Sublime was an American reggae rock and ska punk band from Long Beach, Cali… Read Full Bio ↴Sublime was an American reggae rock and ska punk band from Long Beach, California, formed in 1988. The band's line-up, unchanged until their breakup, consisted of Bradley Nowell (vocals and guitar), Eric Wilson (bass), and Bud Gaugh (drums). Lou Dog, Nowell's dalmatian, was the mascot of the band. Nowell died of a heroin overdose in 1996, resulting in Sublime's breakup. In 1997, songs such as "What I Got", "Santeria", "Wrong Way", "Doin' Time", and "April 29, 1992 (Miami)" were released to U.S. radio.

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.

I Don't Care Too Much For Reggae Dub
Sublime Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

See, I chose this profession, so therefore, I earn beer.
(Laughter)
Pretty much.
Got matches?
And I'm not lyin' one fuckin' bit, either.
Are you guys musicians?
We're magicians.
What kind of misic y'all play?

The kind that..I dunno.
Ask and so you shall recieve.
Whoo!
Reggae!
Reggae? Oh, reggae!
I'm not too into reggae.
Why not?
Oh well...
I don't like it, that's why.
We play rock, blues.
Oh, actually, we play, uh, you know bon jovi?
Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.
Oh.
I like a little of this kind of music.
Yeah?
Yeah.
I like jazz, blues.
Oh, jazz is great.
I'm not too into rap.
I really don't like that rap.
Rap? Rap.
I like oldies.
Some rock, some hard rock.
I even like a little mexican music.
Don't understand the shit they're sayin'.
Don't understand nuthin', but I like it.
Now, the indian music.
Now that's somethin' to trip off of!
Acid.
Because every song is like...
You'd better be trippin' pretty hard.
Uh-huh.
I'll bet you trip hard.
Acid.
Oh, he's got it goin' on.
Don't you go near ya hand...
Yeah.
Everyday.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Everyday I say, oh please don't lie.
We gotta leave.
I swear.
You should get a real one, man, what's your fuckin problem?
Ah-hah.
I never said I thought you were stupid either.
He ain't got nuthin' on there.
Can one of y'all spare 20 cents.
I don't evn have 20 cents.
I don't even have...uh...
If I had 20 cents a dollar like you...
I'd spend the last one...
This guy's got 20 cents, I'd bet you.
My wallet's inside.
Yeah, right, c'mon.
Yeah, c'mon, you got money.
Yeah, you got cash.
Yeah, we know you got money, man.
Actually, I think I have a buck.
Give her the fuckin' quarter!
We checked you out, we know you...
Whoo!
Reggae!
Reggae? Oh, reggae!
I'm not too into reggae.
C'mon down.
One more time.
C'mon down. C'mon down.
Yeah.
Go down and see your baby now.
No.
We love you, yeah.
When I heard the verdict the first time, I was sitting there.
Yeah.
Fuck.
Can't go in there.
Fuck.
I know he wasnt..
I immediately gave him all my money.
Fuck.
I know he wasn't.
I got another friend, he got the shit beat out of him for no reason.
You can stay here.
Hey man.
On that one.
You got a good samaritan here.
The mother-fuckers knocked on the door and arrested him for being drunk
in public.
What's goin' on?
I'm gonna break down the...
He's really, in a mental hospital, and that thing really doesn't work.
You should get a real one, man, what's you fuckin' problem.
Laaa...got a night down...
Yah.
Who's this guy?
2x That's Opie.
Opie.
Opie is our master.
Who's this guy?
That's Opie.
Yah.
Who's this guy?
2x That's Opie.
5x Opie.
2x That's Opie.
5x Opie.
And Opie is our master.
I am the master.
He's so smart, he's the smartest guy we know.
He created this.
Knock me out.
Master of the mother-fucker.
Wait, I have one.
Try that.
He usually doesn't speak.
Like, every 2 weeks.
He speaks in tounges.
Oh, in tounges.
He only speaks every 2 weeks.
(incoherent rambeling)
Hey, y'all meet Raleigh?

This is like, speaking in tounges...
Whoo!

Overall Meaning

Sublime's song "I Don't Care Too Much For Reggae Dub" is an example of what the band is known for. It is an unconventional, stream-of-consciousness style of song that includes bits of dialogue, non-sequiturs, and references to drugs, music, and the band members' personalities. The lyrics seem like a collection of rambling thoughts, jokes, and impersonations, with no clear narrative or meaning. The song starts with a conversation between the band members and someone else, who asks them what kind of music they play. The band responds by saying they play rock and blues, but they don't like reggae or rap. Throughout the song, they make fun of each other and joke around, with references to Mexican music, Indian music, and Bon Jovi.

The song's structure is chaotic, with no clear verses or choruses, and no clear rhyme or meter. Instead, it relies on the band's improvisation and humor, which is evident in their laughs and interjections. The song ends with a final reference to Opie, who is described as the band's master, but is never fully explained. The overall effect of the song is light-hearted and fun, with a kind of absurdist humor that is typical of the band's style.

Line by Line Meaning

See, I chose this profession, so therefore, I earn beer.
I work as a musician and get paid in drinks.

Pretty much.
That's the gist of it.

Got matches?
Do you have a light?

And I'm not lyin' one fuckin' bit, either.
I'm telling the truth.

Are you guys musicians?
Do you also work as musicians?

We're magicians.
No, we're just joking around.

What kind of misic y'all play?
What genre of music do you perform?

The kind that..I dunno.
We don't fit neatly into one genre.

Ask and so you shall recieve.
If you ask for something, we'll try to provide it.

Whoo!
Yay!

Reggae!
Somebody mentioned reggae music.

Reggae? Oh, reggae!
I'm not a big fan of reggae music.

I'm not too into reggae.
It's not really my thing.

Why not?
What's the reason for not liking reggae?

Oh well...
Just because.

I don't like it, that's why.
It's just a personal preference.

We play rock, blues.
Our band performs rock and blues music.

Oh, actually, we play, uh, you know bon jovi?
We even cover Bon Jovi songs.

Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.
That classic guitar riff.

Oh.
I see.

I like a little of this kind of music.
I do enjoy this type of music to some extent.

Yeah?
Oh, really?

Yeah.
Mhmm.

I like jazz, blues.
I'm a fan of jazz and blues music.

Oh, jazz is great.
I really enjoy jazz music.

I'm not too into rap.
Rap isn't really my thing.

I really don't like that rap.
I strongly dislike rap music.

Rap? Rap.
What about rap music?

I like oldies.
I enjoy listening to older music.

Some rock, some hard rock.
I also like some types of rock music.

I even like a little mexican music.
I'm also a fan of some Mexican music.

Don't understand the shit they're sayin'.
I don't know Spanish well enough to understand the lyrics.

Don't understand nuthin', but I like it.
But I still enjoy listening to it.

Now, the indian music.
Indian music is also an interesting genre.

Now that's somethin' to trip off of!
It's a great style to get lost in and enjoy.

Acid.
It's even better if you're on drugs.

Because every song is like...
The songs themselves are quite trippy.

You'd better be trippin' pretty hard.
You need to be pretty high to fully appreciate it.

Uh-huh.
Yup.

I'll bet you trip hard.
I'm guessing you like using drugs, too.

Oh, he's got it goin' on.
You seem to have a lot of experience with drug use.

Don't you go near ya hand...
Be careful with your hand.

Yeah.
Sure.

Everyday.
All the time.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Absolutely.

Everyday I say, oh please don't lie.
I try to be truthful in my words and actions.

We gotta leave.
It's time for us to go.

I swear.
I promise.

You should get a real one, man, what's your fuckin problem?
You should get a real job, don't you have any ambition?

Ah-hah.
I see.

I never said I thought you were stupid either.
I never called you dumb.

He ain't got nuthin' on there.
He doesn't have anything in his wallet.

Can one of y'all spare 20 cents.
Can someone give me 20 cents?

I don't evn have 20 cents.
I don't have any change.

I don't even have...uh...
I don't even have enough coins to give you a proper amount.

If I had 20 cents a dollar like you...
If I had as much money as you, I wouldn't need to ask for change.

I'd spend the last one...
I'd use my last coin for something important.

This guy's got 20 cents, I'd bet you.
I'm sure you have some change on you.

My wallet's inside.
I don't have any change on me.

Yeah, right, c'mon.
You're probably lying about not having any 20 cent coins.

Yeah, c'mon, you got money.
I'm sure you can spare a bit of change.

Yeah, we know you got money, man.
We figured you were well-off enough to have some coins on you.

Actually, I think I have a buck.
Actually, I think I have a dollar bill.

Give her the fuckin' quarter!
Give her the 25 cent coin!

We checked you out, we know you...
We sized you up and we think you can spare some change.

C'mon down.
Come on over here.

One more time.
Let's do it again.

C'mon down. C'mon down.
Come closer.

Yeah.
Okay.

Go down and see your baby now.
Go visit your child.

No.
I don't want to.

We love you, yeah.
I care about you.

When I heard the verdict the first time, I was sitting there.
When I first heard the decision, I was shocked.

Yeah.
Yup.

Fuck.
Dang.

Can't go in there.
I'm not allowed in there.

I know he wasnt..
I'm sure he didn't do it.

I immediately gave him all my money.
I donated all my money to him right away.

I got another friend, he got the shit beat out of him for no reason.
I have a friend who was attacked for no reason.

You can stay here.
You're welcome to stay at my place.

Hey man.
Hello, sir.

On that one.
I totally agree.

You got a good samaritan here.
You have a helpful person here.

The mother-fuckers knocked on the door and arrested him for being drunk in public.
Police officers came to the door and arrested him for being intoxicated in a public place.

What's goin' on?
What's happening?

I'm gonna break down the...
I'm going to explain the situation.

He's really, in a mental hospital, and that thing really doesn't work.
He's currently in a mental hospital and his treatment isn't effective.

Laaa...got a night down...
Oh no, I'm going to spend the night in jail.

Yah.
Okay.

Who's this guy?
Who is this person?

That's Opie.
That's Opie, our friend.

Who's this guy?
Who is this person?

That's Opie.
That's Opie, our friend.

Yah.
Okay.

Who's this guy?
Who is this person?

That's Opie.
That's Opie, our friend.