Sonic Boom Six first appeared on the Manchester punk scene in April 2002. Some of their members were previously in the band Grimace. Their self-titled demo, recorded with Jerry Melchers, was self-released in October 2002. To promote the CD, they toured the UK with third wave ska veterans The Toasters and London ska punk/hip hop band King Prawn. They also toured with Coolie Ranx and performed as his backing band. In September 2003, they released The Turbo EP, their first release for Moon Ska Europe. This was produced by Ace (of Skunk Anansie) and Christophe. After a series of good reviews, Sonic Boom Six were invited to perform a session on BBC Radio One's The Lock Up.
After further touring with Catch 22, as well as on the Moon Ska Launchpad Tour 2004 (alongside Zen Baseballbat, Graveltrap, Babar Luck and Dumpster Pop), the band re-united with Ace and Christophe to record their second EP. Sounds to Consume was released on Moon Ska Europe in August 2004, and include the Turbo EP as bonus tracks. After tour dates with Leftöver Crack and The Suicide Machines, the band appeared on BBC2's Asian arts programme Desi DNA performing in a scrapyard, as well as being interviewed by Adil Ray for his show on the BBC Asian Network.
Sonic Boom Six performing "All In" with Itch of The King Blues. Leeds Festival, Bramham Park, 27 August 2006
In early February 2005, Sonic Boom Six replaced guitarist Dave "Hellfire" Kelly with guitarist Ben, who used to play sax, thus making SB6 a four-piece. Ben's old sax parts are now played through a sampler when performing live, or by musicians from other bands, such as Grown at Home and The Flaming Tsunamis. In 2005, the band opened the Love Music Hate Racism event on the Leftfield Stage at the Glastonbury Festival, played Belgium's Sortie 23 festival and performed at the premier of the Rock Against Racism film Who Shot the Sheriff? with HARD-Fi and Roll Deep. 2005 also saw the release of the Champion Edition of Sounds to Consume, which featured four of their original demo tracks (remixed by Tim G), three remixes, an acoustic track and a video. They also embarked on several dates on the inaugural Good To Go Tour alongside The Aquabats and Never Heard of It.
In 2006, the band recorded their second session for BBC Radio 1's The Lock Up, which was broadcast on 27 June. They were joined by Pete and Tucker from Jesse James and Itch from The King Blues. Their debut full-length album, The Ruff Guide to Genre-Terrorism, was released on 10 July 2006 on Deck Cheese Records, and in August 2006 the band played the Reading and Leeds Festivals as a last minute replacement for Paramore. They were joined again by Itch of The King Blues for a performance of "All In" (singing the parts of the song written by Coolie Ranx) and Nick 'The Blade' Horne of Howards Alias, partner of vocalist Laila, who played trombone on the songs "Bigger Than Punk Rock" and "Until the Sunlight Comes".
In May 2007, they played at the Slam Dunk Festival at Leeds University Union with Paramore and Reel Big Fish. During Reel Big Fish's set, Laila joined the band on stage to sing parts of "She Has a Girlfriend Now" alongside Aaron Barrett. She joined them again during Reel Big Fish's Monkeys for Nothin' winter tour in 2008. They played the Reading and Leeds Festivals again in 2007, on the Lock Up stage, playing not only their own material but covering the song "Sound System" by Operation Ivy. During this song, Itch from the King Blues once again joined them on stage to sing it. November 2007 saw the release of the band's second full-length CD, Arcade Perfect, on their own Rebel Alliance Recordings.
In May 2008, the band embarked on the Rude Awakening 2008 tour, alongside Big D and the Kids Table and Random Hand. 2008 also saw a second Ruff and Ready tour. This was followed by the release of a remixes, b-sides and rarities album entitled Play On: Rare, Rejected and Arcade Perfected, which the band toured in support of in late 2008. Nick Horne also joined the band as a full time member, now playing guitar and bass live as well as trombone. They played at the Hevy Music Festival on 1 August 2009.
In May 2009 Sonic Boom Six released their third album City of Thieves, once again on Rebel Alliance Recordings. August 2009 saw Sonic Boom Six open the Main Stage at the Reading and Leeds Festival.
On 8 October 2009, it was announced on the band's official website that Ben Childs would be leaving the band after the forthcoming "Boom or Bust" tour and that he would be temporarily replaced by Matthew Reynolds – current vocalist and guitarist with rock band Drawings and also formerly of Howards Alias. In February 2010 new permanent member James "Jimmy T Boom" Routh, formerly of Myth of Unity, joined the band on guitar.
Let the Children Play
Sonic Boom Six Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll take you to a place where there's no wrong or right
Just take my hand it really isn't far away
And deep into the night the lost children play
In this England...
Theres always something we can do, so don't you stay inside
How easy things a catch a fire
Just like Margaret Thatcher said to we 'there's no society
Just individuality.'
So come with me
These Fairytales have all come true
A nightmare showing near to you
Let the children play, look look the other way
Theres no morality to our arguments of wrong and right
Overspill or oversight?
Too late to educate
And now its out of mind and left behind
Theres always we can see
No family values
In this disaffected community
No easy answers.
See the mind inside a Burberry cap
And try to find the pride
Of being caught inside a trap
Say 'fuck authority'
Don't love you cos u don't love me
You left me on a shelf
How can your values govern me?
Don't even love myself
When anger is surpressed it finds
A way of rising up
I know because its where I grew up
So come with me
These Fairytales have all come true
A nightmare showing near to you
Let the children play, look look the other way
Theres no morality to
Our arguments of wrong and right
Overspill or oversight?
They were left to mutute
And now its out of mind
Forgotten isolate
and left behind
On this fucking estate
How could they be so blind?
Branded, abandoned as a social mistake
What else, what else can someone be?
Let the children play, look look the other way.
When all, that you can see is negativity.
How else, how else can someone be?
Let the children play, look look the other way.
How else, how else can someone be?
These Fairytales have all come true
A nightmare showing near to you
Let the children play, look look the other way
Theres no morality to
Our arguments of wrong and right
Overspill or oversight?
They were left to mutute
And now its out of mind
Forgotten isolate
and left behind
On this fucking estate
How could they be so blind?
Overspilled and abandoned like a bad mistake
What else, what else can someone be?
Let the children play, look look the other way.
When all, that you can see is negativity.
How else, how else can someone be?
Let the children play, look look the other way.
How else, how else can someone be?
Look the other way, let, let the children play
Just lock your doors and look away.
The song "Let the Children Play" by Sonic Boom Six is a social commentary that sheds light on the state of England's disadvantaged neighborhoods, where children grow up without proper guidance and values, leading to a cycle of neglect, apathy, and hopelessness. The lyrics paint a picture of a world where there's no clear distinction between right and wrong, taking the listener on a trip through the lost children's world. The song suggests that society has turned its back on these marginalized communities, leaving the youth to fend for themselves without any moral compass, guidance, or love.
The opening lines of the song invite the listener to join the lost children on a journey to a place where there's no judgment, only freedom. The lyrics' repetition of the phrase "Let the children play" underscores the song's call to action, urging society to take responsibility for the neglected children's future. Furthermore, the lyrics disapprove of former Prime Minister Thatcher's view that there's no society, only individuality, pointing out that the government's lack of social responsibility contributes to the disaffected poor communities' problems.
The song's chorus repeats a haunting refrain, "These Fairytales have all come true, a nightmare showing near to you," highlighting the sad reality of these communities' plight. The song's closing lines point to the urgent need for action, reminding listeners that turning a blind eye to the issues plaguing disadvantaged communities will only exacerbate the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
So shall we take a trip tonight?
Do you want to come with me tonight?
I'll take you to a place where there's no wrong or right
I want to take you somewhere without moral limitations.
Just take my hand it really isn't far away
It's not very far, just come with me.
And deep into the night the lost children play
We can go where the forgotten children spend their nights.
Theres always something we can do, so don't you stay inside
We can find something to do outside, so let's not stay inside.
How easy things a catch a fire
Things can escalate easily.
C'mon join the joy ride
Come have fun with me.
Just like Margaret Thatcher said to we 'there's no society Just individuality.'
We should prioritize individuality over society, just like Margaret Thatcher believed.
So come with me
Please come with me.
These Fairytales have all come true A nightmare showing near to you
The stories we thought were fiction are actually happening in our neighborhoods.
Let the children play, look look the other way
We should ignore the children's behavior and let them continue playing.
Theres no morality to our arguments of wrong and right Overspill or oversight? Too late to educate And now its out of mind and left behind
Our discussions about morality no longer matter, it's too late to teach these children and we've forgotten about them.
Theres always we can see No family values In this disaffected community No easy answers.
This community is lacking good role models and structure, and there aren't any clear solutions.
See the mind inside a Burberry cap And try to find the pride Of being caught inside a trap Say 'fuck authority'
Even though these kids are trapped, they still find their identity and refuse to comply with authority.
Don't love you cos u don't love me You left me on a shelf How can your values govern me? Don't even love myself
I can't love you because you don't support me, and you've left me alone. How can I follow your values when I don't even love myself?
When anger is surpressed it finds A way of rising up I know because its where I grew up
When anger is kept inside, it eventually boils over. I know from experience because I grew up in this environment.
They were left to mutute And now its out of mind Forgotten isolate and left behind On this fucking estate How could they be so blind? Branded, abandoned as a social mistake
These children were ignored and now they've been abandoned, forgotten, and labeled as a societal failure.
What else, what else can someone be? Let the children play, look look the other way. When all, that you can see is negativity. How else, how else can someone be?
What other options are there when all we can see is negative behavior from these children? How else do you expect them to behave?
Just lock your doors and look away.
Ignore the problem by barricading yourself inside and ignoring it.
Contributed by Muhammad V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Damian Smith
You guys make me so proud to be British. I hope Manchester knows how lucky it is to have you representing.
Skankin' Dragon
Can't stop listening to this, it's as catchy as swine flu!
Dave Wood
Hip-hop & punk, together, done well. Some people are just scared of things that are too different....& to think, some of them have the nerve to call themselves punk. This is ace!
Gazmus
This is sick. Well played SB6...new national anthem please :)
CheeseFudge
Awesome song! Awesome clip! :D Love it
Matthew Pepper
Lol these guys played my local music venue/pub in Portadown Northern Ireland a few years back. They've come pretty far since then. Awesome band.
Rasyid Ahyar Dalimunthe
such a sick combination right here, punk and hip hop thumbs up
Mirage MusicUk
they are awesome live..i woulda seen them at sonisphere but they clashed with limp bizkit so..only one winner i'm afraid..even though i'm proud of my fellow Mancunians doing so well
Andrew Cream
I agree with the lyrics of the song, and think it is a decent tune. Good work Boomers.
Paul Anthony
Awesome song, awesome sentiments - and it's got the EDL nuts' knickers in a twist - added bonus!