The real Eben did not realize the song had come out with Sublime's 1992 debut album until two years later. He called the band's label, Skunk Records, but never challenged for compensation or co-writing credit.
Ebin
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Out my window cool and bright
Fade so slowly into night
Funny how things look the same
Now that my friend Ebin's changed
Ebin was a cooly that I used to know
He's cold kickin' it live with the KKK
No JMC, no JFA
Cooly was sportin' black denim shoes
Dealing he was looking for something to use
With a pistol in his pocket and a bottle of booze
Well, it could be me or it could be you
Oh feels like my whole life is rearranged
Oh Ebin you changed
Ebin, Ebin, Ebin, Ebin you
Oh how you changed
Oh you changed
Oh how you changed
I give you a hard time, didn't want to stay
Got outta jail just the very next day
It's plain to see my friend Ebin is a Nazi
He was a Nazi yeah, yeah, yeah
Hooked on crack just the other day
Now he's down with the CIA
We got covert operation in Vietnam
Making hits and assassination he's long gone
He went down to protect his country
Eat Mexican food and makes lots o' money
Come back a God and drive a big white car
And take himself a plane down to Nicaragua
Well it feels like I'm the only one to blame
Oh Ebin you changed
Ebin, Ebin, Ebin, Ebin you
Oh you changed
Oh you changed
Oh how you changed
I give you a hard time, didn't want to stay
Got outta jail just the very next day
It's plain to see my friend Ebin is a Nazi
He was a Nazi yeah, yeah, yeah
Out my window cool and bright
Day so slowly into night
Funny how things look the same
Now that my friend Ebin's changed
The first line of the song, "You could hear the fuckin' fleas crawlin' on my nuts" sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics which are about the changes that the singer's friend, Ebin, has gone through. The song talks about how Ebin used to be a "cooly" (a word used to describe a hip and stylish person) but now he's changed and is down with the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and the KKK (Ku Klux Klan). The song also mentions Ebin's drug addiction, his involvement with the CIA in Vietnam, and his transformation from a God-like figure who drives a big white car to a Nazi.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Oh Ebin you changed" which highlights the disappointment and confusion that the singer feels about the changes in his friend. The last verse of the song talks about how things look the same now that Ebin has changed, but the mood is different because of the transformation of their friendship.
Overall, the song uses Ebin's transformation as a metaphor for the changes that can happen within relationships and how sometimes those changes can be difficult to accept.
Line by Line Meaning
You could hear the fuckin' fleas crawlin' on my nuts
I was in a really bad situation, so bad that I couldn't even escape the sensation of fleas crawling on me.
Out my window cool and bright
As I look outside, I see a peaceful, cool, and bright scene.
Fade so slowly into night
The day slowly comes to an end and the night sets in.
Funny how things look the same
Despite everything that has happened, things look just the same as they always have.
Now that my friend Ebin's changed
Now that my friend Ebin has changed, things are different.
Ebin was a cooly that I used to know
Ebin used to be a cool, calm and collected guy that I knew.
Now he's down with the PLO
Now Ebin is affiliated with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
He's cold kickin' it live with the KKK
Ebin is now hanging out and spending time with the Ku Klux Klan.
No JMC, no JFA
Ebin has forgotten about the bands JFA and JMC and is now involved with more extreme groups.
Cooly was sportin' black denim shoes
Ebin used to wear cool black denim shoes.
Dealing he was looking for something to use
Ebin was involved in shady dealings and was looking for something to use in those deals.
With a pistol in his pocket and a bottle of booze
Ebin was carrying around a gun in his pocket and drinking alcohol.
Well, it could be me or it could be you
It's a dangerous situation, and anyone could end up in it.
Oh feels like my whole life is rearranged
Everything in my life feels different and disorganized.
Oh Ebin you changed
Oh Ebin, you've really changed and not for the better.
Hooked on crack just the other day
Ebin recently became addicted to crack.
Now he's down with the CIA
Ebin is now aligned with the Central Intelligence Agency.
We got covert operation in Vietnam
The CIA is involved in a hidden operation in Vietnam.
Making hits and assassination he's long gone
Ebin is now involved in making hits and even assassinations.
He went down to protect his country
Ebin went to serve his country.
Eat Mexican food and makes lots o' money
While he was serving, Ebin ate a lot of Mexican food and made a lot of money.
Come back a God and drive a big white car
After serving, Ebin came back with a God complex and drove an expensive car.
And take himself a plane down to Nicaragua
Ebin took a plane to Nicaragua, possibly for some nefarious reason.
It's plain to see my friend Ebin is a Nazi
It's clear that Ebin is now a Nazi, a belief that I don't agree with.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Eric John Wilson, Bradley James Nowell, Marshall Raymond Goodman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lusara8337
I absolutely love love this band. I'm 49 years old & I can happily say they are to this day not only on my daily listen but remain one of my very very favorites!♥️
@DanielVita
😇
@lusara8337
@@DanielVita 😊
@GodfatherRobert
Check out Stick Figure They changed my life
@ZeFroz3n0ne907
32 and been a fan from age 7.
@Daddyace1313
@@lusara8337 Just turned 49 last month and still bumpin Sublime while I work lol 🔥🔥🔥
@kayleighsonnier5237
Will always be one of my favorite tracks. RIP Bradley. Talented, beautiful soul gone too soon.
@ThatDude-vo5kj
My dad was such a big fan of your music that I’m named after this song!
@mikey_johnston
Sorry u were named after a neo-nazi
@omittedarc
So is my cousin