Sublime released three studio albums, one live album, five compilation albums (one of which also contains never-before released material), three EPs, and one box set. Although their first two albums—40oz. to Freedom (1992) and Robbin' the Hood (1994)—were quite popular in the United States, Sublime did not experience major commercial success until 1996 with their self-titled third album, released two months after Nowell's death, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200, and spawned the single "What I Got", which remains the band's only No. 1 hit single (on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart) in their musical career. As of 2009, the band has sold over 17 million albums worldwide, including about ten million in the U.S. alone. Michael "Miguel" Happoldt and Marshall "Ras MG" Goodman contributed to several Sublime songs.
Following Sublime's dissolution, former members Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh founded the Long Beach Dub Allstars in 1997, which also included many frequent Sublime contributors such as Michael "Miguel" Happoldt (former member of The Ziggens), Marshall Goodman "Ras MG" (former Sublime member), and Todd Forman (3rd Alley). LBDAS disbanded in 2002, due to several members of the band breaking a no-drug vow they had taken. In 2009, the surviving members attempted to reform the band with Rome Ramirez, a young guitarist and admitted Sublime fan from California. However, not long after performing at Cypress Hill's Smokeout Festival, a Los Angeles judge banned the new lineup from using the Sublime name as they needed permission from Nowell's estate, which owns the rights to the Sublime name. This prompted the lineup of Wilson, Gaugh and Ramirez to change their name to Sublime with Rome, which has since released three albums, although Gaugh left the group shortly after the release of their 2011 debut Yours Truly.
With the mainstream success of their self-titled album, going five times platinum and earning worldwide airplay, Sublime's influence persists to this day. Sublime was one of the most popular bands of the third wave of ska, specifically characterized as ska punk. Sublime often combined punk rock and hardcore punk with hip hop, heavy metal, dancehall, reggae, ska, funk, and (21st century) surf music. Sublime also has been described as 'reggae rock'.
Their signature sound and their songs are often associated with the beach and coastal areas of Southern California, such as San Diego, Orange County, Venice Beach and Long Beach as well as areas of Northern California like Eureka. Over two decades after Nowell's death and the band's breakup, Sublime remains immensely popular throughout North America, especially in its state of origin, California.
Sublime's songs have been featured via soundtrack in a variety of media. Los Angeles alternative rock radio station KROQ has listed Sublime at No. 3 in their annual "Top 106.7 biggest KROQ bands of all time" list for the past six years in a row, behind Red Hot Chili Peppers and Nirvana, and No. 81 at the "Top 166 Artists of 1980–2008" list.
With over 17 million units sold worldwide, Sublime is one of the most successful, and "powerfully moving" ska-punk acts of all time influencing many modern reggae and ska acts.
Garden Grobe
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It smelled like Lou-dog inside the van, oh yeah
This ain't no funky reggae party, $5 at the door
It gets so real sometimes, who wrote my rhyme
I got the microwave, got the VCR
I got the deuce-deuce in the trunk of my car, oh yeah
If you only knew all the love that I found
You're a fool, don't fuck around with my dog
All that I can see I steal, I fill up my garage
Cause in my mind
Music from Jamaica, all the love that I found
Pull over there's a reason why my soul's unsound
It's you
It's that shit stuck under my shoe
It's that smell inside the van
It's my bed sheet covered with sand
Sitting through a shitty band
Getting dog shit on my hands
Getting hassled by the man
Waking up to an alarm
Sticking needles in your arm
Picking up trash on a freeway
Feeling depressed everyday
Leaving without making a sound
Picking my dog up at the pound
Living in a tweaker pad
Getting yelled at by my dad
Saying I'm happy when I'm not
Finding roaches in the pot
All these things I do
They're waiting for you.
The song Garden Grove is a perfect representation of Sublime's unique sound - an eclectic mix of punk rock, reggae, and ska. The song starts with the description of the band's journey to Garden Grove in a van that smells like their dog Lou-Dog. The verses describe their everyday struggles and how they find solace in music, especially Jamaican music.
The line "It gets so real sometimes, who wrote my rhyme" is an acknowledgment that life can be tough and unpredictable, but music is always there to uplift and inspire. Then it goes on to describe the darker parts of life that the band members struggle with - addiction, trash picking, depression, and getting yelled at by their dads. The chorus emphasizes that all these struggles are worth it because of the love they've found in life.
In a way, the song is an ode to the band's everyday life, their struggles, and their unique sound that resonates with their fans. The band was known for their ability to infuse their songs with humor, cynicism, and raw energy.
Line by Line Meaning
We took this trip to Garden Grove
We went on a journey to a place called Garden Grove
It smelled like Lou-dog inside the van, oh yeah
The van we travelled in had a distinct and familiar smell of a dog called Lou-dog
This ain't no funky reggae party, $5 at the door
This is not a typical or lively reggae party that people expect, the entry fee is just $5
It gets so real sometimes, who wrote my rhyme
Sometimes things become serious and complicated, making me question the authenticity of my own words
I got the microwave, got the VCR
I own a microwave and a VCR
I got the deuce-deuce in the trunk of my car, oh yeah
I have a gun, a .22 caliber, concealed in the trunk of my car
If you only knew all the love that I found
If only you were aware of all the love that I have discovered
It's hard to keep my soul on the ground
It is difficult to maintain a genuinely happy and positive outlook on life
You're a fool, don't fuck around with my dog
You would be unwise to mess with or harm my dog
All that I can see I steal, I fill up my garage
I acquire and accumulate items illegally or immorally, filling up my garage with them
Cause in my mind
Because in my thoughts
Music from Jamaica, all the love that I found
Jamaican music and the love that I have discovered are on my mind
Pull over there's a reason why my soul's unsound
Stop the car, there is a cause for my disturbed mental and emotional state
It's you
The reason for my troubled state is you
It's that shit stuck under my shoe
It's the unpleasant problem that is following me around
It's that smell inside the van
It's the stench that is lingering inside the van
It's my bed sheet covered with sand
It's the sand that has made its way onto my bed sheet
Sitting through a shitty band
Enduring a poor quality musical performance
Getting dog shit on my hands
Accidentally coming into contact with dog feces and therefore dirtying my hands
Getting hassled by the man
Being harassed or intimidated by the authority figures
Waking up to an alarm
Waking abruptly to the sound of an alarm
Sticking needles in your arm
Injecting drugs into your body with a needle
Picking up trash on a freeway
Collecting litter on a motorway or highway
Feeling depressed everyday
Experiencing sadness and low mood every day
Leaving without making a sound
Departing silently or without speaking
Picking my dog up at the pound
Collecting my dog from a shelter after it was caught by the dog catcher
Living in a tweaker pad
Residing in a place that is frequented by methamphetamine users
Getting yelled at by my dad
Having my father shout and scold me
Saying I'm happy when I'm not
Falsely claiming or attempting to convince others that I am content when I am not
Finding roaches in the pot
Discovering insects or pests in my marijuana
All these things I do
All the activities and experiences that I have
They're waiting for you
They are expecting or anticipating your involvement or participation in them
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL, ERIC JOHN WILSON, FLOYD I. GAUGH IV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@valinhense1
R.I.P. Bradley.
The good die young, but the music lives on.
@MadCowShytt
Facts, not a fan of how he died, but still a legend
@yncasasue9721
@@MadCowShytt I don't think many people are fans of it.
@lespalmer1077
Rip 🙏
@aarons2moody
Yncas sublime is alive
@dariusreed563
@@aarons2moody um not the original sublime sadly Bradley Nowell is dead and let's face it compared to the old sublime the new sublime sucks
@bmjv77
I lived in southern California in the 90s. I can't think of any other band who's sound can immediately take me back to that magical place and time like Sublime.
@MB34756
i grew up on the east coast and never got out west till the late 2000s and this brings me to socal in the 90s to this day. :D
@doxholiday1372
Where in So Cal? I had the amazingly good fortune of going to high school in Huntington Beach - so just a hop, skip, and jump to Garden Grove, and Long Beach where Sublime is from.
@bmjv77
@@doxholiday1372 I was up in Santa Barbara.