Stump were an Anglo-Irish indie/experimental/rock group featuring Mick Lynch (vocals), Kev Hopper (bass), Rob McKahey (drums) and Chris Salmon (guitar) formed in London in 1983.
Their first release was a four track EP Mud on a Colon,released in 1986 through the Ron Johnson record label. This was followed by a self-released mini album,Quirk Out,produced by Hugh Jones which included their cult hit Buffalo. Continuous UK touring, regular coverage in the UK music press - including cover features in both the NME and Melody Maker-and a memorable performance of Buffalo on Channel 4's The Tube ensured Quirk Out stayed in the UK Indie Charts for 26 weeks,peaking at number 2[1]. Sessions for the John Peel radio show recorded during this time were released as a Peel Sessions album on Strange Fruit Records in 1987. Following these successes the band were signed to Ensign Records.
An album A Fierce Pancake,released in 1988,was recorded in Berlin and London produced by Holger Hiller with assistance from Stephen Street. Three singles were released from this album:Chaos, Charlton Heston and a re-released Buffalo. The album did not bring the crossover success the label had hoped for and the band split before any new material was released.
Chaos
Stump Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We must vindicate this venom
Eradicate the rubber duck
Squeeze the life out of something soft
Bring on the traitor
Send him off in a rusty lifeboat
Whip it till it bleeds
'Chaos' said the captain
We must masticate this miscontent
Eliminate this melon
Save ourselves from this bitter lemon
We go "who! ha! we don't like it out here!"
He goes 'what?'
What's that?
Mutiny! Mutiny!
Rebels in the hold
Keel haul 'em! Keel haul 'em!
Swing 'em overboard
Mutiny! Mutiny!
Disgusting! Disgraceful!
Hang 'em from the eye!
Mutiny! Mutiny!
'Chaos' said the captain
We must pasteurise this person
Terrorise this treason
Repossess his rhyme and reason
'Panic' said the person
We must suffocate this skiver
Pick it till it bleeds
Pay no attention to it's basic needs
Bring on the Jonah
Strip him down to his last diploma
Menace him for months
Fill his pocket with a thousand bolts
Take him to the cleaners
Pick him up for his misdemeanors
The song 'Chaos' by Stump is an anti-establishment anthem that reflects on the power struggle between those who control society and those who are subjugated by it. In the song, the captain represents those in charge, who are determined to maintain order and quash any dissent. The lyrics describe a series of violent acts intended to exert this control, including killing a rubber duck, eradicating miscontent, and punishing traitors. The song is a scathing critique of the powerful, who are willing to go to any lengths to maintain their power and suppress rebellion.
The lyrics are full of metaphors and vivid imagery that capture the nihilistic spirit of the song. The reference to a rubber duck being eradicated is a symbol of innocence and purity being destroyed by those in power. The act of squeezing the life out of something soft represents the ruthless brutality of the powerful, who are willing to crush anyone who opposes them. The chorus, which goes "who! ha! we don't like it out here!" is a rallying cry for rebellion, a call to arms for those who are tired of being subjugated and oppressed.
Line by Line Meaning
'Chaos' said the captain
The captain wants chaos and disorder.
We must vindicate this venom
We must justify our anger and aggression.
Eradicate the rubber duck
We must eliminate something harmless and innocent.
Squeeze the life out of something soft
We must destroy something vulnerable and weak.
Bring on the traitor
Bring forth the one who is disloyal.
Send him off in a rusty lifeboat
Exile the traitor in poor living conditions.
Whip it till it bleeds
Punish severely until there is physical harm.
Hit him up with a new disease
Give the traitor another form of suffering.
'Chaos' said the captain
The captain still desires chaos and disorder.
We must masticate this miscontent
We must chew up and destroy any discontentment.
Eliminate this melon
We must get rid of anything that is a hindrance.
Save ourselves from this bitter lemon
Save ourselves from something unpleasant or undesirable.
We go "who! ha! we don't like it out here!"
We express our dislike or dissatisfaction with the current situation.
He goes 'what?'
The other person is confused and doesn't understand the situation.
Mutiny! Mutiny!
The crew is rebelling.
Rebels in the hold
The rebellious people are down in the lower deck of the ship.
Keel haul 'em! Keel haul 'em!
Punish the rebels by dragging them under the ship's hull.
Swing 'em overboard
Throw them off the ship.
Disgusting! Disgraceful!
The captain is angry and disappointed with his crew's behavior.
Hang 'em from the eye!
Execute the rebels by hanging them from the ship's mast.
'Chaos' said the captain
The captain wants to create more chaos and disorder.
We must pasteurise this person
We must purify or sterilize this person.
Terrorise this treason
Use fear to punish this disloyalty.
Repossess his rhyme and reason
Take away his logic and rationale.
'Panic' said the person
Someone else speaks, expressing panic.
We must suffocate this skiver
We must deprive this lazy person of something important.
Pick it till it bleeds
Cause harm by persistently attacking or criticizing something.
Pay no attention to its basic needs
Ignore the fundamental necessities of this person.
Bring on the Jonah
Bring forth the one who brings bad luck.
Strip him down to his last diploma
Take everything from this unlucky person.
Menace him for months
Threaten and intimidate him for a long time.
Fill his pocket with a thousand bolts
Give him a daunting and heavy burden to carry.
Take him to the cleaners
Take all he's got, leaving him with nothing.
Pick him up for his misdemeanors
Punish him for his minor misdeeds.
Contributed by Zachary N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@johnmarlow5007
The Ultimate 'Underground Band Ever'..... Thanks for posting this,... an Absolute Gem! Stump were and will forever be the most understood Band Ever! Pure Genius!
@andreasegde
I played with this great band when they fell out with the drummer for a few months. Truly original.
@steverose1977
You played with Stump?
@steverose1977
You played with them?
@spoombung
What a bass player!!!!
@johnbidochka2795
Yes you are!
@sgr9400
I bet it gave The Red Hot Chilli Peppers something to think about LoL
@harlandbeck8947
@@johnbidochka2795 hahah hello
@dennisdenouden6423
definitely!
@TheDavidPoole
I saw Kev play a couple of nights ago in Whitstable with just a couple of pedals! Fucking incredible. He made that bass his bitch and made sounds I didn't think were even possible. He told me he hadn't played in 4 years, but he was as fresh as a daisy.