On The Beach
Sportchestra! Lyrics
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Stitching ripping on his vest
Biceps, triceps, ready to flex
A gold medallion around his neck
He looks more like the Michelin Man
He's trapped inside a multi-gym
I think I'd rather be the wimp
Living life the Atlas way
Pumping iron every day
Eats his own big body weight
And never gets sand kicked in his face
He looks more like the Michelin Man
He's trapped inside a multi-gym
I think I'd rather be the wimp
The lyrics to Sportchestra!'s "On The Beach" satirize the pervasive 1980s bodybuilding culture. The song describes a man with a massive, 54-inch chest, who wears a gold medallion around his neck and flexes his biceps and triceps, but whose vest is so taut that its stitching is ripping. Although he embodies the ideal of physical strength and craftsmanship, the singer is trapped inside a multi-gym; as a result, he looks more like the "Michelin Man" (a reference to the iconic advertising mascot of the Michelin tire company) than a paragon of fitness. Despite his outward appearance of strength, it is suggested that the singer is not truly free or happy.
Line by Line Meaning
54 inch around the chest
He has a very large chest, measuring 54 inches in circumference.
Stitching ripping on his vest
His vest is too tight and the stitching is coming undone.
Biceps, triceps, ready to flex
His arm muscles, both biceps and triceps, are prepared to be shown off and flexed.
A gold medallion around his neck
He wears a gold medal as an accessory around his neck.
He looks more like the Michelin Man
He resembles the Michelin Man, who is known for his large and round body shape.
He's trapped inside a multi-gym
He is confined to working out only in a multi-gym, which limits his exercise options.
I think I'd rather be the wimp
The singer would rather not have excessive muscles and prefer a more average body type.
Living life the Atlas way
He lives his life according to the philosophy of Atlas, a god in Greek mythology known for his strength and endurance.
Pumping iron every day
He exercises by lifting weights every day.
Eats his own big body weight
He consumes an amount of food equivalent to his own body weight.
And never gets sand kicked in his face
He is physically strong and confident enough that no one would dare to bully or disrespect him.
Contributed by Andrew L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@simonzai7386
I know the Heysel Stadium and hurling songs off by heart.I remember this album well.All the Chumbawamba, Subhumans folks and many many more strutting their stuff at the height of their influence.Legend
@deka7x921
Thank you so much for uploading this! Chumbawamba’s one of my favorite bands and as such this album is one i’ve wanted to hear for a long time. I was beginning to think I may have to fork over the high amount of money that this LP goes for nowadays in order to hear it, but thank you for finally uploading it here to YouTube! It’s such an interesting album with an interesting concept, especially since it’s got a similar sound to the band’s first two albums. Wonder what the idea and intentio was behind forming this pseudo-new group for something this ambitious when Chumbawamba already existed.