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.
Had A Dat
Sublime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Getting inside,
I feel like I'm going to break!
Bright sun sinking low,
I never feel afraid to let emotions show.
Well I did.
Now take a look at me,
Before I end, and you'll be victims of
My stories, tales, lies, and exaggerations.
I'm gonna
When your living life like a show
You gotta
Take a bow to the people you know
I said lie, for me
Lying under a process tree
Oh engrossing in my brain
Feeling like I'm going a little insane.
A little close inside
Feels like I'm going insane!
Red lights
Are sinking low
I grab another beer cuz it's time to go
I feel my head burst, I head out to your car
And I pray to Jesus Christ, but you won't get too far
I say uh, headlights and uh second gear
I run the road of like and skip the things you fear
I said that you might, that you might find a better way
To justify the evil things that you say
Ah, help me please, ah help me please
Because I'm going upon my knees
I said, I said
Going down to my knees
I pray to the Lord up above!
Help me,
I'm falling down
Feeling now the cold, cold, cold, hard ground
Haunting faces, and moving lines
Slumber party for tonight
Pound it hard, your gonna pound it again
But please just do not pump up my friend
Cuz it seems all right, gonna push him around
But I can't be taken for no clown.
Because,
When I am on the ground I cry!
Wowowowowowo, dub style!
Oh, cool and easy
Oh no
Cool and easy
To the sweet reggae music
Oh no
Feels all right to sweet reggae music
Feels all right
Sweet reggae music
The song "Had a Dat" by Sublime has a frenetic and chaotic energy that in some parts can make listeners feel like they too are going a little insane. The opening lines set the tone as the singer describes feeling like they're going to "break" from the overwhelming emotions inside them. The mention of a "close brush before your destiny" suggests that the singer narrowly avoided disaster in the past, but it's unclear if they're still on the verge of collapse or if they've managed to hold it together somehow.
As the song progresses, there are references to lying and living life like a show, suggesting that the singer is struggling to reconcile their true self with the persona they present to the world. Red lights sinking low and pounding things hard create a sense of desperation and urgency, while the plea for help and the dub-style vocals in the outro provide a bit of catharsis and release.
Overall, "Had a Dat" is a song that captures the feeling of being on the brink of something intense and overwhelming. The lyrics are somewhat cryptic and open to interpretation, but the energy of the music and vocals conveys a sense of urgency and desperation that's palpable.
Line by Line Meaning
Raging and swirling,
Getting inside,
I feel like I'm going to break!
I have intense emotions that are swirling inside me and they feel overpowering, causing me to feel like I'm going to break.
Bright sun sinking low,
I never feel afraid to let emotions show.
Well I did.
Now take a look at me,
I had a close brush before your destiny.
Normally I never hesitate to express my emotions, but this time I did and it led me to a dangerous situation that could have changed my destiny.
Before I end, and you'll be victims of
My stories, tales, lies, and exaggerations.
I'm gonna
When your living life like a show
You gotta
Take a bow to the people you know
Before I leave, I want to share my stories, as well as lies and exaggerations, with you. When you live your life like it's a show, it's important to acknowledge and appreciate the people in it.
I said lie, for me
Lying under a process tree
Oh engrossing in my brain
Feeling like I'm going a little insane.
I tell lies and it's like I'm stuck under a tree of negative thoughts, consumed by my own lies and feeling like I'm going crazy.
A little close inside
Feels like I'm going insane!
I feel like I'm going crazy, overwhelmed by my thoughts and feelings that are too close to me inside.
Red lights
Are sinking low
I grab another beer cuz it's time to go
I feel my head burst, I head out to your car
And I pray to Jesus Christ, but you won't get too far
As the red lights of the evening are fading, I grab another beer because it's time to leave. My head is pounding and I get in your car, praying for safety, but I know we won't get very far.
I say uh, headlights and uh second gear
I run the road of like and skip the things you fear
I said that you might, that you might find a better way
To justify the evil things that you say
I assert myself and step on second gear, ready to drive on the road of life and avoid the things that scare you. I suggest that you might find a better way to rationalize the hurtful things you say.
Ah, help me please, ah help me please
Because I'm going upon my knees
I said, I said
Going down to my knees
I pray to the Lord up above!
I cry out for help, going down on my knees, praying to the Lord above for help.
Help me,
I'm falling down
Feeling now the cold, cold, cold, hard ground
I ask for help because I'm falling down and feeling the harsh reality of hitting the cold, hard ground.
Haunting faces, and moving lines
Slumber party for tonight
I see scary faces and movement, feeling a spooky vibe because it's a slumber party tonight.
Pound it hard, your gonna pound it again
But please just do not pump up my friend
Cuz it seems all right, gonna push him around
But I can't be taken for no clown.
You are going to hit someone hard and do it again, but I ask you not to hurt my friend. Even though it might look like he doesn't mind being pushed around, I won't let it happen because I won't be disrespected.
Because,
When I am on the ground I cry!
When I'm knocked down, it hurts and makes me cry.
Wowowowowowo, dub style!
This part is only a musical transition, there's not a clear meaning.
Oh, cool and easy
Oh no
Cool and easy
To the sweet reggae music
Oh no
Feels all right to sweet reggae music
Feels all right
Sweet reggae music
This is a celebration of the calming and relaxing feeling that comes with listening to sweet reggae music.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRADLEY JAMES NOWELL, ERIC JOHN WILSON, FLOYD I. GAUGH IV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Workman
"Had A Dat"
Raging and swirling,
getting inside,
I feel Like I'm going to Break!
Bright sun sinking low,
I never feel afraid to let emotions show.
Well I did.
Now take a look at me,
I had a close brush before your destiny.
Before I end, and you'll be victims of
my stories, tales, lies, and exaggerations.
I'm gonna
When your living life like a show
you gotta
take a bow to the people you know
I said lie, for me
lying under a process tree
oh engrossing in my brain
feeling like I'm going a little insane.
a little close inside
feels like I'm going INSANE!
Red lights
are sinking low
I grab another beer cuz it's time to go...
I feel my head burst, I head out to your car
And I pray to Jesus Christ, but you won't get too far
I say uh, headlights and uh second gear
I run the road of like and skip the things you fear
I said that you might, that you might find a better way
to justify the evil things that you say
Ah, help me please, ah help me please
because I'm going upon my knees
I said, I said
going down to my knees
I pray to the Lord up above!
Help me,
I'm falling down
feeling now the cold, cold, cold, hard ground
haunting faces, and moving lines
slumber party for tonight
Pound it hard, your gonna pound it again
but please just do not pump up my friend
cuz it seems all right, gonna push him around
but I can't be taken for no clown.
Because,
when I am on the ground I CRY!
wowowowowowo.. Dub Style!
oh, cool and easy
oh no
cool and easy
to the sweet reggae music
oh no
feels all right to sweet reggae music
feels all right
sweet reggae music....
Pigeon Man
Raging and swirling,
getting inside,
I feel Like I'm going to Break!
Bright sun sinking low,
I never feel afraid to let emotions show.
Well I did.
Now take a look at me,
I had a close brush before your destiny.
Before I end, and you'll be victims of
my stories, tales, lies, and exaggerations.
I'm gonna
When your living life like a show
you gotta
take a bow to the people you know
I said lie, for me
lying under a process tree
oh engrossing in my brain
feeling like I'm going a little insane.
a little close inside
feels like I'm going INSANE!
Red lights
are sinking low
I grab another beer cuz it's time to go...
I feel my head burst, I head out to your car
And I pray to Jesus Christ, but you won't get too far
I say uh, headlights and uh second gear
I run the road of like and skip the things you fear
I said that you might, that you might find a better way
to justify the evil things that you say
Ah, help me please, ah help me please
because I'm going upon my knees
I said, I said
going down to my knees
I pray to the Lord up above!
Help me,
I'm falling down
feeling now the cold, cold, cold, hard ground
haunting faces, and moving lines
slumber party for tonight
Pound it hard, your gonna pound it again
but please just do not pump up my friend
cuz it seems all right, gonna push him around
but I can't be taken for no clown.
Because,
when I am on the ground I CRY!
wowowowowowo.. Dub Style!
oh, cool and easy
oh no
cool and easy
to the sweet reggae music
oh no
feels all right to sweet reggae music
feels all right
sweet reggae music....
Gabriel Ramirez
Raging and swirling,
Getting inside,
I feel like I'm going to break!
Bright sun sinking low,
I never feel afraid to let emotions show.
Well I did.
Now take a look at me,
I had a close brush before your destiny.
Before I end, and you'll be victims of
My stories, tales, lies, and exaggerations.
I'm gonna
When your living life like a show
You gotta
Take a bow to the people you know
I said lie, for me
Lying under a process tree
Oh engrossing in my brain
Feeling like I'm going a little insane.
A little close inside
Feels like I'm going insane!
Red lights
Are sinking low
I grab another beer cuz it's time to go
I feel my head burst, I head out to your car
And I pray to Jesus Christ, but you won't get too far
I say uh, headlights and uh second gear
I run the road of like and skip the things you fear
I said that you might, that you might find a better way
To justify the evil things that you say
Ah, help me please, ah help me please
Because I'm going upon my knees
I said, I said
Going down to my knees
I pray to the Lord up above!
Help me,
I'm falling down
Feeling now the cold, cold, cold, hard ground
Haunting faces, and moving lines
Slumber party for tonight
Pound it hard, your gonna pound it again
But please just do not pump up my friend
Cuz it seems all right, gonna push him around
But I can't be taken for no clown.
Because,
When I am on the ground I cry!
Wowowowowowo, dub style!
Oh, cool and easy
Oh no
Cool and easy
To the sweet reggae music
Oh no
Feels all right to sweet reggae music
Feels all right
Sweet reggae music
Daniel S. Renegade
No group will ever make me feel like Sublime does. RIP Bradley
Lil King$ of RoCk
Truth!!!
Consciousness
100% for the last 18 years
B
Agreed, are you my soul mate?! 😁👍🏻💗💖
Fernando Mayen
Y'all some bitches
Special Ed Kim
No Doubt my brother
Texas Soul
This was the first sublime song I heard when I was a kid my cousin and I would listen to this on our CD player and dance around the living room. I played this song one last time with him at his funeral. This song got me through the hardest time of my life
Lorenzo Velasquez
Rip
Sarah Beauregard
Love this ❤️❤️
marco antonio ibarburu lescano
one love brother