altogether.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
The world seems to be going in circles, with no clear direction or purpose, leaving people confused and uncertain about the future.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
An exclamation in frustration, as one struggles to be heard and make their voice known amidst the chaos.
Ball of Confusion that's what the world is today. (yeah, yeah)
The world remains a chaotic, confusing place, but it is important to acknowledge and address these issues in order to move forward.
Fear in the air, tension ev'rywhere
Society is plagued with fear and tension, with these negative feelings permeating throughout various cultures and communities.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatle's new record's a gas,
With unemployment rates increasing rapidly, the only positive distraction seems to be the newest album by the Beatles.
and the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation,
The current state of the world is such that the only place perceived as safe is often the Indian reservation, a testament to the lack of safety and security elsewhere.
and the band played on
Despite the issues facing the world, the band continues to play music, seeming to ignore the problems and struggles that people are experiencing.
suicide too many bills, hippies movin' to the hills
With the overwhelming amount of bills and financial pressure, many people are struggling with depression and suicide, while others are choosing to escape it all and move to rural, isolated locations.
People all over the world are shouting end the war and the band played on.
People everywhere are calling for an end to war and conflict, yet the band continues to play music, seemingly ignoring the cries for peace.
Round and round and around we go, where the world's headed nobody knows.
The world continues to be a convoluted, confusing place, with no clear path or direction in sight.
Great googa mooga, can't you hear me talkin' to you, just a
A cry for recognition and attention, as one tries to make their voice heard amidst the confusion and chaos.
Ball Of Confusion that's what the world is today
The world remains a mess of conflicting ideas and interests, leading to a state of confusion and uncertainty for people everywhere.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind