Over the course of 1993 the band with the aid of Ice Mac and his soundsystem worked the Dux de Lux and Steel Magnolia bars with percussionists Marcus Puentener and Craig Allen. Later in the year they hooked up Pete Wood on keys and trumpet and Conan Wilcox on sax and percussion.
This line up remained constant for their first 3 independent recordings and releases. The band toured NZ regularly and teamed up to do shows with Mad Professor, African Headcharge, Alex Patterson and Infectious Grooves amongst others.
Around the time of the THC Winter release Pete Wood left the band to move to Auckland and their current sound engineer David Wernham left to work with Shihad. Tiki Taane was the last member to join the band and was quick to learn the Dub ethic extending the mixing desk further into the realms of musical instruments.
In January 2007 Tiki left to pursue a solo music career.
Problems
Salmonella Dub Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It is easy,
If you can not,
Do any greater,
Coming over,
Undercover,
How Can I know?
What do you know?
V Low is king,
Ain't listenin
Got a problem?
Wants to be gone,
Same as before,
Left it to me,
Green wet valley,
V Low is free.
(x3)
V Low is king,
Ain't listenin
Got a problem?
Wants to be gone,
V Low is king,
Ain't listenin,
Got a problem?
Wants to be gone....
Salmonella Dub's song "Problems" features a repetitive and hypnotic beat with lyrics that seem to speak to the complexity of human emotions and the struggles that come with them. The first stanza of the song talks about the simplicity of breathing, but acknowledges that some people are not always able to do it easily - perhaps referencing anxiety, stress or other emotional turmoil. The lyrics then move to a question, asking how one can know what another person knows. This could be interpreted as a comment on the subjectivity of experience and the difficulty of truly understanding someone else's point of view.
The repetition of the phrase "V Low is King" in the chorus can be seen as a nod to the Māori language, as the word "V" sounds like "whā" - the Māori word for "four". The use of te reo Māori in New Zealand music is seen as an important factor in the revitalization of the language, and many bands and performers include Māori words and phrases in their lyrics. The line "V Low is Free" could be interpreted as a reference to the idea that sometimes the things that have the most worth - such as breathing, nature or love - are also the things that are freely available to us.
There are a few other interesting interpretations of the lyrics as well. Some people believe that the song is about the struggle for independence and autonomy, with the lyrics "Got a problem? Wants to be gone" referencing the desire to break free from systems of control or oppression. Others have noted that the song seems to be about the relationship between people and nature, with the line "Green Wet Valley" evoking images of a lush landscape. The repeating phrase "Ain't Listenin'" could be interpreted as an indictment of those who are not paying attention to the problems of the world around them.
Overall, "Problems" is a song that is open to interpretation on many levels - from personal struggles with mental health to larger societal issues. The hypnotic beat and repetitive lyrics make it a perfect song to get lost in and think about the more complex aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
I am breathing,
I am simply existing and taking in air, a basic and effortless function of life.
It is easy,
Breathing, as well as other tasks in life, require little to no effort, removing the potential for difficulty.
If you can not,
In the case that someone is unable to breathe or perform basic tasks, it can become problematic or even life-threatening.
Do any greater,
Expectations for individual achievement should be realistic and not exceed one's abilities or resources.
Coming over,
Refers to someone or something arriving or approaching.
Undercover,
A hidden or secretive state or appearance.
How Can I know?
Expresses uncertainty and confusion, questioning the inability to determine a specific issue or understanding the intent of others.
What do you know?
A request for information or clarification, seeking the understanding or knowledge of others.
V Low is king,
Refers to someone or something in a position of power or control over others.
Ain't listenin
Ignoring or failing to acknowledge the thoughts or pleas of others, indicating a lack of respect or empathy.
Got a problem?
Asking if a person is experiencing difficulties or issues that need attention, suggesting concern or support.
Wants to be gone,
Desiring to leave or remove oneself from a situation or relationship, indicating dissatisfaction or discomfort.
Same as before,
Referring to a repetitive pattern or cycle that is unchanging or unproductive.
Left it to me,
Assigning responsibility or tasks to one person, often leaving them with the burden or challenge of completing them.
Green wet valley,
A description of an environment or landscape, potentially representing a sense of lushness and vitality.
V Low is free.
V Low, a reference to the previous lines, is now unrestricted and unconstrained, able to act without any limitations or limitations.
(x3)
This line is only a repetition of the previous line three times, emphasizing the importance or significance of the line's meaning.
Contributed by Gabriel C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Linda Wild
Th first time I saw these guys live was in Dunedin nz when tikki was part of th crew,
We were rolling a joint &
Th bass was making th weed
Bounce on th zigzag lol
High on lsd !
GOOD TIMES !!!
CHEERS SALMONELLA DUB
That was One Sick Night I'll
Never forget !!!
Peace & Love Frm a Dunedin
Fan always !!! 🤘✌💋👅💘❤
SchnurzelPurzel
I love this band..... music for my soul...
Glen Small
Two most spine tingling intros of all time are Problems by Salmonella Dub and Gimme Shelter by the Stones. I shared this with Tiki Tane when he was training at our gym in Wellington some years ago. Super sorted guy and all energy. Respect to Tiki and the Dub and many thanks for all the good times with the Dub soundtrack. National heroes.
Linda Wild
Th first time I saw these guys live was in Dunedin nz when tikki was part of th crew,
We were rolling a joint &
Th bass was making th weed
Bounce on th zigzag lol
High on lsd !
GOOD TIMES !!!
CHEERS SALMONELLA DUB
That was One Sick Night I'll
Never forget !!!
Peace & Love Frm a Dunedin
Fan always !!! 🤘✌💋👅💘❤
Steven Kirk
Linda Wild all day
MedusasKimono
still rocking to this after how many years yeah the vibe really hits my heart
Ricki Austin
Nice work sal dub still up there with all the big guns even after all these years cudos chur chur brothers of great music 🎶
Gabriel Knight
I have worked with peter who was the trumpet player for sal dub, your all so quick to appreciate tiki tane when this whole band every artist has given 100% to create this music, tiki tane can sing very well but what about the drummers the guitarist the pianists? they all deserve mad respect not just tiki tane
M H
gabriel knighy Sal Dub did fucking wonderful without him, and they are doing fucking wonderful now.
Fitzgerald Stanbury Weiss the 5th
@Gabriel Knight 'Crap' is a matter of perspective. You may not like it, but that doesn't mean that it's crap. No-one cares what you think, mate.
Zane Kingi
They have names... that’s why tiki is known more he has a well known name